2 Samuel 18
1 Afei, Dawid yiyii asahene ne asafohene dii nʼakodɔm anim.
And so David, having reviewed his people, appointed over them tribunes and centurions.
2 Yoab na ɔtuaa wɔn mu nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako ano. Yoab nuabarima Abisai a na ɔyɛ Seruia babarima na ɔtuaa nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako nso ano. Ɛnna nkyɛmu mmiɛnsa mu baako a aka no, Gatni Itai na ɔtuaa ano. Ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ nʼakodɔm no sɛ, “Me ne mo na ɛrekɔ.”
And he placed a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Ittai, who was from Gath. And the king said to the people, “I, too, will go forth with you.”
3 Nanso, ne mmarima no tiaa mu dendeenden sɛ, “Ɛnsɛ sɛ wokɔ bi. Na sɛ ɛba sɛ, ɛsɛ sɛ yɛwae, na yɛdwane, na sɛ mpo, yɛn mu fa koraa wuwu a, ɛrennuru Absalom akodɔm no ho hwee. Wo ara na wɔbɛhwehwɛ. Wo nko ara yɛ yɛn mu ɔpedu enti, ɛyɛ sɛ wobɛtena kurom na sɛ mmoa bi ho hia yɛn a, wode bɛba.”
And the people responded: “You shall not go out. For if we flee, there will not be great concern in them for us. Or if one half part of us will fall, they will not care much. For you are considered as one for ten thousand. Therefore, it is better that you should be in the city to strengthen us.”
4 Ɔhene penee so sɛ, “Sɛ modwene sɛ ɛno ne adwene pa deɛ a, mate.” Enti, ɔkɔgyinaa kuro no ɛpono ano, ɛberɛ a akodɔm no rekɔ no.
And the king said to them, “I will do whatever seems good to you.” Therefore, the king stood beside the gate. And the people went out by their troops, by hundreds and by thousands.
5 Na ɔhene no hyɛɛ Yoab, Abisai ne Itai sɛ, “Me enti mo ne abɔfra Absalom nni no bɔkɔɔ so.” Na akodɔm no nyinaa tee saa nhyɛ a ɔhene hyɛɛ nʼasafohene no.
And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Preserve for me the boy Absalom.” And all the people heard the king commanding all the leaders on behalf of Absalom.
6 Enti, ɔko no hyɛɛ aseɛ wɔ Efraim kwaeɛ mu.
And so, the people departed into the field against Israel. And the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim.
7 Na Dawid mmarima no yɛɛ Israel akodɔm no pasaa. Ɛyɛ akofena ano kum, na da no, mmarima ɔpeduonu na wɔhweree wɔn nkwa.
And the people of Israel were cut down in that place by the army of David. And a great slaughter occurred on that day: twenty thousand men.
8 Ɔko no didi kɔɔ nkuro so, na ɛsiane kwaeɛ no enti, nnipa pii wuwuiɛ sene wɔn a wɔwuu wɔ akofena ano no.
Now the battle in that place was dispersed over the face of all the land. And there were many more of the people whom the forest had consumed, than the sword had devoured, on that day.
9 Ɔko no gyina mu no, Absalom puee prɛko pɛ wɔ Dawid mmarima no bi mu. Ɔpɛɛ sɛ ɔdwane wɔ nʼafunumpɔnkɔ so, nanso ɔdwane kɔfaa dɔtɔ bi mu wɔ odum bi ase. Ɔdɔtɔ no kyekyeree ne tirinwi, ma ɔkaa mu. Nʼafunumpɔnkɔ no deɛ, na kɔ ara na ɔrekɔ enti, ɔgyaa no hɔ a, ɔsensɛn dɔtɔ no mu a ɔreto adonko wɔ ewiem.
Then it happened that Absalom, riding on a mule, met the servants of David. And when the mule had entered under a thick and large oak tree, his head became trapped in the oak. And while he was suspended between heaven and earth, the mule on which he had been sitting continued on.
10 Dawid mmarima no baako hunuu asɛm a asi no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Mehunuu Absalom sɛ ɔsensɛn dua bi so wɔ dɔtɔ mu.”
Then a certain one saw this and reported it to Joab, saying, “I saw Absalom hanging from an oak.”
11 Yoab bisaa sɛ, “Asɛm pa ara? Wohunuu no na woanku no? Anka mɛma wo dwetɛ gram ɔha ne dunan ne akokoɔduru abɔwomu sɛ akradeɛ.”
And Joab said to the man who had reported it to him, “If you saw him, why did you not stab him to the ground, and I would have given you ten shekels of silver and a belt?”
12 Ɔbarima no buaa sɛ, “Sɛ anka wobɛma me dwetɛ kilogram dubaako ne fa koraa a, anka merenyɛ saa. Yɛn nyinaa tee sɛ, ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ wo, Abisai ne Itai sɛ, ‘Me enti, obiara nnyɛ aberanteɛ Absalom bɔne.’
And he said to Joab: “Even if you weighed out to my hands one thousand silver coins, I would never lay my hands on the son of the king. For in our hearing the king ordered you and Abishai and Ittai, saying, ‘Keep for me the boy Absalom.’
13 Na sɛ mebu ɔhene asɛm so kum ne babarima a, anka deɛ ɛbɛyɛ biara, ɔhene bɛhwehwɛ deɛ ɔyɛɛ saa. Na anka wʼankasa ne onipa a anka wobɛyi me ama.”
Then too, if I had acted with such audacity, against my own life, this would never have been able to be hidden from the king. And would you then have stood by my side?”
14 Yoab kaa sɛ, “Saa nkwaseasɛm yi ayɛ yie.” Enti, ɔtwee mpɛmɛ mmiɛnsa de wowɔɔ Absalom akoma mu ɛberɛ a na ɔsensɛn odum no so a na ɔnwuiɛ no.
And Joab said, “It will not be as you wish. Instead, I will be assailing him in your sight.” Then he took three lances in his hand, and he fixed them in the heart of Absalom. And while he was still clinging to life upon the oak,
15 Yoab akodeɛkurafoɔ no mu mmeranteɛ edu twaa Absalom ho hyiaeɛ, na wɔkumm no.
ten young men, armor bearers of Joab, ran up, and striking him, they killed him.
16 Na Yoab hyɛnee totorobɛnto, maa akodɔm no gyaee Israel so taa.
Then Joab sounded the trumpet, and he held back the people, lest they pursue Israel in their flight, for he was willing to spare the multitude.
17 Wɔfaa Absalom amu no to twenee amena donkudonku bi mu wɔ kwaeɛ mu hɔ, na wɔsoaa abotan guu ne so. Na Israelfoɔ no nyinaa dwane kɔɔ wɔn afie.
And they took Absalom, and they threw him into a great pit in the forest. And they piled an exceedingly great heap of stones over him. But all of Israel fled to their own tents.
18 Ɛberɛ a Absalom te ase no, ɔsii nkaeɛdum bi wɔ ɔhene bɔnhwa mu de kaee ɔno ara ne ho, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔdwenee sɛ, “Menni ɔbabarima biara a ɔbɛyɛ nkaedeɛ biara de akae me din.” Ɔde nkaeɛdum no too ne ho, na wɔfrɛ no Absalom Nkaeɛdum de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.
Now Absalom had raised up for himself, when he was still alive, a monument, which is in the Valley of the King. For he said, “I have no son, and so this shall be the memorial to my name.” And he called the monument by his own name. And it is called the Hand of Absalom, even to this day.
19 Na Sadok babarima Ahimaas kaa sɛ, “Momma mentu mmirika nkɔbɔ ɔhene amaneɛ sɛ, Awurade ayi no afiri atamfoɔ nsam.”
Then Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said, “I will run and report to the king that the Lord has accomplished judgment for him, from the hand of his enemies.”
20 Na Yoab nso ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sɛ ɔhene ba awu a, ɛnyɛ asɛm papa mma no. Wobɛtumi akɔbɔ saa amaneɛ no ɛda foforɔ bi, na ɛnyɛ ɛnnɛ.”
And Joab said to him: “You shall not be the messenger on this day. Instead, you shall report on another day. I am not willing for you to give the report today, because the son of the king is dead.”
21 Na Yoab ka kyerɛɛ Kusni bi sɛ, “Kɔ na kɔka deɛ woahunu no kyerɛ ɔhene.” Ɛhɔ ara na Kusni no bɔɔ ne mu ase wɔ Yoab anim, na ɔtuu mmirika kɔeɛ.
Then Joab said to Hushai, “Go, and report to the king what you have seen.” Hushai reverenced Joab, and he ran.
22 Bio, Sadok babarima Ahimaas ka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Deɛ ɛbɛba biara mmra, ma me ne Kusni no nkɔ.” Nanso, Yoab bisaa no sɛ, “Me ba, adɛn enti na wopɛ sɛ wokɔ? Wonni amanneɛbɔ biara a ɛbɛma wo abasobɔdeɛ biara.”
And Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok, said to Joab again, “What prevents me from running after Hushai also?” And Joab said to him: “Why do you want to run, my son? You would not be the bearer of good news.”
23 Ɔkaa sɛ, “Mepene so, nanso ma menkɔ.” Enti Yoab ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Kɔ!” Na Ahimaas faa tata no so kɔeɛ, kɔsianee Kusni no ho.
And he responded, “But what if I do run?” And he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz, running along a shorter way, passed Hushai.
24 Ɛberɛ a Dawid te kuro no ɛpono ano no, ne wɛmfoɔ no kɔɔ kuro no ɛpono no atifi wɔ ɔfasuo no so. Ɔtoo nʼani no, ɔhunuu sɛ obi de mmirika reba.
Now David was sitting between the two gates. Truly, the watchman, who was at the summit of the gate upon the wall, lifting up his eyes, saw a man running alone.
25 Ɔwɛmfoɔ no teaam ka kyerɛɛ Dawid na ɔhene no buaa sɛ, “Sɛ ɔno nko ara na ɔnam deɛ a, ebia, na ɔde asɛm pa nam.” Na ɔreba ara, na ɔpinkyɛe.
And crying out, he told the king. And the king said, “If he is alone, there is good news in his mouth.” But as he was advancing and drawing nearer,
26 Afei ɔwɛmfoɔ no hunuu sɛ ɔbarima foforɔ nso di so reba, na ɔteaam sɛ, “Hwɛ onipa foforɔ bi de mmirika reba!” Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ebia, na ɔno nso de asɛm pa na ɛnam.”
the watchman saw another man running. And so, crying out from the height, he said: “Another man has appeared, running alone.” And the king said, “This one also is a good messenger.”
27 Ɔwɛmfoɔ no kaa sɛ, “Ɔbarima a ɔdi ɛkan no sɛ Sadok babarima Ahimaas.” Ɔhene no kaa sɛ, “Ɔyɛ onipa pa a, ɔde asɛm pa nam.”
Then the watchman said, “The running of the closest one seems like the running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok.” And the king said, “He is a good man, and he arrives bearing good news.”
28 Na Ahimaas teaam, frɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Biribiara yɛ!” Ɔkotoo wɔ ɔhene no anim, de nʼanim butuu fam kaa sɛ, “Animuonyam nka Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn. Ɔde nnipa a wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me wura ɔhene ahyɛ ne nsa.”
Then, Ahimaaz, crying out, said to the king, “Be well, O king.” And reverencing the king prone on the ground before him, he said, “Blessed be the Lord your God, who has enclosed the men who had lifted up their hands against my lord the king.”
29 Ɔhene bisaa sɛ, “Na aberanteɛ, Absalom ho yɛ anaa?” Ahimaas buaa sɛ, “Ɛberɛ a Yoab yɛɛ nʼadwene sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsoma ɔhene ɔsomfoɔ ne me wo ɔsomfoɔ no, mehunuu sɛ nneɛma ayɛ basaa a na menhunu mu yie.”
And the king said, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And Ahimaaz said: “I saw a great tumult, O king, when your servant Joab sent me, your servant. I know nothing else.”
30 Ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Gyina nkyɛn ha na twɛn.” Enti, ɔgyinaa nkyɛn twɛnee.
And the king said to him, “Pass, and stand here.” And when he had passed and stood still,
31 Na Kusni no bɛduruiɛ kaa sɛ, “Me wura, Nana, tie asɛm pa a mede nam! Ɛnnɛ, Awurade ayi wo afiri wɔn a wɔsɔre tiaa wo no nyinaa nsam.”
Hushai appeared. And approaching, he said: “I bear good news, my lord the king. For today the Lord has judged for you, from the hand of all who had risen up against you.”
32 Na ɔhene bisaa Kusni no sɛ, “Na aberanteɛ Absalom ho te sɛn?” Kusni no buaa sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene, atamfoɔ nyinaa ne wɔn a wɔsɔre tia wo, pɛ sɛ wɔyɛ wo bɔne no, nhunu amane sɛ saa aberanteɛ no.”
But the king said to Hushai, “Is there peace for the boy Absalom?” And responding, Hushai said to him, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise against him for evil, be as the boy is.”
33 Ɔhene ho wosoeɛ. Ɔfaa ɛkwan ano ɛpono no mu kɔɔ ne dan mu kɔsuiɛ, twaa adwo. Ɔrekɔ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Ao, me ba Absalom! Me ba, me ba Absalom! Anka menwu nnya wo! Ao, Absalom, me ba, me ba!”
And so the king, being greatly saddened, ascended to the upper room of the gate, and he wept. And as he went, he was speaking in this manner: “My son Absalom! Absalom my son! Who can grant to me that I may die on your behalf? Absalom, my son! My son, Absalom!”
