2 Samuel 19

1 Ankyɛre na nkra duruu Yoab nkyɛn sɛ ɔhene no resu, redi awerɛhoɔ wɔ Absalom ho.

Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.”

2 Ɛberɛ a akodɔm no tee ɔhene no awerɛhoɔ a ɔredi wɔ ne ba no ho no, nkonimdie mu anigyeɛ a na wɔwɔ mu saa da no danee awerɛhoɔ.

And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.”

3 Wɔwiaa wɔn ho kɔɔ kuro no mu sɛdeɛ wɔn a wɔadi nkoguo de aniwuo dwane firi ɔko mu.

So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle.

4 Ɔhene de ne nsa kataa nʼanim, kɔɔ so twaa adwo sɛ, “Ao, me ba Absalom! Ao, Absalom, me ba, me ba!”

But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

5 Na Yoab kɔɔ ɔhene no dan mu kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ɛnnɛ yɛagye wo, ne wo mmammarima, ne wo mmammaa, ne wo yerenom, ne wo mpenafoɔ nkwa. Nanso, woreyɛ yei de gu yɛn anim ase te sɛ deɛ yɛayɛ bɔne bi.

Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines.

6 Wodɔ wʼatamfoɔ, na wotan wʼadɔfoɔ. Woada no adi ɛnnɛ sɛ, yɛnsɛ hwee mma wo. Sɛ Absalom te ase, na yɛn nyinaa awuwu a, anka wopɛ no saa.

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you!

7 Afei, firi kɔ seesei, na kɔma akodɔm no amo, na mebɔ Awurade din, ka ntam sɛ, sɛ woanyɛ saa a, wɔn mu baako koraa nka ha anadwo yi. Na ɛbɛma woagyigya asene kane no.”

Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!”

8 Na ɔhene no firii adi kɔtenaa kuro no abɔntenpono no ano. Na asɛm no trɛɛ kuro no mu nyinaa sɛ ɔwɔ hɔ no, obiara kɔɔ ne nkyɛn. Saa ɛberɛ no na Israelfoɔ a wɔtaa Absalom akyi no nyinaa adwane kɔ wɔn afie mu.

So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home.

9 Na Israel mmusuakuo no nyinaa mu, na wɔredi abooboo, gye akyinnyeɛ. Na nnipa no reka sɛ, “Ɔhene no gyee yɛn firii atamfoɔ a wɔyɛ Filistifoɔ nsam, nanso Absalom taa no so, pamoo no firii ɔman no mu.

And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom.

10 Na seesei Absalom a yɛsraa no sɛ ɔmmɛdi yɛn so ɔhene no nso awu. Momma yɛnkɔka nkyerɛ Dawid na ɔnsane mmra mmɛdi yɛn so.”

But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?”

11 Na ɔhene Dawid somaa asɔfoɔ Sadok ne Abiatar, ma wɔkɔbisaa Yuda mpanimfoɔ sɛ, “Adɛn enti na mo deɛ, mompɛ sɛ mode ɔhene ahennie bɛsane ama no? Na mate sɛ Israel nyinaa ayɛ krado, na mo nko ara na motwentwɛn mo nan ase.

Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters?

12 Moyɛ mʼabusuafoɔ, mʼabusuakuo, mʼankasa me honam ne me mogya. Na ɛno enti, adɛn enti na motwa toɔ wɔ wɔn a wɔpene sɛ mɛsane aba no mu?”

You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’

13 Dawid ma wɔkɔka kyerɛɛ Amasa sɛ, “Sɛ woyɛ me wɔfaase yi, sɛ manyɛ wo ɔsahene ansi Yoab ananmu a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no nwononwono.”

And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’”

14 Afei, Amasa korɔkorɔɔ Yuda ntuanofoɔ nyinaa, ma wɔtiee no sɛ nnipa korɔ. Wɔde saa asɛm yi kɔtoo ɔhene anim sɛ, “Wo ne wɔn a wɔne wo wɔ hɔ no nyinaa mmra yɛn nkyɛn.”

So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.”

15 Na ɔhene no de nʼani kyerɛɛ Yerusalem. Ɔduruu Asubɔnten Yordan ho no, Yudafoɔ bɛhyiaa no sɛ wɔde no retwa asuo no.

So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan.

16 Gera a ɔyɛ Benyaminni a ɔfiri Bahurim babarima Simei ne Yuda mmarima yɛɛ ntɛm kɔhyiaa ɔhene Dawid.

Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David,

17 Ɔrekɔ no, na Benyaminfoɔ apem ka ne ho a, na Siba a na ɔyɛ Saulo fidua mu soodoni, ne ne mmammarima dunum ne nʼasomfoɔ aduonu ka ho. Wɔyɛɛ ntɛm dii ɔhene no ɛkan kɔduruu Yordan hɔ.

along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king

18 Wɔtwa kɔɔ konkɔnoa kɔfaa ɔhene fiefoɔ de wɔn twaa asuo no, na wɔboaa wɔn wɔ ɛkwan biara a wɔbɛtumi so. Ɛberɛ a ɔhene no rebɛtwa asuo no, Gera babarima Simei kɔhwee nʼanim.

and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

19 Ɔsrɛɛ no sɛ, “Me wura ɔhene, fa me bɔne kyɛ me. Nkae amumuyɛsɛm a meyɛeɛ ɛberɛ a wofirii Yerusalem.

and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart.

20 Mahunu bɔne a mayɛ, enti na madi ɛkan wɔ Yosef abusua nyinaa mu rebɛkyea wo yi.”

For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.”

21 Na Seruia babarima Abisai kaa sɛ, “Simei sɛ owuo, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔdomee deɛ Awurade asra no no.”

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?”

22 Na Dawid bisaa sɛ, “Mo Seruia mma, ɛdeɛn na me ne mo wɔ yɛ? Ɛnnɛ nnyɛ da a wɔkum obi. Ɛyɛ anigyeɛ da! Masane abɛdi ɔhene wɔ Israel so bio!”

And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

23 Enti, ɔhene no kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Simei sɛ, “Wɔrenkum wo.”

So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him.

24 Mefiboset a ɔyɛ Saulo nana nso kɔhyiaa ɔhene no bi. Ɛfiri ɛberɛ a ɔhene no kɔeɛ no, na ɔnnwaree ne nan ase, mmubuu ne hweneanonwi so, nsii ne ntadeɛ da, kɔsii sɛ ɔhene baa asomdwoeɛ mu no.

Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.

25 Ɔhene no bisaa no sɛ, “Mefiboset, adɛn enti na wo ne me ankɔ?”

And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?”

26 Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Nana, me ɔsomfoɔ Siba daadaa me. Meyɛ obubuafo enti, mekaa sɛ, ‘hyehyɛ mʼafunumu ma me, na mentena ne so, sɛdeɛ mɛtumi ne ɔhene akɔ.’

“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me,

27 Siba abɛsɛe me akyerɛ me wura ɔhene sɛ mampɛ sɛ meba. Nanso menim sɛ wote sɛ Onyankopɔn ɔbɔfoɔ; ne saa enti, yɛ deɛ wogye di sɛ ɛyɛ.

and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. Yet my lord the king is like the angel of God, so do what is good in your eyes.

28 Biribiara mfata me ne mʼabusuafoɔ sɛ owuo a ɛbɛfiri me wura, ɔhene, nanso, woahyɛ me animuonyam wɔ wɔn a wɔdidi wo ɛpono so no mu. Enti, tumi bɛn na mewɔ sɛ mebisa ɔhene deɛ mehwehwɛ?”

For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?”

29 Ɔhene ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wʼasɛm aware? Mehyɛ mo sɛ, wo ne Siba nkyɛ nsase no mu.”

The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.”

30 Mefiboset ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no sɛ, “Ɛdɔɔ me so sɛ me wura ɔhene asane aba efie dwoodwoo yi, ma Siba mfa biribiara.”

And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!”

31 Gileadni Barsilai nso firi Rogelim baa sɛ ɔrebɛboa ama ɔhene atwa Yordan.

Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there.

32 Na Barsilai abɔ akɔkoraa a wadi mfeɛ aduɔwɔtwe, na ɔyɛ ɔdefoɔ kɛseɛ. Ɔno na ɔmaa ɔhene biribi diiɛ ɛberɛ a na ɔte Mahanaim no.

Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim.

33 Ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Barsilai sɛ, “Wo ne me ntwa, na wo ne me nkɔtena Yerusalem, na mɛhwɛ wo.”

The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.”

34 Nanso, Barsilai buaa ɔhene sɛ, “Aka me nna ahe a ɛsɛ sɛ me ne wo kɔtena Yerusalem, Nana?

But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king?

35 Madi mfirinhyia aduɔwɔtwe, na biribiara nyɛ me akɔnnɔ. Aduane ne nsã nyɛ me dɛ. Nnwontofoɔ nne so, merente na adesoa nko ara na mɛyɛ ama Nana.

I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king?

36 Animuonyam a mepɛ ara ne sɛ me ne Nana bɛtwa asuo no.

Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward?

37 Ma wo ɔsomfoɔ nsane nʼakyi, sɛdeɛ mɛwu wɔ me ara me kurom faako a wɔsiee mʼawofoɔ. Na me babarima Kimham nie. Ma ɔne me wura ɔhene nkɔ na ade pa biara a wopɛ no, yɛ ma no.”

Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.”

38 Ɔhene no gye too mu kaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, Kimham ne me bɛkɔ, na deɛ anka mɛyɛ ama woɔ no, mɛyɛ ama no.”

The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.”

39 Enti, nnipa no nyinaa ne ɔhene no twaa Yordan. Ɔhene no yɛɛ Barsilai atuu, hyiraa no. Na Barsilai sane nʼakyi kɔɔ ne kurom.

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home.

40 Ɔhene faa Kimham kaa ne ho kɔɔ Gilgal. Yuda akodɔm nyinaa ne Israel akodɔm no mu fa de ɔhene twaa asuo no.

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king.

41 Nanso, Israel mmarima nyinaa bɛnwiinwii kyerɛɛ ɔhene sɛ, “Adɛn enti na yɛn nuanom Yuda mmarima awia wo kɔ, na wɔde Ɔhene ne ne fiefoɔ ne Dawid mmarima nyinaa a wɔka ne ho no akɔtwa Yordan aba?”

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?”

42 Yuda mmarima nyinaa buaa Israel mmarima no sɛ, “Yɛyɛɛ saa, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔhene no yɛ yɛn busuani pɛɛ. Adɛn enti na mo bo afu saa asɛm yi ho? Yɛannye no hwee na ɔno nso amma yɛn aduane anaa akyɛdeɛ biara nso.”

And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?”

43 Na Israel mmarima buaa Yuda mmarima no sɛ, “Yɛwɔ mmusuakuo edu wɔ Israel na ɛno enti yɛwɔ ɔhene no mu kyɛfa edu. Na adɛn enti na mobu yɛn abomfiaa? Ɛnyɛ yɛn na yɛdii ɛkan kaa sɛ, wɔmfa yɛn ɔhene nsane mmra?” Na Yuda mmarima no ano yɛɛ den sene Israel mmarima no.

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.