2 Samuel 3

1 Ɔko a ɛbɛtɔɔ wɔn a wɔwɔ Saulo afa ne wɔn a wɔwɔ Dawid afa no kyɛree yie, na ne ahyɛaseɛ nie. Ɛberɛ a Dawid adedie renya ahoɔden no, na Saulo adedie no resɛe.

And the war was long between the house of Saul and the house of David; but David became continually stronger, and the house of Saul became continually weaker.

2 Yeinom ne Dawid mmammarima a wɔwoo wɔn wɔ Hebron: Nʼabakan no din de Amnon a ɔyɛ Ahinoam a ɔfiri Yesreel no babarima.

And to David were sons born in Hebron: his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jizreelitess;

3 Deɛ ɔtɔ so mmienu no din de Kileab a ɔyɛ Abigail a na ɔyɛ Nabal a ɔfiri Karmel no kunabaa babarima; deɛ ɔtɔ so mmiɛnsa no din de Absalom a ɔyɛ Gesurhene Talmai babaa Maaka babarima.

and his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maachah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;

4 Deɛ ɔtɔ so ɛnan no din de Adoniya a ɔyɛ Hagit babarima; deɛ ɔtɔ so enum no din de Sefatia a ɔyɛ Abital babarima.

and the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;

5 Na deɛ ɔtɔ so nsia no din de Yitream a ɔyɛ Dawid yere Egla babarima. Wɔwoo saa mma yi maa Dawid wɔ Hebron.

and the sixth, Ithream, of Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.

6 Ɛberɛ a na ɔko a ɛda Saulo fie ne Dawid fie no gu so no, na Abner yɛ ntuanoni a ɔwɔ tumi wɔ wɔn a wɔdi Saulo akyi no so.

And it came to pass while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.

7 Emu hɔ Is-Boset bɔɔ Abner kwaadu sɛ ɔne nʼagya Saulo mpena a wɔfrɛ no Rispa, a ɔyɛ Aya babaa, ada.

And Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And [Ishbosheth] said to Abner, Why hast thou gone in to my father's concubine?

8 Abner bo fuu yie kaa sɛ, “Meyɛ nkraman sodifoɔ wɔ Yuda na wɔadwoodwoo me saa? Deɛ mayɛ ama wo ne wʼagya, a mannyi mo amma Dawid no, mʼayɛyie ne sɛ, mode ɔbaa yi ho asɛm rekyekyere me?

Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, I who against Judah do shew kindness this day to the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou reproachest me this day with the fault of this woman?

9 Sɛ mammoa Dawid ma ne nsa anka deɛ Awurade hyɛɛ ho bɔ no a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no nwononwono.

So do God to Abner, and more also, if, as Jehovah has sworn to David, I do not so to him;

10 Mede Saulo ahennie bɛkɔ akɔma Dawid na matim Dawid ahennwa ase wɔ Israel ne Yuda so afiri Dan akɔsi Beer-Seba.”

to translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beer-sheba!

11 Esiane sɛ na Is-Boset suro Abner enti, wantumi ankasa bio.

And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.

12 Afei, Abner tuu abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Dawid nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Ma yɛnyɛ nhyehyɛeɛ na mɛboa ama yɛadane Israelman mu no nyinaa ama wo.”

And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying [also], Make thy covenant with me, and behold, my hand shall be with thee, to turn all Israel to thee.

13 Dawid buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ asɛm papa, nanso me ne wo renyɛ saa nhyehyɛeɛ no gye sɛ, sɛ woreba a, wode me yere Mikal a ɔyɛ Saulo babaa no brɛ me.”

And he said, Well, I will make a covenant with thee; only I require one thing of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.

14 Enti, Dawid soma ma wɔkɔbɔɔ Saulo babarima Is-Boset amaneɛ sɛ, “Ma me nsa nka me yere Mikal, ɛfiri sɛ, mede Filistifoɔ ɔha nkwa na ɛtɔɔ no.”

And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, whom I espoused to me for a hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

15 Enti, Is-Boset gyee Mikal firii ne kunu Paltiel a ɔyɛ Lais babarima no nsam.

And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from [her] husband, from Phaltiel the son of Laish.

16 Na Paltiel de su dii ɔbaa no akyi kɔduruu Bahurim. Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Sane kɔ efie.” Na Paltiel sane kɔɔ efie.

And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner to him, Go, return. And he returned.

17 Na Abner ne Israel ntuanofoɔ adidi nkɔmmɔ. Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mmerɛ kakra a atwam nie no, na mopɛ sɛ mosi Dawid ɔhene.

Now Abner had communicated with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David aforetime to be king over you;

18 Ɛberɛ no nie. Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade aka sɛ, ‘Mayi Dawid sɛ ɔnnye me nkurɔfoɔ mfiri Filistifoɔ ne wɔn atamfoɔ nyinaa nsam.’”

and now do [it], for Jehovah has spoken of David, saying, By my servant David will I save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.

19 Abner sane ne Benyamin abusua mu ntuanofoɔ kasaeɛ. Afei, ɔkɔɔ Hebron kɔbɔɔ Dawid amaneɛ sɛ, Israel nyinaa ne Benyamin taa wʼakyi.

And Abner also spoke in the ears of Benjamin; and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.

20 Ɛberɛ a Abner ne ne mmarima aduonu baa Hebron no, Dawid too wɔn ɛpono kɛseɛ.

So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a repast.

21 Na Abner ka kyerɛɛ Dawid sɛ, “Ma menkɔ na menkɔfrɛ Israel nnipa nyinaa na wɔmmra wʼafa. Wɔne wo bɛyɛ apam, na wɔasi wo ɔhene. Na ɛbɛma woadi biribiara a wʼakoma pɛ so.” Enti, Dawid maa Abner kɔɔ dwoodwoo.

And Abner said to David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thy heart desires. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

22 Abner kɔeɛ ara pɛ, Yoab ne Dawid akodɔm no bi firi ɔsa mu baeɛ a wɔkura asadeɛ bebree.

And behold, the servants of David and Joab came from an expedition, and brought in a great spoil with them; but Abner was no longer with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he had gone in peace.

23 Ɛberɛ a wɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ Abner baa hɔ nkyɛree koraa, na ɔbɛsraa ɔhene, ama ɔhene ama no kɔ asomdwoeɛ mu no,

And Joab and all the host that was with him came; and they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he has sent him away; and he is gone in peace.

24 Yoab yɛɛ ntɛm kɔhunuu ɔhene bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na woayɛ yi? Abner kɔ a womaa no kɔeɛ yi, wokyerɛ sɛn?

Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came to thee; why is it [that] thou hast sent him away, and he is gone?

25 Wonim pefee sɛ, ɔbaa wo so sɛ ɔkwansrafoɔ, bɛhwehwɛɛ deɛ woreyɛ nyinaa mu anaa?”

Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.

26 Ɛhɔ ara, Yoab firi Dawid nkyɛn, na ɔsomaa abɔfoɔ sɛ wɔnti Abner. Wɔkɔtoo no Sira ɔtadeɛ ho, twee no de no baeɛ. Nanso, na Dawid nnim ho hwee.

And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him again from the well of Sirah; but David did not know it.

27 Afei, Abner sane kɔɔ Hebron no, Yoab frɛɛ no kɔɔ nkyɛn kɔsii ɛpono ano te sɛ deɛ ɔrekɔka kɔkoamsɛm akyerɛ no no. Na ɛhɔ no na ɛsiane sɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔtɔ ne nuabarima Asahel so wedeɛ no enti, Yoab wɔɔ Abner yafunu mu sekan ma ɔwuiɛ.

And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him secretly, and smote him there in the belly, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.

28 Akyire no a Dawid tee saa asɛm yi no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Me ne mʼahemman nnim saa asɛm a ɛfa Abner yi ho hwee wɔ Awurade anim.

And afterwards David heard [it], and he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before Jehovah for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:

29 Ne mogya ngu Yoab ne nʼagya fie so! Yoab efie deɛ, awoɔ ntoatoasoɔ mu nyinaa, obi a watutu akuro anaa ɔyare kwata, deɛ ɔnam poma ho nanteɛ anaa deɛ ɔwu akofena ano ne deɛ ɔsrɛsrɛ aduane rempa hɔ da.”

let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that has an issue, or that is a leper, or that leans on a staff, or that falls by the sword, or that lacks bread!

30 Yoab ne ne nuabarima Abisai kumm Abner, ɛfiri sɛ, Abner kumm wɔn nuabarima Asahel wɔ akono wɔ Gibeon.

So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.

31 Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ Yoab ne nnipa a wɔka ne ho no nyinaa sɛ, “Monsunsuane mo ntoma mu, na momfira ayitoma. Montwa Abner agyaadwoɔ.” Na ɔhene Dawid ankasa dii santen a wɔato no akyi, kɔɔ ɛda no so.

And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your garments, and gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David followed the bier.

32 Wɔsiee Abner wɔ Hebron, na ɔhene Dawid ne nnipa no nyinaa suu wɔ ne damena no ho.

And they buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.

33 Afei, ɔhene too saa kwadwom yi maa Abner: “Ɛsɛ sɛ Abner wu sɛdeɛ nkwaseafoɔ wuo anaa?

And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Should Abner die as a fool dieth?

34 Wɔankyekyere wo nsa; wɔangu wo nan nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn. Dabi, wɔdii wo awu; amumuyɛfoɔ atirimpɔ so adeɛ.” Nnipa no nyinaa suu Abner bio.

Thy hands were not bound, Nor thy feet put into fetters; As a man falleth before wicked men, Fellest thou! And all the people wept again over him.

35 Ɛda a wɔreyɛ ayie no, Dawid annidi da mu no nyinaa, maa afei, obiara srɛɛ no sɛ ɔnnidi. Nanso, na Dawid aka ntam sɛ, “Sɛ medidi ansa na owia akɔtɔ a, Onyankopɔn nku me.”

And all the people came to cause David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread or aught else till the sun be down!

36 Yei sɔɔ nnipa no ani yie. Nokorɛm, biribiara a ɔhene no yɛeɛ no sɔɔ ɔmanfoɔ no ani.

And all the people remarked it, and it pleased them; as whatever the king did pleased all the people.

37 Yei maa obiara a ɔte Yuda ne Israel no hunuu sɛ, ɛnyɛ ɔhene Dawid na ɔkumm Abner.

And all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to put Abner the son of Ner to death.

38 Na ɔhene Dawid bisaa ɔmanfoɔ no sɛ, “Monhunu sɛ ɔkannifoɔ kɛseɛ ne onipa kɛseɛ atɔ fam ɛnnɛ wɔ Israel anaa?

And the king said to his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?

39 Na ɛwom sɛ me ne ɔhene a wɔasra no deɛ, nanso Seruia mmammarima Yoab ne Abisai deɛ, wɔyɛ den dodo ma me sɛ mɛtumi aka wɔn ahyɛ. Ɛno enti, Awurade ntua saa mmarima amumuyɛfoɔ yi so ka wɔ wɔn amumuyɛsɛm ho.”

And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too hard for me: Jehovah reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness!