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.

Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. But David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

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

Now sons were born to David in Hebron. And his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam of Jezreel;

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, Daluiah, of Abigail of Carmel; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the 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, 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 about while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner was gaining power in 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.

Now Saul had a secondary wife, Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. And Ishbaal son of Saul said to Abner, "Why have you gone in to my father's secondary wife?"

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 Abner was very angry over the words of Ishbaal, and said, "Am I a dog's head? Until today, is it for myself that I have been doing all these things, showing loyalty to the house of Saul your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, and have not delivered you into the hand of David? And yet you charge me this day with a fault concerning this woman.

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

God do so to Abner, and more also, if, as the LORD has sworn to David, I do not do even 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 transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba."

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

And Ishbaal could not answer Abner another word, 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.”

Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, "Whose is the land?" and saying, "Make an agreement with me, and look, my hand shall be with you, to bring all Israel around to you."

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.”

He said, "Good. I will make a covenant with you, but one thing I require of you. That is, you shall not see my face unless you first bring Mikal, Saul's daughter, when you come 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.”

David sent messengers to Ishbaal, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Mikal, whom I betrothed to myself for one hundred foreskins of the Philistines."

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

Ishbaal sent and took her from her husband Paltiel 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.

But her husband went with her, weeping behind her, as far as Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go back." So he went back.

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

Abner advised the elders of Israel, saying, "For some time you have wanted David 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.’”

Now then do it, for the LORD has spoken of David, saying, 'By the hand of my servant David, I will 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 privately to the sons of Benjamin. And Abner also spoke privately to David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and 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. David made Abner and the men who were with him a feast.

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.

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 you, and that you may reign over all that your soul desires." David sent Abner away; and he left in peace.

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

Look, the servants of David and Joab were returning from a raid, and brought in a great spoil with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron, for he had sent him away, and he left 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,

When Joab and all the army who was with him had come, they told Joab, saying, "Abner the son of Ner came to David, and he has sent him away, and he left 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 have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why is it that you have sent him away? Now he has gone.

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

Don't you know the evil ways of Abner the son of Ner? He came to deceive you and to observe your movements and to learn everything that you are doing."

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.

When Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back 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.

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the abdomen, so 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.

Afterward, when David heard it, he said, "I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD now and forever of 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.”

May it whirl over the head of Joab, and on all his father's house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who 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 killed 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.

David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the coffin.

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

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?

The king lamented for Abner, and said, "Should Abner die as a fool dies?

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

Your hands were not bound in chains, your feet were not put into fetters. As a man falls before the ruthless, so you fell." 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.”

Then all the people came to persuade David to eat bread while it was yet day; but David swore, saying, "God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or anything else, until the sun goes down."

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

And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them; just as everything the king did pleased the people.

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

So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to kill Abner the son of Ner.

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

The king said to his servants, "Do you not realize that a leader and a great man has 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.”

I am this day weak, though anointed king. And these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May the LORD reward the evildoer according to his wickedness."