< 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. David grew stronger and stronger, but 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.
Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from 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.
His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maacah, 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.
David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah 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, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons 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.
It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong 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.
Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ishbosheth said to Abner, “Why have you slept with 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 Abner was very angry at the words of Ishbosheth and said, “Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of an offense concerning this woman?
9 Sɛ mammoa Dawid ma ne nsa anka deɛ Awurade hyɛɛ ho bɔ no a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no nwononwono.
May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn 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 set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”
11 Esiane sɛ na Is-Boset suro Abner enti, wantumi ankasa bio.
Ishbosheth 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.”
Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, “Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel 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.”
David answered, “Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me.”
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.”
Then David sent messengers to Ishbosheth, Saul's son, saying, “Give me my wife Michal, for whom I paid a price of one hundred Philistine foreskins.”
15 Enti, Is-Boset gyee Mikal firii ne kunu Paltiel a ɔyɛ Lais babarima no nsam.
So Ishbosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel 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.
Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Return home now.” So 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.
Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, “In the past you were trying to have David 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 do it. For Yahweh has spoken of David saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from 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.
Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish.
20 Ɛberɛ a Abner ne ne mmarima aduonu baa Hebron no, Dawid too wɔn ɛpono kɛseɛ.
When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them.
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 explained to David, “I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire.” So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.
22 Abner kɔeɛ ara pɛ, Yoab ne Dawid akodɔm no bi firi ɔsa mu baeɛ a wɔkura asadeɛ bebree.
Then the soldiers of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had 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 with him arrived, they told Joab, “Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner 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 have you sent him away, and he is gone?
25 Wonim pefee sɛ, ɔbaa wo so sɛ ɔkwansrafoɔ, bɛhwehwɛɛ deɛ woreyɛ nyinaa mu anaa?”
Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything 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 left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this.
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 in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and killed him. In this way, Joab avenged 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.
When David heard about this he said, “I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner 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 the guilt of Abner's death fall on the head of Joab and on all his father's house. May there never fail to be in the family of Joab someone who has a flowing sore or skin disease or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or who goes without food.”
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 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, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body.” Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession.
32 Wɔsiee Abner wɔ Hebron, na ɔhene Dawid ne nnipa no nyinaa suu wɔ ne damena no ho.
They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept.
33 Afei, ɔhene too saa kwadwom yi maa Abner: “Ɛsɛ sɛ Abner wu sɛdeɛ nkwaseafoɔ wuo anaa?
The king lamented for Abner and sang, “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. Your feet were not shackled. As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen.” Once more all the people wept 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.”
All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, “May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down.”
36 Yei sɔɔ nnipa no ani yie. Nokorɛm, biribiara a ɔhene no yɛeɛ no sɔɔ ɔmanfoɔ no ani.
All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them.
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 the king's desire to kill Abner 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 know that a prince 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.”
Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too brutal for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves.”

< 2 Samuel 3 >