2 Samuel 1

1 Saulo owuo akyi no, Dawid sane firii nkonim a ɔdii Amalekfoɔ so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnanu.

AND IT came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2 Ne nnansa so no, ɔbarima bi firi Saulo sraban mu a watete ne ntadeɛ mu, atu mfuturo agu ne tiri mu, de rekyerɛ sɛ ɔretwa adwo baeɛ. Ɔduruu Dawid nkyɛn no, ɔdanee ne ho hwee fam anidie mu.

it came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head; and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and prostrated himself.

3 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛhe na wofiri?” Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Madwane afiri Israel sraban mu.”

And David said unto him: 'From whence comest thou?' And he said unto him: 'Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.'

4 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn? Ɔko no kɔsii sɛn?” Ɔkaa sɛ, “Mmarima no dwane firii akono. Bebree totɔeɛ. Na Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan nso atotɔ.”

And David said unto him: 'How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me.' And he answered: 'The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.'

5 Enti, Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wohunuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”

And David said unto the young man that told him: 'How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?'

6 Aberanteɛ no buaa sɛ, “Mekɔfirii Gilboa bepɔ so, na mekɔtoo sɛ Saulo sina ne pea so a atamfoɔ no nteaseɛnam ne nʼapɔnkɔsotefoɔ abɛn no ara.

And the young man that told him said: 'As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen pressed hard upon him.

7 Ɔdanee ne ho a ɔhunuu me no, ɔteaam frɛɛ me sɛ memmra. Mebisaa no sɛ, ‘Menyɛ ɛdeɛn?’

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered: Here am I.

8 “Ɔbisaa me sɛ, ‘Wone hwan?’ “Mebuaa no sɛ, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’

And he said unto me: Who art thou? And I answered him: I am an Amalekite.

9 “Na ɔsrɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Bɛgyina me so na kum me, na me ho yera me yie, na mepɛ sɛ mewu.’

And he said unto me: Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me, for the agony hath taken hold of me; because my life is just yet in me.

10 “Enti, megyinaa ne so kumm no, ɛfiri sɛ, na menim sɛ tebea a ɔwɔ mu no, ɔrennya nkwa. Na metuu nʼahenkyɛ a ɛhyɛ no no ne nʼabasa so kapo no sɛ mede rebrɛ wo, me wura.”

So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen; and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.'

11 Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhoɔ sunsuanee wɔn ntadeɛ mu.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him.

12 Wɔtwaa ho agyaadwoɔ, suiɛ, bua daa da mu no nyinaa wɔ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan wuo ne Awurade akodɔm ne Israelman sɛ wɔn mu pii wuwuu saa da no.

And they wailed, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 Na Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ wɔn saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Wofiri he?” Na ɔbuaa sɛ, “Meyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ Amalekni a mete mo asase so.”

And David said unto the young man that told him: 'Whence art thou?' And he answered: 'I am the son of an Amalekite stranger.'

14 Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Na wonsuro sɛ wobɛkum obi a Awurade asra no no?”

And David said unto him: 'How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy the LORD'S anointed?'

15 Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako sɛ, “Ku no!” Enti, ɔbarima no twee nʼakofena de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kumm no.

And David called one of the young men, and said: 'Go near, and fall upon him.' And he smote him that he died.

16 Na Dawid kaa sɛ, “Wʼano ayi mmusuo ama wo ama woawu, ɛfiri sɛ, wo ara na wokaa sɛ woakum obi a Awurade asra no no.”

And David said unto him: 'Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying: I have slain the LORD'S anointed.'

17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son,

18 Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnkyerɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nyinaa to. Wɔtoo no edin sɛ agyan dwom a wɔatwerɛ wɔ Yasar Nwoma mu.

and said — To teach the sons of Judah the bow. Behold, it is written in the book of Jashar:

19 “Wʼanimuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛ, Ao Israel, awu da mmepɔ so! Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ!

Thy beauty, O Israel, upon thy high places is slain! How are the mighty fallen!

20 “Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifoɔ abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔntene so, na abosonsomfoɔ ansere ahosɛpɛ mu.

Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 “Ao Gilboa mmepɔ, mma bosuo anaa osuo ntɔ ngu wo so, anaa wo nsianeɛ so. Ɛfiri sɛ, ɛhɔ na wɔguu ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ no akokyɛm ho fi; wɔremfa ngo nsra Saulo akokyɛm ho bio.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

22 “Saulo ne Yonatan kunkumm wɔn atamfoɔ ahoɔdenfoɔ! Wɔamfiri akono amma no nsapan.

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 Ɔdɔ ne ahoɔfɛ bɛn na na Saulo ne Yonatan nni, wɔn mu antete da, nkwa ne owuo mu. Na wɔn ho yɛ hare kyɛn akɔdeɛ; na wɔn ho yɛ den kyɛn agyata.

Saul and Jonathan, the lovely and the pleasant in their lives, even in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 “Ao, Israel mmaa, monsu Saulo, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔfiraa mo ntoma pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agudeɛ.

Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 “Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔ no so.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan upon thy high places is slain!

26 Hwɛ sɛdeɛ mesu woɔ, me nua Yonatan; Ao, hwɛ ɔdɔ a mede dɔɔ woɔ! Na wo dɔ a wode dɔɔ me no mu dɔ; emu dɔ sene mmaa dɔ!

I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou been unto me; wonderful was thy love to me, passing the love of women.

27 “Hwɛ sɛdeɛ akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ! Wɔayiyi wɔn akodeɛ afiri wɔn ho, na wɔawuwu deda hɔ.”

How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!