Yosua 9

1 Afei, ahemfo a wɔwɔ Yordan atɔeɛ fam no nyinaa tee nsɛm a asisi. (Yeinom ne Hetifoɔ, Amorifoɔ, Kanaanfoɔ, Perisifoɔ, Hewifoɔ ne Yebusifoɔ ahemfo a na wɔtete mmepɔ nsase a ɛwɔ atɔeɛ fam mmepɔ ayaase ne Ɛpo Kɛseɛ no mpoano kɔsi Lebanon atifi fam mmepɔ so tɔnn.)

Now when news of this reached all the kings west of the Jordan—those in the hill country, the foothills, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon (the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)—

2 Saa ahemfo yi boaa wɔn akodɔm ano ntɛm so sɛ wɔbɛko atia Yosua ne Israelfoɔ.

they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 Nanso Gibeonfoɔ tee asɛm a ato Yeriko ne Ai no,

But the people of Gibeon, having heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 wɔfaa nnaadaa kwan so de gyee wɔn ho nkwa. Wɔsomaa ananmusifoɔ kɔɔ Yosua nkyɛn. Wɔde nkotokuo a atete ne mmoa nwoma nsã nkotokuo a ayɛ dada na wɔatetɛ mu soaa wɔn mfunumu.

acted deceptively and set out as envoys, carrying on their donkeys worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

5 Wɔhyehyɛɛ ntadeɛ dada ne mpaboa a akyɛre na wɔapempam. Afei wɔfaa burodo a abɔ ntu sɛ wɔn aduane.

They put worn, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies, and their whole supply of bread was dry and moldy.

6 Wɔduruu Israelfoɔ atenaeɛ wɔ Gilgal no, wɔka kyerɛɛ Yosua ne Israel mmarimma no sɛ, “Yɛfiri akyirikyiri ɔman bi so na aba rebɛsrɛ mo sɛ mo ne yɛn nyɛ asomdwoeɛ apam.”

They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land; please make a treaty with us.”

7 Israelfoɔ no buaa saa Hewifoɔ yi sɛ, “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na yɛahunu sɛ monnte mmɛn ha? Ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ ɛte saa a, yɛrentumi ne mo nnyɛ apam.”

But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell near us. How can we make a treaty with you?”

8 Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Yɛbɛyɛ mo asomfoɔ.” Yosua bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Moyɛ ɛhefoɔ na mofiri he?”

“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where have you come from?”

9 Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Yɛfiri akyirikyiri asase bi so. Yɛate Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn no kɛseyɛ ne deɛ ɔyɛɛ wɔ Misraim nyinaa.

“Your servants have come from a very distant land,” they replied, “because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard the reports about Him: all that He did in Egypt,

10 Afei yɛate deɛ ɔyɛɛ Amorifoɔ ahemfo baanu wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan apueeɛ fam, Hesbonhene Sihon ne Basanhene Og (a ɔtenaa Astarot no).

and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

11 Ɛno enti, yɛn mpanimfoɔ ne ɔmanfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ yɛn ɔhyɛ so sɛ, ‘Monsiesie mo ho mma akwantuo tenten. Monkɔhyia Israelfoɔ na mompae mu nka sɛ, “Yɛn nkurɔfoɔ bɛyɛ wɔn asomfoɔ na mompere asomdwoeɛ.”’

So the elders and inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go to meet them and say to them: We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us.’

12 Yɛresi mu no, na burodo yi yɛ hyeehyeehye a ɛfiri fononoo mu. Nanso sɛdeɛ mohunu no, akyenkyene na abɔ ntu.

This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But take a look, it is now dry and moldy.

13 Saa mmoa nwoma nsã nkotokuo yi, ɛberɛ a yɛde nsã guu mu no na ɛyɛ foforɔ, nanso seesei, apaapae ayɛ dada. Na yɛn ntadeɛ ne mpaboa nso, ɛsiane akwantuo tenten enti, atete.”

These wineskins were new when we filled them, but look, they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.”

14 Enti, Israelfoɔ no hwehwɛɛ wɔn burodo no ho nanso wɔammisa Awurade.

Then the men of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not seek the counsel of the LORD.

15 Yosua kɔɔ so ne wɔn yɛɛ asomdwoeɛ apam no na Israel mpanimfoɔ no kekaa ntam a emu yɛ den nam so gye too mu.

And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them.

16 Nnansa akyi no, nokorɛ no daa adi sɛ saa nnipa a wɔyɛ Gibeonfoɔ no te bɛn.

Three days after they had made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites learned that they were neighbors, living among them.

17 Enti, Israelfoɔ no anna so koraa na wɔyɛɛ sɛ wɔbɛyɛ nhwehwɛmu. Nnansa akyi no wɔduruu wɔn nkuro no so. Saa nkuro no ne Gibeon, Kefira, Beerot ne Kiriat-Yearim.

So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities—Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.

18 Nanso, Israelfoɔ no anto anhyɛ nkuro no so, ɛfiri sɛ, na wɔn mpanimfoɔ aka ntam akyerɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn. Esiane Apam no enti, Israelfoɔ no nwiinwii hyɛɛ wɔn mpanimfoɔ no.

But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders.

19 Na mpanimfoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Yɛaka ntam wɔ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn anim. Yɛrentumi mfa yɛn nsa nka wɔn.

All the leaders answered, “We have sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

20 Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛma wɔtena. Sɛ yɛbu yɛn ntam no so a, Onyankopɔn bo bɛfu yɛn.

This is how we will treat them: We will let them live, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

21 Momma wɔntena. Nanso, yɛbɛma wɔabu nnua, akɔ asuo ama asafo no nyinaa.” Enti Israelfoɔ no dii ɛbɔ a wɔahyɛ Gibeonfoɔ no so.

They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole congregation.” So the leaders kept their promise.

22 Na Yosua frɛɛ Gibeonfoɔ mpanimfoɔ no bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Adɛn enti na motwaa atorɔ kyerɛɛ yɛn? Adɛn enti na mokaa sɛ mote akyirikyiri asase so wɔ ɛberɛ a mote yɛn mu pɛɛ?

Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by telling us you live far away from us, when in fact you live among us?

23 Nnome mmra mo so! Ɛfiri ɛnnɛ rekorɔ, mobɛbu nnua, atwe nsuo de akɔ me Onyankopɔn fie.”

Now therefore you are under a curse and will perpetually serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 Wɔbuaa Yosua sɛ, “Yɛyɛɛ saa, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔka kyerɛɛ yɛn sɛ, Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn hyɛɛ ne ɔsomfoɔ Mose sɛ ɔmmɛko nni saa asase yi nyinaa so na ɔnsɛe nnipa a wɔte so nyinaa. Yɛsuroo sɛ mobɛkum yɛn. Ɛno enti na ɛma yɛyɛɛ saa.

The Gibeonites answered, “Your servants were told clearly that the LORD your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land and wipe out all its inhabitants before you. So we greatly feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we have done this.

25 Seesei yɛdan mo. Deɛ mosusu sɛ ɛyɛ ma mo biara no, monyɛ.”

Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26 Yosua amma Israelfoɔ no ankum wɔn.

So Joshua did this and delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill the Gibeonites.

27 Na ɛda no, ɔmaa Gibeonfoɔ no yɛɛ nnuabufoɔ ne asukɔfoɔ maa Israelfoɔ ne Awurade afɔrebukyia no wɔ baabiara a Awurade bɛka sɛ wɔnsi no no. Saa nhyehyɛeɛ no wɔ hɔ bɛsi ɛnnɛ.

On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers, as they are to this day for the congregation of the LORD and for the altar at the place He would choose.