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.)
Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites—
2 Saa ahemfo yi boaa wɔn akodɔm ano ntɛm so sɛ wɔbɛko atia Yosua ne Israelfoɔ.
these joined together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
3 Nanso Gibeonfoɔ tee asɛm a ato Yeriko ne Ai no,
When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to 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.
they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired.
5 Wɔhyehyɛɛ ntadeɛ dada ne mpaboa a akyɛre na wɔapempam. Afei wɔfaa burodo a abɔ ntu sɛ wɔn aduane.
They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply 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.”
Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant 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.”
The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?”
8 Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Yɛbɛyɛ mo asomfoɔ.” Yosua bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Moyɛ ɛhefoɔ na mofiri he?”
They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua said to them, “Who are you? Where did you come from?”
9 Wɔbuaa sɛ, “Yɛfiri akyirikyiri asase bi so. Yɛate Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn no kɛseyɛ ne deɛ ɔyɛɛ wɔ Misraim nyinaa.
They said to him, “Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the name of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything 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 everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at 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.”’
Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. 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 is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is 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, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn-out from a very long journey.'”
14 Enti, Israelfoɔ no hwehwɛɛ wɔn burodo no ho nanso wɔammisa Awurade.
So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance.
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.
Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also made a vow to them.
16 Nnansa akyi no, nokorɛ no daa adi sɛ saa nnipa a wɔyɛ Gibeonfoɔ no te bɛn.
Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby.
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.
Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, 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.
The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the Israelites were grumbling against their leaders.
19 Na mpanimfoɔ no buaa sɛ, “Yɛaka ntam wɔ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn anim. Yɛrentumi mfa yɛn nsa nka wɔn.
But all the leaders said to all the people, “We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.
20 Ɛsɛ sɛ yɛma wɔtena. Sɛ yɛbu yɛn ntam no so a, Onyankopɔn bo bɛfu yɛn.
This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live.”
21 Momma wɔntena. Nanso, yɛbɛma wɔabu nnua, akɔ asuo ama asafo no nyinaa.” Enti Israelfoɔ no dii ɛbɔ a wɔahyɛ Gibeonfoɔ no so.
The leaders said to their people, “Let them live.” So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.
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?
Joshua called for them and said, “Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us?
23 Nnome mmra mo so! Ɛfiri ɛnnɛ rekorɔ, mobɛbu nnua, atwe nsuo de akɔ me Onyankopɔn fie.”
Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water 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.
They answered Joshua and said, “Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing.
25 Seesei yɛdan mo. Deɛ mosusu sɛ ɛyɛ ma mo biara no, monyɛ.”
Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it.”
26 Yosua amma Israelfoɔ no ankum wɔn.
So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the Israelites did not kill them.
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.
That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.
