Atemmufoɔ 11
1 Gileadni Yefta yɛ ɔkofoɔ kɛseɛ. Nʼagya din de Gilead. Nanso ne maame yɛ ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ.
Now, Jephthah the Gileadite, was a mighty man of valour, but, he, was the son of an unchaste woman, —yet Gilead was the father of Jephthah.
2 Gilead yere woo mmammarima bebree, na saa mmammarima no nyinyiniiɛ no, wɔpamoo Yefta firii asase no so. Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Worennya yɛn agya agyapadeɛ biara, ɛfiri sɛ, woyɛ ɔbaa dwamanfoɔ bi ba.”
And the wife of Gilead bare him sons, —and, when the wife’s sons grew up, they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him—Thou shalt not inherit with the house of our father, for, son of an alien woman, art thou.
3 Enti Yefta dwane firii ne nuanom nkyɛn kɔtenaa Tob asase so. Ankyɛre, ɔnyaa atuatefoɔ bebree bɛdii nʼakyi.
So Jephthah fled from the face of his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob, —and there gathered about Jephthah unemployed men, who went forth with him.
4 Ɛberɛ korɔ yi ara, Amonfoɔ de ɔko bɛkaa Israel.
And so it came to pass, after a time, —that the sons of Ammon made war with Israel.
5 Ɛberɛ a Amonfoɔ to hyɛɛ Israelfoɔ so, Gilead mpanimfoɔ soma kɔfaa Yefta firii Tob asase so baeɛ. Wɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ,
When, therefore, it came to pass that the sons of Ammon made war with Israel, then went the elders of Gilead, to summon Jephthah out of the land of Tob.
6 “Bra na bɛyɛ yɛn so ɔsahene! Boa yɛn ma yɛne Amonfoɔ nko.”
And they said to Jephthah, Oh! come and be our commander, —that we may do battle with the sons of Ammon.
7 Yefta bisaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛnyɛ mo na motane me, pamoo me firii mʼagya fie no? Adɛn enti na afei a mowɔ ɔhaw mu no, morebɛfrɛ me?”
But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Have not, ye, hated me, and thrust me out from the house of my father? Wherefore then, are ye come unto me, now, when ye are in distress?
8 Gilead mpanimfoɔ no ka kyerɛɛ Yefta sɛ, “Wo ho hia yɛn. Sɛ wodi yɛn anim ma yɛko tia Amonfoɔ a, yɛbɛyɛ wo Gileadfoɔ nyinaa sodifoɔ.”
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah—Therefore, have we, now, returned unto thee, that, if thou go with us, and do battle with the sons of Ammon, then shalt thou become our head, for all the inhabitants of Gilead.
9 Yefta buaa sɛ, “Sɛ me ne mo kɔ na Awurade ma medi Amonfoɔ so nkonim a, ampa ara sɛ mode me bɛyɛ nnipa no nyinaa sodifoɔ anaa?”
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead—If ye do bring me back to do battle with the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them up before me, shall, I myself, become your head?
10 Gilead ntuanofoɔ no buaa no sɛ, “Awurade ne yɛn danseni. Yɛbɛyɛ sɛdeɛ woka biara.”
And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah—Yahweh himself, will be hearkening between us, if, according to thy word, so, we do not.
11 Enti, Yefta ne ntuanofoɔ no kɔɔ Gilead. Na wɔde no yɛɛ wɔn sodifoɔ ne ɔsahene. Na Yefta tii nsɛm no nyinaa mu wɔ Mispa wɔ Awurade anim.
Then went Jephthah with the elders of Gilead, and the people set him over them, as head and commander, —and Jephthah spake all his words before Yahweh, in Mizpah.
12 Afei, Yefta somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amonfoɔ ɔhene nkyɛn sɛ wɔnkɔbisa no deɛ enti a ɔrebɛto ahyɛ Israel so.
So then Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, —What occasion is there between us, that thou shouldst have come unto me, to fight against my land?
13 Amonfoɔ ɔhene buaa Yefta abɔfoɔ no sɛ, “Ɛberɛ a Israel firii Misraim baeɛ no, wɔfaa mʼasase a ɛfiri Asubɔnten Arnon de kɔsi Asubɔnten Yabok, toaso kɔsi Yordan. Enti, sane fa mʼadeɛ ma me asomdwoeɛ mu.”
And the king of the sons of Ammon said unto the messengers of Jephthah—Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and unto the Jordan, —now, therefore, restore them in peace.
14 Na Yefta sane somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amonfoɔ ɔhene hɔ sɛ,
And Jephthah yet once more sent messengers unto the king of the sons of Ammon;
15 “Sɛdeɛ Yefta seɛ nie: Israel amfa Moab asase anaa Amonfoɔ asase biara.
and said unto him, Thus, saith Jephthah, —Israel took not away the land of Moab, or the land of the sons of Ammon;
16 Ɛberɛ a Israelfoɔ tuu kwan firii Misraim, twaa Ɛpo Kɔkɔɔ na wɔduruu Kades no,
for, when they came up out of Egypt, and Israel journeyed through the desert as far as the Red Sea, and came in unto Kadesh,
17 wɔsomaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Edomhene hɔ sɛ ɔmma wɔn ɛkwan na wɔmfa nʼasase no so. Nanso Edomhene ampene. Wɔsoma ma wɔkɔɔ Moabhene hɔ, nanso ɔno nso ampene. Enti, Israelfoɔ tenaa Kades.
then did Israel send messengers unto the king of Edom, saying—Let me pass, I pray thee, through thy land, but the king of Edom hearkened not, unto the king of Moab also, sent they, but he would not consent, —so Israel abode in Kadesh.
18 “Ne korakora ne sɛ, wɔnam ɛserɛ so twa faa Edom ne Moab ho hyiaeɛ. Wɔfaa Edom apueeɛ fam hyeɛ so kyeree sraban wɔ Asubɔnten Arnon fa hɔ. Nanso, wɔantwa Asubɔnten Arnon ankɔ Moab asase so.
Then journeyed they through the desert, and went round the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and so came, from the rising of the sun, to the land of Moab, but encamped beyond Arnon, —and entered not within the boundary of Moab, for, Arnon, is the boundary of Moab.
19 “Afei, Israelfoɔ somaa abɔfoɔ kɔɔ Amorifoɔhene Sihon a ɔdii adeɛ firi Hesbon na wɔbisaa ɛkwan sɛ wɔpɛ sɛ wɔfa nʼasase so kɔ baabi a wɔrekɔ.
Then did Israel send messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon, —and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land as far as my own place.
20 Nanso, ɛsiane sɛ na ɔhene Sihon nni Israelfoɔ mu gyidie enti ɔboaboaa ne dɔm ano wɔ Yahas maa wɔto hyɛɛ wɔn so.
But Sihon trusted not Israel, to pass through his boundary, so Sihon gathered together all his people, and encamped in Jahaz, —and fought against Israel.
21 “Na Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, maa ne nkurɔfoɔ dii ɔhene Sihon so. Enti, Israelfoɔ faa Amorifoɔ asase a na wɔte so wɔ ɔmantam no mu
Then did Yahweh, God of Israel, deliver up Sihon, and all his people, into the hand of Israel, and they smote them, —so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that land.
22 firi Asubɔnten Arnon de kɔsi Asubɔnten Yabok, firi ɛserɛ no so de kɔsi Yordan nyinaa dii so.
Yea they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites, —from Arnon, even as far as the Jabbok, and from the desert, even as far as the Jordan.
23 “Enti, moahunu, ɛyɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn na ɔgyee asase no firii Amorifoɔ nsam na ɔde maa Israel. Enti, adɛn na ɛsɛ sɛ yɛde ma mo?
Now, therefore, it was, Yahweh God of Israel, that dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, —and shalt, thou, possess it?
24 Deɛ mo nyame Kemos de maa mo no momfa, na yɛn nso, deɛ Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn de maa yɛn biara no yɛafa.
What Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess, that, wilt thou not possess? and, whatsoever Yahweh our God hath set before us to possess, that, shall we not possess?
25 Mosene Sipor babarima Balak a na ɔyɛ Moabhene no? Ɔne Israel twee asase bi so manso anaa? Ɔkɔɔ ɔko anaa? Dabi.
Now, therefore, art thou, really better, than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Hath there been any, striving at all, with Israel, or any, fighting at all, with them,
26 Na afei, mfeɛ ahasa akyi, na woama saa asɛm yi so? Israel atena ha saa ɛberɛ tenten yi, wɔatrɛ afiri Hesbon asase so, akɔsi Aroer ne nkuro no nyinaa so, akɔfa Asubɔnten Arnon ano. Adɛn enti na dadaada yi moanyɛ mo adwene sɛ mobɛgye asase yi?
all the time that Israel hath been dwelling in Heshbon and in her towns, and in Aroer and in her towns, and in all the cities that are on the banks of Arnon, —for three hundred years? Wherefore, then, have ye not made a rescue within that time?
27 Menyɛɛ mo bɔne. Mmom, mo na moayɛ me bɔne sɛ moto hyɛɛ me so. Momma Awurade a ɔyɛ ɔtemmufoɔ no mmua ɛnnɛ, sɛ yɛn mu hwan na nʼasɛm yɛ dɛ? Israel anaa Amon.”
I, therefore, have not sinned against thee; but, thou, art doing me a wrong, in fighting against me, —Let Yahweh, the Judge, give judgment today, between the sons of Israel, and the sons of Ammon!
28 Nanso, Amonhene amfa Yefta asɛm no asɛmhia.
But the king of the sons of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah, which he sent unto him.
29 Saa ɛberɛ no, Awurade Honhom baa Yefta so ma ɔkɔɔ Gilead ne Manase nsase nyinaa so a, Mispa a ɛwɔ Gilead ka ho. Na ɔdii akodɔm anim to hyɛɛ Amonfoɔ so.
Then came upon Jephthah the spirit of Yahweh, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, —and passed through Mizpeh of Gilead, and, from Mizpeh of Gilead, he passed through [unto] the sons of Ammon.
30 Na Yefta hyɛɛ Awurade bɔ. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Sɛ woma medi Amonfoɔ so a,
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Yahweh, and said, —If thou wilt, deliver, the sons of Ammon into my hand,
31 mede adeɛ a ɛbɛdi ɛkan afiri me fie abɛhyia me ɛberɛ a mede nkonimdie reba no, bɛma Awurade. Mede bɛma no sɛ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ.”
then shall it be, that, whosoever cometh forth out of the doors of my house, to meet me, when I return successful, from the sons of Ammon, shall belong unto Yahweh, and I will offer him up, as an ascending-sacrifice.
32 Ɛnna Yefta dii nʼakodɔm anim tiaa Amonfoɔ, na Awurade ma ɔdii nkonim.
So then Jephthah passed over unto the sons of Ammon, to fight against them, —and Yahweh delivered them into his hand;
33 Ɔdii Amonfoɔ so pasaa, sɛee nkuro bɛyɛ aduonu, firii Aroer de kɔsii baabi a ɛbɛn Minit, kɔeɛ ara kɔsii Abel-Keramim. Saa ɛkwan yi na Israelfoɔ faa so kaa Amonfoɔ hyɛeɛ.
and he smote them, from Aroer even till thou enterest in to Minnith, even twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with an exceeding great smiting, —and thus were the sons of Ammon subdued before the sons of Israel.
34 Ɛberɛ a Yefta firi akono kɔɔ ne fie wɔ Mispa no, ne babaa, a ɔyɛ ne ba korɔ no, tuu mmirika bɛhyiaa no a ɔrebɔ akasaeɛ, na anigyeɛ enti, ɔresa.
Then came Jephthah towards Mizpah, unto his own house, and lo! his daughter, coming forth to meet him, with timbrels, and with dances, —and, she, was none other than his only child, he had not, besides her, either son or daughter.
35 Yefta hunuu no no, ɔde awerɛhoɔ sunsuanee ne ntadeɛ mu, teaam sɛ, “Ao, me ba, mʼakoma rete! Ɛdeɛn ahometesɛm sɛ woaba, rebɛhyia me. Na maka Awurade ntam na merentumi mmu so.”
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said—Alas! my daughter, Thou hast, brought me low, Even, thou, hast come to be among them who trouble me, —Yet, I, opened wide my mouth unto Yahweh, and cannot go back.
36 Ne babaa no buaa sɛ, “Mʼagya, woahyɛ Awurade bɔ. Yɛ me sɛdeɛ woahyɛ bɔ no, ɛfiri sɛ Awurade ama woadi wʼatamfoɔ a wɔyɛ Amonfoɔ no so nkonim.
And she said unto him—My father! Thou hast opened wide thy mouth unto Yahweh, Do with me, according to that which hath gone forth out of thy mouth, —after that Yahweh hath exacted for thee an avenging from thine enemies, from the sons of Ammon.
37 Nanso, deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, ma memforo mmepɔ nkɔkyinkyini so na me ne me nnamfonom nsu abosome mmienu, ɛfiri sɛ, mɛwu sɛ ababaawa a menhunuu ɔbarima da.”
And she said unto her father, Let this thing, be done for me, —Let me alone two months, that I may depart, and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.
38 Yefta ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Wotumi kɔ.” Enti, ɔmaa no kɔ kɔdii abosome mmienu. Ɔne ne nnamfonom kɔɔ mmepɔ no so kɔsuiɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔrennya mma.
And he said—Depart. So he let her go, for two months, —and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity, upon the mountains.
39 Ɛberɛ a ɔsane baa fie no, nʼagya dii ne bɔhyɛ so. Enti ɔwuu sɛ ababaawa a ɔnhunuu ɔbarima da. Yei abɛyɛ amanneɛ wɔ Israel
And it came to pass, at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, and he fulfilled on her his vow which he had vowed, —she not having known man. And it became a statute, in Israel: —
40 ama Israel mmaabunu sɛ afe biara wɔbɛkɔ baabi akɔdi nna ɛnan na wɔakɔsu Yefta babaa no nkrabea.
From year to year, departed the daughters of Israel, to lament aloud for the daughter of Jephthah, the Gileadite, four days in the year.
