2 Samuel 1

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

Now it happened that, after Saul died, David returned from the slaughter of Amalek, and he remained for two days at 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.

Then, on the third day, a man appeared, arriving from the camp of Saul, with his garments torn and dust sprinkled on his head. And when he came to David, he fell on his face, and he reverenced.

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

And David said to him, “Where have you come from?” And he said to him, “I have fled from the camp of Israel.”

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 to him: “What is the word that has happened? Reveal it to me.” And he said: “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people have fallen and died. Moreover, Saul and his son Jonathan have passed away.”

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 to the youth who was reporting to him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan have died?”

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 youth, who was reporting it to him, said: “I arrived by chance on mount Gilboa. And Saul was lying upon his spear. Then the chariots and horsemen drew near to him.

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

And turning behind his back and seeing me, he called to me. And when I had responded, “I am here,”

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

he said to me, “Who are you?” And I said to 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 to me: “Stand over me, and kill me. For anguish has taken hold of me, and still my whole life is 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.”

And standing over him, I killed him. For I knew that he was not able to live after the fall. And I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet from his arm, and I have brought them here to you, my lord.”

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

Then David, taking hold of his garments, tore them, with all the men who 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 mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, over Saul and over his son Jonathan, and over the people of the Lord and over the house of Israel, because they had 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 to the youth who had reported it to him, “Where are you from?” And he responded, “I am the son of a man who is a new arrival from the Amalekites.”

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

And David said to him, “Why were you not afraid to put forth your hand, so that you would kill the Christ of the Lord?”

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

And calling one of his servants, David said, “Draw near and rush against him” And he struck him, and 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 to him: “Your blood is upon your own head. For your own mouth has spoken against you, saying: ‘I have killed the Christ of the Lord.’”

17 Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.

Then David mourned a lamentation over Saul and over his son Jonathan, in this way.

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

(And he instructed that they should teach the sons of Judah the bow, just as it is written in the Book of the Just.) And he said: “Consider, O Israel, on behalf of those who are dead, wounded upon your heights:

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

The illustrious of Israel have been killed upon your mountains. How could the valiant have fallen?

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

Do not choose to announce it in Gath, and do not announce it in the crossroads of Ashkelon. Otherwise, the daughters of the Philistines may rejoice; otherwise, the daughters of the uncircumcised may exult.

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.

O mountains of Gilboa, let neither dew, nor rain fall over you, and may these not be the fields of the first-fruits. For in that place, the shield of the valiant was cast away, the shield of Saul, as if he had not been 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 strong, the arrow of Jonathan never turned back, and the sword of Saul did not return 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, worthy to be loved, and stately in their life: even in death they were not divided. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.

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

O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with scarlet finery, who offered ornaments of gold for your adornment.

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

How could the valiant have fallen in battle? How could Jonathan have been slain on the heights?

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 grieve over you, my brother Jonathan: exceedingly stately, and worthy to be loved above the love of women. As a mother loves her only son, so also did I love you.

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

How could the robust have fallen, and the weapons of war have perished?”