< 2 Samuel 1 >

1 After Saul died, David [and the men who were with him] returned to Ziklag [town] after defeating the descendants of Amalek. They stayed in Ziklag for two days.
Saulo owuo akyi no, Dawid sane firii nkonim a ɔdii Amalekfoɔ so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnanu.
2 On the third day, unexpectedly a man arrived there who had come from where Saul’s army was camped. He had torn his clothes and put dust on his head [to show that he was grieving]. He came to David, and prostrated himself on the ground [in front of David to show respect for him].
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.
3 David asked him, “Where have you come from?” The man replied, “I escaped from where the Israeli army had been camped.”
Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛhe na wofiri?” Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Madwane afiri Israel sraban mu.”
4 David asked him, “What happened? Tell me [about the battle]!” The man replied, “The Israeli soldiers ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. And Saul and his son Jonathan (are dead/were also killed).”
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.”
5 David said to the young man, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
Enti, Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wohunuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”
6 The young man replied, “It happened that I was on Gilboa Mountain [where the battle occurred], and I saw Saul, leaning on his spear. The [enemy] chariots and their drivers had come very close to Saul.
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.
7 Saul turned around and saw me, and he called out to me. I answered him and said, ‘What do you want me to do?’
Ɔdanee ne ho a ɔhunuu me no, ɔteaam frɛɛ me sɛ memmra. Mebisaa no sɛ, ‘Menyɛ ɛdeɛn?’
8 He replied, ‘Who are you?’ I replied, ‘I am a descendant of Amalek.’
“Ɔbisaa me sɛ, ‘Wone hwan?’ “Mebuaa no sɛ, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’
9 Then he said to me, ‘Come over here and kill me. I am still alive, but I am enduring a lot of pain.’
“Na ɔsrɛɛ me sɛ, ‘Bɛgyina me so na kum me, na me ho yera me yie, na mepɛ sɛ mewu.’
10 So I went to him and killed him, because I knew that he was wounded very badly and would (not continue to live/soon die). I took the crown that was on his head and the band/bracelet that was on his arm, and I have brought them to you.”
“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.”
11 Then David and all the men who were with him tore their clothes [to show that they were very sad].
Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhoɔ sunsuanee wɔn ntadeɛ mu.
12 They mourned for Saul and his son Jonathan, and they cried and (fasted/abstained from eating food) until it was evening. They also mourned for all the army of Yahweh, and for all the Israeli people, because many of their soldiers had been killed in the battle [MTY].
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.
13 Then David asked the young man who had told him [about the battle], “Where are you from?” He replied, “My father is a descendant of Amalek, but we live in Israel.”
Na Dawid bisaa aberanteɛ a ɔbɛbɔɔ wɔn saa amaneɛ no sɛ, “Wofiri he?” Na ɔbuaa sɛ, “Meyɛ ɔhɔhoɔ Amalekni a mete mo asase so.”
14 David asked him, “(Why were you not afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king]?/You should have been afraid [that you would be punished if you] killed Saul, whom Yahweh had appointed [MTY] [to be the king].) [RHQ]
Dawid bisaa no sɛ, “Na wonsuro sɛ wobɛkum obi a Awurade asra no no?”
15 You yourself said, ‘I killed the man whom Yahweh appointed to be the king.’ So you have caused yourself to be guilty [MTY] of causing your own death!” Then David summoned one of his soldiers and said to him, “Kill him!” So the soldier killed him by striking him [with a sword].
Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako sɛ, “Ku no!” Enti, ɔbarima no twee nʼakofena de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kumm no.
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.”
17 Then David composed/wrote this sad song about Saul and Jonathan,
Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan.
18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. [The song is called] ‘The Bow [and Arrow]’ and it has been written in the Book of Jashar:
Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnkyerɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nyinaa to. Wɔtoo no edin sɛ agyan dwom a wɔatwerɛ wɔ Yasar Nwoma mu.
19 “You Israeli people, your glorious [MTY] leaders have been killed on the mountains! [It is very sad that] those mighty men have died!
“Wʼanimuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛ, Ao Israel, awu da mmepɔ so! Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ!
20 “Do not tell it [to our enemies in the Philistia area]; do not tell to the people who live in Gath [city] what happened; do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon [city], because if you tell them, [even] the women in that area will be happy; do not allow those (pagan women/women who do not know God) to rejoice.
“Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat, na Filistifoɔ abɔ ose! Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔntene so, na abosonsomfoɔ ansere ahosɛpɛ mu.
21 I hope/desire that there will be no rain or dew on the mountains of [the] Gilboa [area] [APO], and that no grain will grow in the fields there, because there the shield of Saul, the mighty [king], fell on the ground. No one rubbed [olive] oil on Saul’s shield;
“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.
22 instead, it was stained with the blood of those whom he had killed, and the fat of mighty enemy soldiers was smeared on it. Jonathan [PRS] did not retreat carrying his bow [and arrows], and Saul always [defeated his enemies when he fought them] with his sword. [PRS, LIT]
“Saulo ne Yonatan kunkumm wɔn atamfoɔ ahoɔdenfoɔ! Wɔamfiri akono amma no nsapan.
23 “Saul and Jonathan were loved and they pleased many people. They were together [LIT] while they lived and when they died. [In battles] they were swifter than eagles and they were stronger than lions.
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.
24 “You Israeli women, cry about Saul; He provided beautiful scarlet/red clothes for you and he gave you gold ornaments/jewelry to fasten on those clothes.
“Ao, Israel mmaa, monsu Saulo, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔfiraa mo ntoma pa, hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agudeɛ.
25 “[It is very sad that] this mighty soldier has died! Jonathan has been killed on the mountains/hills.
“Akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ akono. Yonatan awu da mmepɔ no so.
26 Jonathan, my dear friend, I grieve for you; you were very dear to me. You loved me in a wonderful manner; it was better than the way that a woman loves [her husband and her children].
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!
27 “It is very sad that those mighty men have died, and their weapons are now abandoned!
“Hwɛ sɛdeɛ akofoɔ akɛseɛ atotɔ! Wɔayiyi wɔn akodeɛ afiri wɔn ho, na wɔawuwu deda hɔ.”

< 2 Samuel 1 >