2 Samuel 23
1 David, the son of Jesse, was a man whom [God caused to] become great. He was appointed to become king by the God whom Jacob [worshiped]. He wrote beautiful songs for the Israeli people. This is the last song that he wrote:
David ƒe nya mamlɛtɔwoe nye esiawo: “David, Yese ƒe vi le nu ƒom, David, ame si Yehowa, do ɖe dzi, David, Yakob ƒe Mawu ƒe amesiamina, David, Israel ƒe Psalmo viviwo kpala.
2 “The Spirit of Yahweh tells me what to say; the message that I speak [MTY] comes from him.
“Yehowa ƒe Gbɔgbɔ ƒo nu to dzinye eye eƒe nya le nye aɖe dzi.
3 God, the one whom we Israeli [people worship], has spoken; the one who protects us Israeli people said to me, ‘Kings who rule people justly have an awesome respect for me, God.
Israel ƒe Agakpe la gblɔ nam be, ‘Ame si ɖua dzi kple dzɔdzɔenyenye le mawuvɔvɔ̃ me la,
4 They are like the sun that shines at dawn and causes the grass to [sprout/sparkle] after the rain ends.’
anɔ abe ŋdikekeli ene, ɣe keklẽ si ŋgɔ lilikpo mexe o si naa gbe mumu dona tso anyigba me le ɣe keklẽ kple tsidzadza megbe ene.’
5 And truly, that is how God will surely bless my family [RHQ] because he made an agreement with me that will endure forever, an agreement in which he promises that no part of it will ever be changed. He will surely cause me to prosper [RHQ], and he will always help me, and that is all that I desire.
“Ɖe nye aƒe mele dzɔdzɔe le Mawu ŋkume oa? Ɖe mebla nu mavɔ si le dedie la kplim oa? Ɛ̃, ebla nu si meʋãna o la kplim. Ɖe mana nye ɖeɖekpɔkpɔ nava eme eye wòana nu sia nu si nye dzi di la, nasu asinye oa?
6 But [he will get rid of] godless/evil people like [SIM] people throw away thorns that [injure people if they try to] pick them up with their hands.
Ke woaɖe ame vɔ̃ɖiwo katã ɖe aga abe ŋutiwo wonye ene. Ŋuti si womefɔna kple asi o.
7 Someone [who wants to get rid of thornbushes] does not grab them; he uses an iron [shovel] or a spear [to dig them out] and then he burns them completely.
Ame si di be yeafɔ ŋuti la tsɔa nu lénɛ, ƒoa ƒui, tɔa dzoe le afi si wòƒo ƒui ɖo.”
8 These are the names of David’s three greatest warriors. The first was Esh-Baal, [whose other name was Jashobeam], from the Hachmon clan (OR, the son of Hachmon). He was the leader of the three men. One time he fought against 800 enemies and killed them all with his spear.
Kalẽtɔ xɔŋkɔ etɔ̃ siwo nɔ David ƒe aʋakɔ la me woe nye esiawo: Gbãtɔe nye Yoseb Basebet, tso Tahkemɔn, si wogayɔna be Adino, Eznitɔ la, ame si nye ame etɔ̃awo ƒe tatɔ. Ewu ame alafa enyi kpɔ le aʋakpekpe ɖeka me.
9 The second/next one of the three greatest warriors was Eleazar, who was the son of Dodo from the clan of Ahoh. One day he was with David when they defied/challenged the soldiers of Philistia who had gathered for the battle. The [other] Israeli soldiers retreated,
Ame Sesẽ Etɔ̃awo dometɔ eveliae nye Eleazar, Dodai ƒe vi, ame si nye Ahohitɔ. Enɔ ame etɔ̃ siwo kpe ɖe David ŋu wotɔ te Filistitɔwo le Pas Damim esime Israel ƒe aʋawɔla bubuawo katã si la dome.
10 but Eleazar stood there and fought the soldiers of Philistia until his arm became very tired, with the result that [his hand cramped and] he could not stop gripping his sword. Yahweh won a great victory on that day. And afterwards the [other] Israeli soldiers returned [to where Eleazar was], and stripped off the [armor from the men whom he had] killed.
Ewu Filistitɔwo va se ɖe esime ɖeɖi te eƒe asi ŋu eye magate ŋu alé yi o; Yehowa na dziɖuɖu gã aɖee. Aʋawɔla mamlɛawo megatrɔ gbɔ o va se ɖe esime ɣeyiɣi ɖo hena afunyinuwo haha!
11 The third one of the greatest warriors was Shammah, the son of Agee from [the clan/town of] Harar. One time the Philistia soldiers gathered at Lehi [town], where there was a field full of lentils/peas [that they wanted to steal]. The other Israeli soldiers ran away from the Philistia troops,
Ame si kplɔe ɖo lae nye Sama, Agee ƒe vi, tso Harar. Gbe ɖeka le aʋakpekpe aɖe kple Filistitɔwo me le teƒe aɖe si bli le fũu eye Israel ƒe aʋawɔlawo katã si la,
12 but Shammah stood there in the field and did not let the Philistia soldiers [steal the crops], and killed them. Yahweh won a great victory on that day.
Sama ɖeka tɔ ɖe bligble la titina eye wòxɔe hewu Filistitɔwo. Yehowa na wòɖu dzi gã aɖe.
13 Altogether there were 30 special warriors among David’s soldiers. Once, when it was almost time to harvest [the crops], three of those 30 men went down to Adullam Cave, where David was [staying]. A group of men from the Philistia army had set up their tents in Rephaim Valley [near Jerusalem].
Gbe ɖeka, esime David nɔ agado me le Adulam eye Filistitɔwo ƒe aʋawɔlawo nɔ Refaim balime la, ame etɔ̃ tso Israelviwo ƒe aʋafia xɔŋkɔtɔ blaetɔ̃ me yi ɖakpɔe ɖa le nuŋeɣi.
14 David [and his soldiers] were in the cave [because it was safe there], and [another] group of Philistia soldiers was occupying Bethlehem.
David nɔ mɔ la me eye Filistitɔwo ƒe aʋakɔ ɖo Betlehem le ɣe ma ɣi.
15 [One day] David very much wanted [some water] to drink, and said “I wish that someone would bring me some water from the well near the gate at Bethlehem!”
David gblɔ kple didi be, “Tsikɔ le wunyem vevie. Oo, ne ame aɖe aku tsi tso vudo si le Betlehem ƒe agbo nu la me vɛ nam la, anyo ŋutɔ.”
16 So his three greatest warriors forced their way through the camp of Philistia soldiers and drew some water from the well, and brought it to David. But he would not drink it. Instead, he poured it out [on the ground] as an offering to Yahweh.
Ale aʋafia etɔ̃ siawo to Filistitɔwo dome, ku tsi tso vudo si te ɖe Betlehem ƒe agbo ŋu me yi na David. Ke David gbe meno tsi la o, ke boŋ etrɔe kɔ ɖi le Yehowa ƒe ŋkume,
17 He said, “Yahweh, it would certainly not be right for me to drink this water! That would be like [RHQ] drinking the blood of these men who were willing/ready to die for me!” So he refused to drink it. That was one of the things that those three great warriors did.
hegblɔ be, “Yehowa, nyemate ŋu awɔ esia gbeɖe o!” “Esiae nye ame etɔ̃ siwo tsɔ woƒe agbe ke la ƒe ʋu.”
18 Abishai, Joab’s [younger] brother, was the leader of the 30 [greatest warriors]. [One day] he fought against 300 men and killed them all with his spear. As a result, he also became famous.
Abisai, Yoab nɔvi, Zeruya vi nye amegã na ame etɔ̃awo. Etsɔ eƒe akplɔ wu futɔ alafa etɔ̃ kpɔ ale wòxɔ ŋkɔ abe ame etɔ̃awo ene.
19 He was the most famous of the thirty greatest warriors, and he became their leader/commander, but he was not one of the three greatest warriors.
Ɖe womede bubu eŋu wu ame xɔŋkɔ etɔ̃awo oa? Ezu woƒe kplɔla togbɔ be womebui ɖe wo dome o hã.
20 Jehoiada’s son Benaiah, from Kabzeel [town], also did great deeds. He killed two of the best warriors from the Moab people-group. Also, he went down into a pit on a day when snow was falling, and killed a lion there.
Benaya Yehoiada ƒe vi, ame si fofo nye aʋawɔla kalẽtɔ aɖe tso Kabzeel la wu ame dzɔtsu xɔŋkɔ eve siwo nɔ Moab nyigba dzi. Emegbe la, egawu dzata le do aɖe me gbe si gbe sno dza.
21 He also killed a huge soldier from Egypt who carried a spear. Benaiah [had only] his club, but he attacked the giant with it. Then he snatched the spear from the man’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
Le ɣeyiɣi bubu hã la, ewu Egiptetɔ aɖe. Togbɔ be Egiptetɔ la lé akplɔ ɖe asi hã la, Benaya lũ ɖe edzi kple kpo, dui le esi eye wòtsɔ Egiptetɔ la ŋutɔ ƒe akplɔ wui.
22 Those are [some of] the things that Benaiah did. As a result, he became famous, like the three greatest warriors were.
Nu siawoe Benaya, Yehoiada ƒe vi wɔ. Eya hã xɔ ŋkɔ abe ame sesẽ etɔ̃awo ene.
23 He was more honored than the other members of the group of thirty great warriors, but not as famous as the three greatest warriors. David appointed him to be the commander of his bodyguards.
Wobunɛ wu ame xɔŋkɔ Blaetɔ̃awo dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe gake womedee ame Etɔ̃awo dome o. Ke David tsɔe ɖo eŋudzɔlawo nu.
24 [These are the names of the great warriors]: Asahel, the brother of Joab; Elhanan, the son of Dodo, from Bethlehem;
Ame siwo nɔ ame blaetɔ̃awo dome: Asahel, Yoab nɔvi, hã nɔ ame blaetɔ̃awo dome. Bubuawoe nye: Elhanan, Dodo ƒe vi, tso Betlehem;
25 Shammah and Elika, from [the] Harod [clan];
Sama tso Harod; Elika tso Harod;
26 Helez, from Pelet [city]; Ira, the son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa [town];
Helez tso Palti; Ira, Ikes ƒe vi tso Tekoa;
27 Abiezer, from Anathoth [city]; Mebunnai [whose other name was Sibbecai], from Hushah’s [clan];
Abiezer tso Anatɔt; Sibekai tso Husat;
28 Zalmon [whose other name was Ilai], from Ahoh’s [clan]; Maharai, from Netophah [town];
Zalmɔn si nye Ahohitɔ, Maharai tso Netofat;
29 Heleb, the son of Baanah, also from Netophah [town]; Ittai, the son of Ribai, from Gibeah [town] in [the land that belonged to] the tribe of Benjamin;
Heleb, Boana ƒe vi, tso Netofat; Itai, Ribai ƒe vi, tso Gibea, le Benyamin ƒe to la me;
30 Benaiah, from Pirathon [town]; Hiddai, from the valleys near Gaash [Mountain];
Benaya tso Piratɔn; Hidai tso afi si Gaas tɔʋuwo le;
31 Abi-Albon, from the clan of Arabah; Azmaveth, from Bahurim [town];
Abi Albon tso Arbat; Azmavet tso Bahurim;
32 Eliahba, from Shaalbon [town]; The sons of Jashen; Jonathan;
Eliahba tso Saalbɔn; Yasen ƒe viwo; Yonatan;
33 Shammah, from Harar [town/clan]; Ahiam the son of Sharar, from Harar [town/clan];
Sama tso Hara, Ahiam, Sarar ƒe vi, tso Harar;
34 Eliphelet, the son of Ahasbai, from Maacah [town]; Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, from Gilo [town];
Elifelet, Ahasbai ƒe vi, tso Maka; Eliam, Ahitofel ƒe vi, tso Giloh;
35 Hezro, from Carmel [city]; Paarai, from Arba [city];
Hezro tso Karmel; Parai tso Arba;
36 Igal, the son of Nathan, from Zobah [city]; Bani, from the tribe of Gad;
Igal, Natan ƒe vi tso Zoba; Bani tso Gad;
37 Zelek, from the Ammon people-group; Naharai, the man who carried Joab’s weapons, from Beeroth [town];
Zelek tso Amon; Naharai tso Beerot; Yoab, Zeruya ƒe vi ƒe akpoxɔnutsɔla;
38 Ira and Gareb, from Jattir [town];
Ira tso Yatir; Gareb tso Yatir;
39 Uriah, [Bathsheba’s husband], from the Heth people-group. Altogether, there were 37 famous soldiers, [but some of them had died and their names were not included].
kple Uria, Hititɔ la. Ale wo katã de ame blaetɔ̃-vɔ-adre.
