1 Ahemfo 2
1 Dawid rebɛwuo no, ɔde adwuma hyɛɛ Salomo nsa sɛ:
Now the days of David came near that he should die; and he commanded Solomon his son, saying,
2 “Merekɔ baabi a ɛsɛ sɛ da bi ɔteasefoɔ biara kɔ, enti yɛ den na kyerɛ wo mmaninyɛ,
“I am going the way of all the earth. You be strong therefore, and show yourself a man;
3 na yɛ deɛ Awurade, wo Onyankopɔn, hwehwɛ sɛ woyɛ, nante nʼakwan mu, na di ne mmara ne nʼahyɛdeɛ so sɛdeɛ wɔatwerɛ wɔ Mose mmara no mu no, sɛdeɛ ɛbɛyɛ a, wobɛkɔ so wɔ biribiara a wobɛyɛ mu ne baabiara a wobɛkɔ nso.
and keep the instruction of Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, according to that which is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn yourself.
4 Sɛ woyɛ yei a na Awurade bɛdi ne bɔ a ɔhyɛɛ me no so sɛ, ‘Sɛ wʼasefoɔ hwɛ wɔn asetena, na wɔfiri wɔn akoma ne wɔn kra nyinaa mu nante nokorɛ mu wɔ mʼanim a, wɔn mu baako bɛtena Israel ahennwa no so.’
Then Yahweh may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your children are careful of their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you,’ he said, ‘a man on the throne of Israel.’
5 “Wonim sɛ Seruia babarima Yoab kumm mʼakodɔm asahene baanu no a ɛyɛ Ner babarima Abner ne Yeter babarima Amasa no. Ɔkunkumm wɔn, hwiee wɔn mogya guiɛ asomdwoeɛ berɛ mu a ɛnyɛ ɔko berɛ mu, na ɔde wɔn mogya kekaa nʼabɔwomu a ɛbɔ nʼasene mu ne ne mpaboa a ɛhyɛ ne nan so.
“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist and in his sandals that were on his feet.
Do therefore according to your wisdom, and don’t let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace. (Sheol h7585)
7 “Na yɛ Barsilai a ɔfiri Gilead no mmammarima adɔeɛ, na ma wɔnka wɔn a wɔdidi wɔ wo didipono so no ho. Ɛberɛ a medwane firii wo nuabarima Absalom ho no, wɔyɛɛ me adɔeɛ.
But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table; for so they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
8 “Kae Gera Benyaminni a ɔfiri Bahurim no babarima Simei. Ɔdomee me dendeenden, da a meredwane akɔ Mahanaim no. Na ɔbɛhyiaa me wɔ Yordan no, mede Awurade edin kaa ntam sɛ, Merenkum no.
“Behold, there is with you Shimei the son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse in the day when I went to Mahanaim; but he came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, ‘I will not put you to death with the sword.’
9 Nanso, ntam no mma ɔnni bem. Woyɛ ɔnyansafoɔ na wobɛhunu ɛkwan a wobɛfa so aka ne mogya agu.” (Sheol h7585)
Now therefore don’t hold him guiltless, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you shall bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood.” (Sheol h7585)
10 Na Dawid wuiɛ, na wɔsiee no wɔ Dawid kurom.
David slept with his fathers, and was buried in David’s city.
11 Ɔdii ɔhene wɔ Israel mfeɛ aduanan a ne nkyerɛmu ne sɛ, ɔdii Hebron so mfeɛ nson ɛnna Yerusalem nso, ɔdii adeɛ mfeɛ aduasa mmiɛnsa.
The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and he reigned thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
12 Enti, Salomo tenaa nʼagya Dawid ahennwa so, na nʼadedie ase timiiɛ yie.
Solomon sat on David his father’s throne; and his kingdom was firmly established.
13 Na Hagit babarima Adoniya kɔɔ Salomo ne maame Batseba nkyɛn. Batseba bisaa no sɛ, “Wobaa no asomdwoeɛ so anaa?” Ɔbuaa no sɛ, “Ɛyɛ asomdwoeɛ so.”
Then Adonijah the son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, “Do you come peaceably?” He said, “Peaceably.
14 Na ɔka kaa ho sɛ, “Mepɛ sɛ woyɛ me adɔeɛ bi.” Na Batseba bisaa sɛ, “Adɔeɛ bɛn.”
He said moreover, I have something to tell you.” She said, “Say on.”
15 Adoniya kaa sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ wonim no, na ahemman no yɛ me dea. Na Israel nyinaa hwɛ me kwan sɛ wɔn ɔhene. Nanso, nneɛma sesaeɛ, na ahemman no kɔɔ me nuabarima nkyɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade pɛ no saa.
He said, “You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign. However, the kingdom is turned around, and has become my brother’s; for it was his from Yahweh.
16 Seesei, adeɛ baako na mepɛ sɛ mebisa wo. Mfa nkame me.” Ɔkaa sɛ, “Wotumi bisa me.”
Now I ask one petition of you. Don’t deny me.” She said to him, “Say on.”
17 Na ɔtoaa so sɛ, “Kɔbisa ɔhene Salomo ma me, na ɔremfa dekodeɛ no nkame wo. Bisa no na ɔmfa Abisag Sunamni no mma me sɛ me yere.”
He said, “Please speak to Solomon the king (for he will not tell you ‘no’), that he give me Abishag the Shunammite as wife.”
18 Na Batseba buaa sɛ, “Ɛyɛ, mɛka ho asɛm akyerɛ ɔhene ama wo.”
Bathsheba said, “All right. I will speak for you to the king.”
19 Enti Batseba kɔɔ ɔhene Salomo nkyɛn sɛ ɔrekɔkasa ama Adoniya. Ɔhene no sɔree sɛ ɔrebɛhyia no, bɔɔ ne mu ase ansa na ɔretena nʼahennwa so. Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa adwa mmrɛ ɔhene maame, na ɔtenaa ɔhene nifa so.
Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon, to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose up to meet her and bowed himself to her, and sat down on his throne and caused a throne to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
20 Ɔka kyerɛɛ ɔhene sɛ, “Mewɔ adeɛ ketewaa bi bisa wo, na mfa nkame me.” Ɔhene no buaa no sɛ, “Bisa me, me maame. Meyɛ ama wo.”
Then she said, “I ask one small petition of you; don’t deny me.” The king said to her, “Ask on, my mother, for I will not deny you.”
21 Enti, ɔkaa sɛ, “Ma wɔmfa Sunamni Abisag mma wo nuabarima Adoniya awadeɛ.”
She said, “Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as wife.”
22 Ɔhene Salomo bisaa ne maame sɛ, “Adɛn enti na wopɛ sɛ Adoniya ware Sunamni Abisag? Ɛnneɛ, sɛ wobɛbisa ahemman nso ama no. Wonim sɛ ɔyɛ me nua panin na ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar ne Seruia babarima Yoab nso boa no!”
King Solomon answered his mother, “Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also, for he is my elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.”
23 Na ɔhene Salomo de Awurade edin kaa ntam sɛ, “Sɛ Adoniya amfa ne nkwa antwa saa abisadeɛ yi so a, Onyankopɔn ne me nni no denden so pa ara.
Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, “God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.
24 Na seesei deɛ, mmerɛ dodoɔ a Awurade te ase yi, ɔno a watim mʼase wɔ mʼagya Dawid ahennwa so, na wabɔ me fie ahennie mu nnidisoɔ atenaseɛ ama me, sɛdeɛ ɔhyɛɛ me bɔ no, Adoniya deɛ, twa ara na ɛtwa sɛ ɔwu ɛnnɛ yi ara.”
Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me and set me on my father David’s throne, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah shall be put to death today.”
25 Enti, Salomo hyɛɛ Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnkum no, na ɔkumm Adoniya.
King Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell on him, so that he died.
26 Na ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ ɔsɔfoɔ Abiatar sɛ, “Sane kɔ wo kurom Anatot. Wofata sɛ wowuo, nanso merenku wo seesei, ɛfiri sɛ, wosoaa Awurade Otumfoɔ Adaka no maa mʼagya, na wo ne no nyinaa na mohunuu amane wɔ nʼabɛbrɛsɛ nyinaa mu.”
To Abiathar the priest the king said, “Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are worthy of death. But I will not at this time put you to death, because you bore the Lord Yahweh’s ark before David my father, and because you were afflicted in all in which my father was afflicted.”
27 Enti, Salomo worɔɔ Abiatar atadeɛ sɛ ɔsɔfoɔ, nam so dii mmara a Awurade hyɛɛ wɔ Silo fa Eli asefoɔ ho no so.
So Solomon thrust Abiathar out from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill Yahweh’s word which he spoke concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.
28 Ɛwom, ahyɛaseɛ no na ɔnni Absalom akyi, nanso Yoab de ne ho kɔdɔm Adoniya adɔnyɛ no. Ɛberɛ a Yoab tee Adoniya wuo no, ɔtuu mmirika kɔɔ Awurade ntomadan kronkron no mu, na ɔkɔsosɔɔ mmɛn a ɛtuatua afɔrebukyia no ho no mu.
This news came to Joab; for Joab had followed Adonijah, although he didn’t follow Absalom. Joab fled to Yahweh’s Tent, and held onto the horns of the altar.
29 Ɛberɛ a ɔhene Salomo tee asɛm yi, ɔsomaa Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnkɔkum no.
King Solomon was told, “Joab has fled to Yahweh’s Tent; and behold, he is by the altar.” Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, fall on him.”
30 Na Benaia kɔɔ Awurade ntomadan kronkron no mu kɔka kyerɛɛ Yoab sɛ, “Ɔhene se firi adi.” Nanso, Yoab buaa sɛ, “Dabi, mɛwu wɔ ha.” Enti, Benaia sane kɔɔ ɔhene no nkyɛn kɔkaa asɛm a Yoab aka no kyerɛɛ no.
Benaiah came to Yahweh’s Tent, and said to him, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” He said, “No; but I will die here.” Benaiah brought the king word again, saying, “This is what Joab said, and this is how he answered me.”
31 Ɔhene no tee asɛm a Yoab kaeɛ no, ɔka kyerɛɛ Benaia sɛ, “Yɛ deɛ ɔkaeɛ no. Ku no wɔ afɔrebukyia no ho, na sie no. Yei bɛyi adwenemherɛ mogyahwieguo ho afɔdie afiri me ne mʼagya fiefoɔ so.
The king said to him, “Do as he has said, and fall on him, and bury him, that you may take away the blood, which Joab shed without cause, from me and from my father’s house.
32 Na Awurade bɛtua no kum a ɔkumm mmarima ateneneefoɔ amapa baanu a na wɔyɛ sene no no so ka. Na mʼagya nnim Ner babarima Abner a na ɔyɛ Israel akodɔm sahene ne Yeter babarima Amasa a na ɔno nso yɛ Yuda akodɔm sahene no wuo ho hwee.
Yahweh will return his blood on his own head, because he fell on two men more righteous and better than he, and killed them with the sword, and my father David didn’t know it: Abner the son of Ner, captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the army of Judah.
33 Yoab ne nʼasefoɔ deɛ, saa awudie ahodoɔ yi ho afɔdie ntena wɔn so, na Awurade mma Dawid ne nʼasefoɔ ne nʼahennwa asomdwoeɛ afebɔɔ!”
So their blood will return on the head of Joab and on the head of his offspring forever. But for David, for his offspring, for his house, and for his throne, there will be peace forever from Yahweh.”
34 Enti, Yehoiada babarima Benaia sane kɔɔ ntomadan kronkron no mu, kɔkumm Yoab, na wɔsiee Yoab wɔ ne kurom wiram baabi.
Then Benaiah the son of Jehoiada went up and fell on him, and killed him; and he was buried in his own house in the wilderness.
35 Na ɔhene no yii Yehoiada babarima Benaia sɛ ɔnsi Yoab anan sɛ ɔsafohene. Na ɔyii ɔsɔfoɔ Sadok de no sii Abiatar anan.
The king put Benaiah the son of Jehoiada in his place over the army; and the king put Zadok the priest in the place of Abiathar.
36 Ɔhene no soma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei ka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Si efie wɔ Yerusalem ha na tena mu. Nanso, mfiri kuro no mu nkɔ baabiara.
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Build yourself a house in Jerusalem, and live there, and don’t go anywhere else.
37 Na da a wobɛtwa Kidron bɔnhwa no, wobɛwu; na wo mogya bɛgu wʼankasa wo tiri so.”
For on the day you go out and pass over the brook Kidron, know for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head.”
38 Na Simei buaa sɛ, “Wʼatemmuo no yɛ kronn. Biribiara a me wura ɔhene bɛhyɛ sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.” Enti, Simei tenaa Yerusalem kyɛree yie.
Shimei said to the king, “What you say is good. As my lord the king has said, so will your servant do.” Shimei lived in Jerusalem many days.
39 Na mfeɛ mmiɛnsa akyi no, Simei asomfoɔ baanu dwane kɔɔ Gathene Akis, Maaka babarima nkyɛn. Ɛberɛ a Simei hunuu baabi a wɔwɔ no,
At the end of three years, two of Shimei’s slaves ran away to Achish, son of Maacah, king of Gath. They told Shimei, saying, “Behold, your slaves are in Gath.”
40 ɔhyehyɛɛ nʼafunumu, kɔɔ Gat, kɔhwehwɛɛ wɔn. Ɔhunuu wɔn no, ɔde wɔn sane baa Yerusalem.
Shimei arose, saddled his donkey, and went to Gath to Achish to seek his slaves; and Shimei went and brought his slaves from Gath.
41 Salomo tee sɛ Simei afiri Yerusalem akɔ Gat asane aba.
Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath, and had come again.
42 Enti, wɔsoma ma wɔkɔfrɛɛ Simei baeɛ, na ɔbisaa no sɛ, “Mamma woanka ntam Awurade edin mu sɛ, worenkɔ baabiara, na sɛ anyɛ saa a, wobɛwu? Na wobuaa sɛ, ‘Atemmuo no yɛ kronkron; na mɛdi asɛm a woaka no so.’
The king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, “Didn’t I adjure you by Yahweh and warn you, saying, ‘Know for certain that on the day you go out and walk anywhere else, you shall surely die’? You said to me, ‘The saying that I have heard is good.’
43 Na adɛn enti na woanni wo ntanka no so amma Awurade, na woantie me nhyɛ?”
Why then have you not kept the oath of Yahweh and the commandment that I have instructed you with?”
44 Na ɔhene no ka kaa ho sɛ, “Akyinnyeɛ biara nni ho sɛ wokae amumuyɛ a woyɛɛ mʼagya, ɔhene Dawid. Awurade bɛtwe wʼaso wɔ ho.
The king said moreover to Shimei, “You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to David my father. Therefore Yahweh will return your wickedness on your own head.
45 Na medeɛ, mɛnya Awurade nhyira, na daa Dawid aseni atena ahennwa no so.”
But King Solomon will be blessed, and David’s throne will be established before Yahweh forever.”
46 Na ɔhene no nhyɛ so, Yehoiada babarima Benaia faa Simei de no firii adi kɔkumm no. Enti ahemman no timiiɛ wɔ Salomo nsam.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he went out, and fell on him, so that he died. The kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
