2 Samuel 1 – NIRV & AKCB

New International Reader’s Version

2 Samuel 1:1-27

David Hears That Saul Has Died

1After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn. He had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to show him respect.

3“Where have you come from?” David asked him.

He answered, “I’ve escaped from Israel’s camp.”

4“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”

He said, “Israel’s men ran away from the battle. Many of them were killed. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”

5David spoke to the young man who brought him the report. He asked him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”

6“I just happened to be there on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said. “Saul was there too. He was leaning on his spear. The enemy chariots and chariot drivers had almost caught up with him. 7Then he turned around and saw me. He called out to me. I said, ‘What do you want me to do?’

8“He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“ ‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.

9“Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m close to death, but I’m still alive.’

10“So I stood beside him and killed him. I did it because I knew that after he had lost the battle he would be killed anyway. So I took the crown that was on his head. I also took his armband. I’ve brought them here to you. You are my master.”

11Then David tore his clothes. And all his men tore their clothes. 12All of them were filled with sadness. They mourned over the whole nation of Israel. They didn’t eat anything until evening. That’s because Saul and Jonathan and the Lord’s army had been killed by swords.

13David spoke to the young man who had brought him the report. He asked, “Where are you from?”

“I’m the son of an outsider, an Amalekite,” he answered.

14David asked him, “Why weren’t you afraid to lift your hand to kill the Lord’s anointed king?”

15Then David called for one of his men. He said, “Go! Strike him down!” So he struck the man down, and the man died. 16That’s because David had said to him, “Anything that happens to you will be your own fault. What your own mouth has spoken is a witness against you. You said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed king.’ ”

David’s Song of Sadness About Saul and Jonathan

17David sang a song of sadness about Saul and his son Jonathan. 18He ordered that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is a song that is played on a stringed instrument. It is written down in the Book of Jashar. David sang,

19“Israel, a gazelle lies dead on your hills.

Your mighty men have fallen.

20“Don’t announce it in Gath.

Don’t tell it in the streets of Ashkelon.

If you do, the daughters of the Philistines will be glad.

The daughters of men who haven’t been circumcised will be joyful.

21“Mountains of Gilboa,

may no dew or rain fall on you.

May no showers fall on your hillside fields.

The shield of the mighty king wasn’t respected there.

The shield of Saul lies there. It isn’t rubbed with oil anymore.

22The bow of Jonathan didn’t turn back.

The sword of Saul didn’t return without being satisfied.

They spilled the blood of their enemies.

They killed mighty men.

23“When they lived, Saul and Jonathan were loved and respected.

When they died, they were not parted.

They were faster than eagles.

They were stronger than lions.

24“Daughters of Israel, mourn over Saul.

He dressed you in the finest clothes.

He decorated your clothes with ornaments of gold.

25“Your mighty men have fallen in battle.

Jonathan lies dead on your hills.

26My brother Jonathan, I’m filled with sadness because of you.

You were very special to me.

Your love for me was wonderful.

It was more wonderful than the love of women.

27“Israel’s mighty men have fallen.

Their weapons of war are broken.”

Akuapem Twi Contemporary Bible

2 Samuel 1:1-27

Dawid Te Saulo Wu

1Saulo wu akyi no, Dawid san fii nkonim a odii Amalekfo so no mu bɛtenaa Siklag nnaanu. 2Ne nnansa so no, ɔbarima bi fi Saulo nsraban mu a watetew ne ntade mu, atu mfutuma agu ne ti mu, de rekyerɛ sɛ ɔretwa adwo bae. Oduu Dawid nkyɛn no, ɔdan ne ho hwee fam nidi mu.

3Dawid bisaa no se, “Ɛhe na wufi?”

Obuae se, “Maguan afi Israel nsraban mu.”

4Dawid bisaa no se, “Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn? Ɔko no kosii dɛn?”

Ɔkae se, “Mmarima no guan fii akono. Bebree totɔe. Na Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan nso atotɔ.”

5Enti Dawid bisaa aberante a ɔbɛbɔɔ no saa amanneɛ no se, “Ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wuhuu sɛ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan awuwu?”

6Aberante no buae se, “Mikofii Gilboa bepɔw so, na mekɔtoo sɛ Saulo sɛn ne peaw so a atamfo no nteaseɛnam ne nʼapɔnkɔsotefo mmɛn no ara. 7Ɔdan ne ho a ohuu me no, ɔteɛɛ mu frɛɛ me se memmra. Mibisaa no se, ‘Menyɛ dɛn?’

8“Obisaa me se, ‘Wo ne hena?’

“Mibuaa no se, ‘Meyɛ Amalekni.’

9“Na ɔsrɛɛ me se, ‘Begyina me so na kum me, na me ho yeraw me yiye, na mepɛ sɛ me wu.’

10“Enti migyinaa ne so kum no, efisɛ na minim sɛ tebea a ɔwɔ mu no, ɔrennya nkwa. Na mituu nʼahenkyɛw a ɛhyɛ no no ne nʼabasa so atweaban no sɛ mede rebrɛ wo, me wura.”

11Dawid ne ne mmarima no tee asɛm no, wɔde awerɛhow sunsuan wɔn ntade mu. 12Wotwaa ho agyaadwo, sui, bua daa da mu no nyinaa wɔ Saulo ne ne babarima Yonatan wu ne Awurade asraafo ne Israelman sɛ wɔn mu pii wuwuu saa da no.

13Na Dawid bisaa aberante a ɔbɛbɔɔ wɔn saa amanneɛ no se, “Wufi he?”

Na obuae se, “Meyɛ ɔhɔho Amalekni a mete mo asase so.”

14Dawid bisaa no se, “Na wunsuro sɛ wukum obi a Awurade asra no no?”

15Dawid ka kyerɛɛ ne mmarima no mu baako se, “Kum no!” Enti ɔbarima no twee nʼafoa de wɔɔ Amalekni no, kum no. 16Na Dawid kae se, “Wʼano ayi mmusu ama wo ama woawu, efisɛ wo ara na wokae se woakum obi a Awurade asra no no.”

Dawid Dwom A Ɔhyehyɛ Maa Saulo Ne Yonatan

17Na Dawid too kwadwom maa Saulo ne Yonatan. 18Na ɔhyɛɛ sɛ wɔnkyerɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda nyinaa to. Wɔtoo no din sɛ agyan dwom a wɔakyerɛw wɔ Yasar Nhoma mu.

19“Wʼanuonyam ne wʼahosɛpɛw, Israel, awu da mmepɔw so!

Akofo akɛse atotɔ!

20“Monnka asɛm yi wɔ Gat,1.20 Gat ne Askelon yɛ Filisti nkurow.

na Filistifo abɔ ose!

Monnka wɔ Askelon mmɔnten so,

na abosonsomfo anserew ahosɛpɛw mu.

21“Gilboa mmepɔw,

mma obosu anaa osu ntɔ ngu wo so

anaa wo nsian so.

Efisɛ ɛhɔ na woguu ɔkofo kɛse no akokyɛm ho fi;

wɔremfa ngo nsra Saulo nkatabo ho bio.

22“Saulo ne Yonatan kunkum wɔn atamfo ahoɔdenfo!

Wɔamfi akono amma no nsapan.

23Ɔdɔ ne ahoɔfɛ bɛn

na na Saulo ne Yonatan nni,

wɔn mu antetew da, nkwa ne owu mu.

Na wɔn ho yɛ hare kyɛn akɔre;

na wɔn ho yɛ den kyɛn gyata.

24“Israel mmabea,

munsu Saulo,

efisɛ ofuraa mo ntama pa,

hyehyɛɛ mo sikakɔkɔɔ agude.

25“Akofo akɛse atotɔ akono.

Yonatan awu da mmepɔw no so.

26Misu wo, me nua Yonatan!

Na wosom me bo yiye.

Na wo dɔ a wowɔ ma me no yɛ nwonwa;

emu dɔ sen ɔbea dɔ!

27“Hwɛ sɛnea akofo akɛse atotɔ!

Ɔko mu akode ayerayera!”