2 Samuel 16 – NIV & AKCB

New International Version

2 Samuel 16:1-23

David and Ziba

1When David had gone a short distance beyond the summit, there was Ziba, the steward of Mephibosheth, waiting to meet him. He had a string of donkeys saddled and loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred cakes of raisins, a hundred cakes of figs and a skin of wine.

2The king asked Ziba, “Why have you brought these?”

Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride on, the bread and fruit are for the men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.”

3The king then asked, “Where is your master’s grandson?”

Ziba said to him, “He is staying in Jerusalem, because he thinks, ‘Today the Israelites will restore to me my grandfather’s kingdom.’ ”

4Then the king said to Ziba, “All that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.”

“I humbly bow,” Ziba said. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king.”

Shimei Curses David

5As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the same clan as Saul’s family came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. 6He pelted David and all the king’s officials with stones, though all the troops and the special guard were on David’s right and left. 7As he cursed, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel! 8The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. The Lord has given the kingdom into the hands of your son Absalom. You have come to ruin because you are a murderer!”

9Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head.”

10But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ ”

11David then said to Abishai and all his officials, “My son, my own flesh and blood, is trying to kill me. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12It may be that the Lord will look upon my misery and restore to me his covenant blessing instead of his curse today.”

13So David and his men continued along the road while Shimei was going along the hillside opposite him, cursing as he went and throwing stones at him and showering him with dirt. 14The king and all the people with him arrived at their destination exhausted. And there he refreshed himself.

The Advice of Ahithophel and Hushai

15Meanwhile, Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 16Then Hushai the Arkite, David’s confidant, went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!”

17Absalom said to Hushai, “So this is the love you show your friend? If he’s your friend, why didn’t you go with him?”

18Hushai said to Absalom, “No, the one chosen by the Lord, by these people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and I will remain with him. 19Furthermore, whom should I serve? Should I not serve the son? Just as I served your father, so I will serve you.”

20Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give us your advice. What should we do?”

21Ahithophel answered, “Sleep with your father’s concubines whom he left to take care of the palace. Then all Israel will hear that you have made yourself obnoxious to your father, and the hands of everyone with you will be more resolute.” 22So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

23Now in those days the advice Ahithophel gave was like that of one who inquires of God. That was how both David and Absalom regarded all of Ahithophel’s advice.

Akuapem Twi Contemporary Bible

2 Samuel 16:1-23

Dawid Ne Siba

1Dawid sian bepɔw no pɛ na ɔne Mefiboset somfo Siba hyiae. Na ɔwɔ mfurum abien a wɔahyehyɛ brodo mua ahannu, bobe aba a wɔabɔ no atɔwatɔw ɔha ne nsa nhoma kotoku ma wɔ wɔn so. 2Ɔhene no bisaa Siba se, “Na eyinom nso ɛ?” Na Siba buae se, “Mfurum no, mo nkurɔfo ntena wɔn so, na brodo no ne aduaba no, wɔmfa mma mmerante no na wonni. Na nsa no nso, momfa nkɔ sare so hɔ, na wɔn a ɔbrɛ nti wɔbɛtɔ beraw no anom.”

3Na ɔhene no bisaa no se, “Na Mefiboset wɔ he?” Siba buae se, “Ɔkaa Yerusalem. Ɔkae se, ‘Nnɛ, mɛsan agye me nena Saulo ahemman no.’ ”

4Ɔhene no ka kyerɛɛ Siba se, “Sɛ saa na ɛte de a, mede biribiara a ɛyɛ Mefiboset dea no rema wo.”

Siba buae se, “Meda wo ase awura. Bere biara, biribiara a wobɛka akyerɛ me sɛ menyɛ no, mɛyɛ.”

Simei Dome Dawid

5Bere a ɔhene Dawid ne ne nkurɔfo retwa mu wɔ Bahurim no, ɔbarima bi pue fii akuraa no ase bɛdomee wɔn. Na saa ɔbarima no din de Simei, Gera a ɔyɛ Saulo busuani babarima. 6Ɔpaa Dawid ne ne mpanyimfo ne asraafo a wɔatwa wɔn ho ahyia no nyinaa abo. 7Ɔteɛɛ mu guu Dawid so se, “Fi ha kɔ! Mogyapɛfo a ɔte sɛ wo! Ohuhuni! 8Awurade atua wo ka sɛ wuhwiee Saulo ne ne fifo mogya gui. Wuwiaa nʼahengua, na afei Awurade de ahemman no ahyɛ wo babarima Absalom nsa. Wobɛnom wʼankasa wʼaduru, mogyapɛfo.”

9Na Seruia babarima Abisai bisaa ɔhene no se, “Adɛn nti na ɛsɛ sɛ ɔkraman funu yi tumi dome me wura ɔhene? Ma menkɔ na minkotwa ne ti.”

10Nanso ɔhene no kae se, “Dɛn na me ne mo Seruia mmabarima bɛyɛ? Sɛ Awurade aka akyerɛ no se, ɔnnome me a, me ne hena a metumi aka akyerɛ no se onnyae?”

11Na Dawid ka kyerɛɛ Abisai ne ne mpanyimfo se, “Me babarima a ɔyɛ mʼankasa mogya pɛ sɛ okum me. Na dɛn na esiw Saulo busuani ho kwan sɛ ɔnyɛ saa ara. Munnyaa no, momma ɔnnome, efisɛ Awurade na waka akyerɛ no se ɔnyɛ saa. 12Ebia Awurade behu sɛ wɔreyɛ me bɔne, na ɔde papa atua me nnome a me nsa aka no nnɛ yi no so ka.”

13Enti Dawid ne ne mmarima toaa so kɔɔ wɔn kwan a saa bere no, na Simei nso nam bepɔw bi a ɛbɛn wɔn so. Ɔrekɔ no nyinaa, na ɔredome, totow abo bɔ Dawid, tu mfutuma gu wim. 14Ɔhene ne ne nkurɔfo nyinaa brɛɛ wɔ ɔkwan so nti, woduu Asubɔnten Yordan ho no, wogyee wɔn ahome.

Ahitofel Ma Absalom Afotu

15Absalom ne Israel mmarima nyinaa baa Yerusalem a Ahitofel ka wɔn ho. 16Na Husai a ofi Arki a ɔyɛ Dawid adamfo no, kɔɔ Absalom nkyɛn kɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “Ɔhene nkwa so! Ɔhene nkwa so!”

17Na Absalom bisaa Husai se, “Eyi ne ɔkwan a wode wʼadamfo Dawid fa so? Adɛn nti na wo ne wʼadamfo ankɔ?”

18Husai ka kyerɛɛ Absalom se, “Mewɔ ha efisɛ meyɛ adwuma ma ɔbarima a Awurade ne Israel ayi no. 19Nea ɛka ho bio ne sɛ, hena na ɛsɛ sɛ mesom no? Sɛnea mesom wʼagya no, saa ara na mɛsom wo.”

20Absalom dan ne ho bisaa Ahitofel se, “Dɛn bio na menyɛ?”

21Ahitofel buaa no se, “Kɔ na wo ne wʼagya mpenanom no nna, efisɛ wagyaw wɔn hɔ sɛ wɔnhwɛ ahemfi hɔ. Ɛno bɛma Israel nyinaa ahu sɛ, woabu no animtiaa a ɛboro nkabom so, na wɔde wɔn ho bɛma wo.” 22Enti wosii ntamadan wɔ ahemfi no atifi baabi a obiara behu, na Absalom kɔɔ ntamadan no mu, na ɔne nʼagya mpenanom no dae.

23Absalom tiee Ahitofel afotu sɛnea Dawid yɛe no pɛpɛɛpɛ. Na asɛm biara a efi Ahitofel anom bae no mu nyansa no yɛɛ sɛnea efi Onyankopɔn anom.