Ezekiel 20

1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat down before me.

Afe a ɛto so ason no, ɔsram anum no da a ɛto so du no, Israel mpanyimfo no mu bi bebisaa Awurade hɔ ade, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.

2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.

“Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanyimfo no se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Moaba sɛ morebebisa me nkyɛn ade ana? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo kwan ma mummisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfo Awurade na ose.’

4 Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers

“Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwade a wɔyɛɛ no si wɔn anim

5 and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’

na ka kyerɛ wɔn se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Da a miyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakobfi asefo, na miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”

6 On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.

Saa da no, mekaa wɔn ntam se meyi wɔn afi Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu nea ɛyɛ papa pa ara no.

7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo mu biara ntow nsɛsode tantan a mode mo ani asi so no nkyene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”

8 But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

“‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantotow nsɛsode tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi so no angu na wɔannyae ahoni a efi Misraim no akyidi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.

9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Nanso me din nti meyɛɛ nea ɛremma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfo wɔ mu, de yii wɔn fii Misraim no.

10 So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.

Enti midii wɔn anim fii Misraim, de wɔn baa sare no so.

11 And I gave them My statutes and made known to them My ordinances—for the man who does these things will live by them.

Mede me nhyehyɛe maa wɔn na mema wohuu me mmara, efisɛ obiara a odi so no nam so benya nkwa.

12 I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Na mede me homenna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛnea wobehu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron no.

13 Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.

“‘Nanso Israelfo tew mʼanim atua wɔ sare no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛe so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a obedi so no benya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na woguu me homenna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ sare no so.

14 But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Nanso me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho kwan ma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.

15 Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—

Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nnkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, nsase nyinaa mu nea eye pa ara no,

16 because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.

efisɛ wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛde so na woguu me homenna ho fi, esiane sɛ na wɔn koma da wɔn ahoni no so nti.

17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.

Nanso mihuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ sare no so.

18 In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ sare no so se, “Munnni mo agyanom ahyɛde ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.

19 I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.

Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn; munni mʼahyɛde so na monhwɛ yiye nni me mmara so.

20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

Monyɛ me homenna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no.”

21 But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

“‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛde so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so; nea onipa di so a obenya nkwa no, woguu me homenna ho fi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw a etia wɔn wɔ sare no so no.

22 But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho ngu fi wɔ aman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.

23 However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.

Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so se mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,

24 For they did not practice My ordinances, but they rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, fixing their eyes on the idols of their fathers.

efisɛ wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛde guu me homenna ho fi, na wɔn ani kodii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.

25 I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live.

Enti memaa wɔn ahyɛde a enye ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;

26 And I pronounced them unclean through their gifts—the sacrifice of every firstborn in the fire—so that I might devastate them, in order that they would know that I am the LORD.

memaa ho kwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔre de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛnea mede ahodwiriw bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahu sɛ mene Awurade.’

27 Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by their unfaithfulness against Me.

“Enti onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfo, ka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Nea Otumfo Awurade se ni: Na eyi mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:

28 When I brought them into the land that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented offerings that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense, and poured out their drink offerings.

Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔre, yɛɛ afɔrebɔde maa koko biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhaban de hyɛɛ me abufuw; wɔde nnuhuam mae, na wohwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.

29 So I asked them: ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ (And to this day it is called Bamah.)

Na mibisaa wɔn se: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de besi nnɛ.)

30 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your fathers did, prostituting yourselves with their abominations?

“Enti ka kyerɛ Israelfi se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mubegu mo ho fi sɛnea mo agyanom yɛe, na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni atantan no ana?

31 When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!

Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ mo mmabarima bɔ afɔre wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, na mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi besi nnɛ. Memma mommebisa me hɔ ade ana, Israelfi? Ampa ara sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, meremma mummmisa me hɔ ade.

32 When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of the lands, serving wood and stone,’ what you have in mind will never come to pass.

“‘Moka se, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ wiasefo a wɔsom nnua ne abo no.” Nanso nea ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.

33 As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, with a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will rule over you.

Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, Mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu bedi mo so.

34 With a strong hand, an outstretched arm, and outpoured wrath I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered.

Mede mo befi amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afi nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no so; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.

35 And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

Mede mo bɛba amanaman no sare so, na hɔ na mebu mo atɛn anim ne anim.

36 Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.

Sɛnea mibuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim sare so no, saa ara na mebu mo atɛn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.

37 I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahu mo yiye na mede mo aba apam no nkyehama ase.

38 And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ meyi wɔn afi aman a wɔte so no mu, nanso wɔn anan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade no.

39 And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

“‘Na mo de, Israelfi, sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso akyiri no, mubetie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛde ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.

40 For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.

Efisɛ me bepɔw kronkron no so, Israel bepɔw a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfo Awurade na ose, hɔ wɔ asase no so na Israelfi nyinaa bɛsom me, na hɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mehia mo afɔrebɔde ne mo ayɛyɛde a edi mu no, aka mo afɔre kronkron no nyinaa ho.

41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

Sɛ miyi mo fi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano fi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no so a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ kurobow a eyi hua, afei mɛda me kronkronyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahu.

42 Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land that I swore to give your fathers.

Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom no so a, na mubehu sɛ mene Awurade.

43 There you will remember your ways and all the deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils you have done.

Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛe nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwini esiane amumɔyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa nti.

44 Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”

Mubehu sɛ mene AWURADE no, bere a me ne mo di no sɛnea me din te na mmom ɛnyɛ sɛnea mo akwammɔne ne mo porɔwee nneyɛe no te, mo Israelfo, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”

45 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

“Onipa ba fa wʼani kyerɛ anafo fam, ka asɛm tia anafo fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwae a ɛwɔ anafo fam asase so.

47 Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.

Ka kyerɛ anafo fam kwae no se: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Merebɛto wo mu gya, na ɛbɛhyew nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Nea ɛyɛ amono ne nea awo. Wɔrennum ogyaframa no na ɛbɛhyew asase no ani nyinaa; efi anafo fam kosi atifi fam.

48 Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

Obiara behu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”

49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

Afei mekae se, “Aa, Otumfo Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho se, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi ana?’”