Jeremiah 2
1 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Awurade asɛm baa me so:
2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
“Kɔpae mu ka ma Yerusalem nte: “‘Mekae sɛnea wode wo ho maa me wo mmabun bere mu, sɛnea wodɔɔ me wɔ wʼayeforo bere mu na wudii mʼakyi wɔ sare so, asase a wonnuaa hwee wɔ so no.
3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the firstfruits of His harvest. All who devoured her found themselves guilty; disaster came upon them,’” declares the LORD.
Na Israel yɛ kronkron ma Awurade, ne twabere mu aduankan; wɔn a wodii nʼani no wobuu wɔn fɔ, na amanehunu baa wɔn so,’” sɛnea Awurade, se ni.
4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all you families of the house of Israel.
Muntie Awurade asɛm, mo Yakob asefo, mo Israel mmusuakuw nyinaa.
5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in Me that they strayed so far from Me, and followed worthless idols, and became worthless themselves?
Eyi ne nea Awurade se: “Mfomso bɛn na mo agyanom huu wɔ me ho a ɛma wɔtwee wɔn ho kɔɔ akyirikyiri sɛɛ? Wodii ahoni a wɔn so nni mfaso akyi, maa wɔn ankasa bɛyɛɛ ahuhufo.
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up from the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
Wɔammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ? Nea oyii yɛn fii Misraim na ɔde yɛn faa sare wosee so, nweatam ne abonabon asase a awo na ayɛ owubon no. Asase a obiara mfa so na obiara nte so no.’
7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and bounty, but you came and defiled My land, and made My inheritance detestable.
Mede mo beduaa asasebere so sɛ munni so nnuaba ne ɛso nnepa. Nanso mubeguu mʼasase ho fi, na moyɛɛ mʼagyapade akyiwade.
8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.
Asɔfo no ammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ?’ Wɔn a wɔde mmara yɛ adwuma no anhwehwɛ me; ntuanofo sɔre tiaa me. Adiyifo no de Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm, na wodii ahoni huhuw akyi.
9 Therefore, I will contend with you again, declares the LORD, and I will bring a case against your children’s children.
“Ɛno nti, merebɔ mo kwaadu bio,” nea Awurade se ni. “Na mɛbɔ mo mma mma kwaadu.
10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:
Muntwa nkɔ Kitim mpoano nkɔhwɛ, monsoma nkɔ Kedar nkɔhwehwɛ mu yiye; monhwɛ sɛ biribi a ɛte sɛɛ asi wɔ hɔ:
11 Has a nation ever changed its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet My people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols.
Ɔman bi asesa wɔn anyame pɛn ana? Nso wɔnnyɛ anyame mpo. Nanso me nkurɔfo de wɔn anuonyam asesa ahoni huhuw.
12 Be stunned by this, O heavens; be shocked and utterly appalled,”
Mo ɔsorosoro, momma mo ho nnwiriw mo wɔ eyi ho, na mo ho nwosow wɔ akomatu mu,” nea Awurade se ni.
13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns— broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
“Me nkurɔfo ayɛ bɔne ahorow abien: Wɔapa me, me a meyɛ nkwa asubura no, na wɔatutu wɔn ankasa mmura amoa, mmura a apaapae a entumi nkora nsu.
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
Israel yɛ akoa anaa ɔsomfo fi awo mu ana? Adɛn nti na wayɛ asade yi?
15 The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.
Gyata abobɔ mu; wɔaworo so akyerɛ no. Wɔama nʼasase ada mpan; wɔahyehyew ne nkurow ayɛ no amamfo.
16 The men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.
Afei Memfis ne Tapanhes mmarima ayi wo ti so nwi.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself by forsaking the LORD your God when He led you in the way?
Ɛnyɛ wo na woama eyi aba wo so sɛ wopaa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi, wɔ bere a ɔrekyerɛ wo kwan no?
18 Now what will you gain on your way to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile? What will you gain on your way to Assyria to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Afei adɛn nti na wokɔ Misraim kɔnom Sihor mu nsu? Na adɛn nti na wokɔ Asiria kɔnom Asubɔnten no mu nsu?
19 Your own evil will discipline you; your own apostasies will reprimand you. Consider and realize how evil and bitter it is for you to forsake the LORD your God and to have no fear of Me,”
Wo amumɔyɛ bɛtwe wʼaso; wo nsanakyi bɛka wʼanim. Enti dwene ho na hu sɛ, sɛ wopa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi na woannya ne ho suro a, ɛyɛ bɔne ne ɔyaw ma wo.” Awurade, Asafo Awurade na ose.
20 “For long ago you broke your yoke and tore off your chains, saying, ‘I will not serve!’ Indeed, on every high hill and under every green tree you lay down as a prostitute.
“Tete mmere no, wububuu wo konnua mu, na wotetew wo nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn mu; na wokae se, ‘Merensom wo!’ Ampa, wɔ koko biara so ne dua biara a adennan ase na wotena bɔɔ aguaman.
21 I had planted you like a choice vine from the very best seed. How could you turn yourself before Me into a rotten, wild vine?
Miduaa wo sɛ bobe ankasa a efi bobe a ase ye pa ara mu. Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wodan wʼakyi kyerɛɛ me bɛyɛɛ bobe a anyin asɛe wɔ wura mu yi?
22 Although you wash with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt is still before Me,”
Sɛ wode soda ne samina bebree guare mpo a, wʼafɔdi nkekae da so wɔ mʼanim ara,” sɛnea Otumfo Awurade se ni.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled; I have not run after the Baals’? Look at your behavior in the valley; acknowledge what you have done. You are a swift young she-camel galloping here and there,
“Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woaka se, ‘Me ho nguu fi ɛ; minnii Baalnom akyi ɛ’? Hwɛ sɛnea woyɛɛ wo ho wɔ obon no mu; dwene nea woayɛ no ho. Woyɛ yomabere hoɔharefo a wutu mmirika kɔ ha ba ha,
24 a wild donkey at home in the wilderness, sniffing the wind in the heat of her desire. Who can restrain her passion? All who seek her need not weary themselves; in mating season they will find her.
wura mu afurum a nweatam so tena akokwaw no, ohuahua bere a ɔpɛ sɛ onini hyia no. Sɛ nʼakɔnnɔ no ano yɛ den a hena na obesianka no? Anini biara a wɔtaa no no nhaw wɔn ho bebree; edu bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wohyia no a wobenya no.
25 You should have kept your feet from going bare and your throat from being thirsty. But you said, ‘It is hopeless! For I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’
Ntu mmirika nkosi sɛ wʼanan ase bɛyɛ kwaterekwa, na wo mene mu bɛyow. Nanso wokae se, ‘So nni mfaso! Mepɛ ananafo anyame, na ɛsɛ sɛ midi wɔn akyi.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced. They, their kings, their officials, their priests, and their prophets
“Sɛnea wɔkyere ɔkorɔmfo a wogu nʼanim ase no, saa na wɔagu Israelfi anim ase, wɔn ankasa, wɔn ahemfo ne wɔn adwumayɛfo, wɔn asɔfo ne wɔn adiyifo.
27 say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’ and to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’ For they have turned their backs to Me and not their faces, yet in the time of trouble they beg, ‘Rise up and save us!’
Wɔka kyerɛ dua se, ‘Woyɛ mʼagya,’ ne ɔbo se, ‘Wo na wowoo me.’ Wɔadan wɔn akyi akyerɛ me na ɛnyɛ wɔn anim; nanso sɛ amanehunu bi ba wɔn so a, wɔka se, ‘Bra begye yɛn!’
28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah.
Anyame a moyɛ maa mo ho no wɔ he? Momma wɔmmra sɛ wobetumi agye mo bere a mowɔ amanehunu mu! Efisɛ mowɔ anyame bebree te sɛ nea mowɔ nkurow bebree no, Yuda.
29 Why do you bring a case against Me? You have all rebelled against Me,”
“Adɛn nti na mobɔ me sobo? Mo nyinaa ayɛ dɔm atia me,” Awurade na ose.
30 “I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
“Metwee mo nkurɔfo aso kwa; wɔamfa me nteɛso. Wʼafoa akunkum wʼadiyifo te sɛ gyata a nʼani abere.
31 You people of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a wilderness to Israel or a land of dense darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to You no more’?
“Mo nnɛmmafo, munnwen Awurade asɛm ho: “Mayɛ sɛ, nweatam ama Israel ana? Anaasɛ asase a so aduru sum kabii ana? Adɛn nti na me nkurɔfo ka se, ‘Yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yekyinkyin; yɛremma wo nkyɛn bio.’
32 Does a maiden forget her jewelry or a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number.
Ɔbabun werɛ fi ne mpempranne, ayeforo werɛ befi nʼahyehyɛde ana? Nanso me nkurɔfo werɛ afi me nna a wontumi nkan.
33 How skillfully you pursue love! Even the most immoral of women could learn from your ways.
Hwɛ nyansa a mowɔ de pɛ mo adɔfo! Mmea a wɔnsɛ hwee koraa tumi sua mo akwan.
34 Moreover, your skirts are stained with the blood of the innocent poor, though you did not find them breaking in. But in spite of all these things
Mo adurade mu wɔ ahiafo a wodi bem mogya, nanso moankyere wɔn sɛ wɔrebubu akɔ mu. Eyinom nyinaa akyi
35 you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
woka se, ‘Midi bem; ne bo mfuw me.’ Nanso mebu wo atɛn efisɛ woka se, ‘Menyɛɛ bɔne biara ɛ.’
36 How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
Adɛn nti na wukyinkyin sɛɛ, sesa wʼakwan? Misraim bedi wo huammɔ sɛnea Asiria yɛe no.
37 Moreover, you will leave that place with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper by their help.”
Afei wubefi saa beae hɔ a wo nsa gu wo ti so. Efisɛ Awurade apo wɔn a wode wo ho too wɔn so no; wɔremmoa wo.
