< Jeremiah 23 >

1 A curse is on the keepers who are causing the destruction and loss of the sheep of my field, says the Lord.
Yehowa be, “Baba na alẽkplɔla siwo le alẽ siwo le nye lãnyiƒe la vuvum hele wo kakam!”
2 So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said against the keepers who have the care of my people: You have let my flock be broken up, driving them away and not caring for them; see, I will send on you the punishment for the evil of your doings, says the Lord.
Eya ta ale Yehowa, Israel ƒe Mawu la gblɔ na alẽkplɔla siwo le nye dukɔ la kplɔm lae nye esi: “Esi mielé be na nye alẽhawo o, ke boŋ miekaka wo eye mienya wo de gbe ta la, mahe to na mi ɖe nu vɔ̃ɖi si miewɔ la ta.” Yehowae gblɔe.
3 And I will get the rest of my flock together from all the countries where I have sent them, and will make them come back again to their resting-place; and they will have offspring and be increased.
“Nye ŋutɔ maƒo nye alẽ mamlɛawo nu ƒu tso anyigba siwo katã dzi menya wo ɖo ɖo la dzi, eye makplɔ wo va wo nyiƒe, afi si woadzi ɖe edzi fũu le.
4 And I will put over them keepers who will take care of them: never again will they be overcome with fear or be troubled, and there will not be the loss of one of them, says the Lord.
Matsɔ alẽkplɔla siwo akpɔ wo dzi nyuie la aɖo wo nu, ale womagavɔ̃ alo dzidzi naƒo wo alo wo dometɔ aɖeke nabu o.” Yehowae gblɔe.
5 See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will give to David a true Branch, and he will be ruling as king, acting wisely, doing what is right, and judging uprightly in the land.
Yehowa be, “Ŋkekewo li gbɔna esime mana atilɔ dzɔdzɔe, aɖe nadze atso David ƒe ƒome me, anye fia si aɖu fia le nunya me eye wòawɔ nu si le eteƒe kple nu si le dzɔdzɔe le anyigba dzi.
6 In his days Judah will have salvation and Israel will be living without fear: and this is the name by which he will be named, The Lord is our righteousness.
Le eƒe ŋkekewo me la, woaɖe Yuda eye Israel anɔ anyi le dedinɔnɔ me. Esiae nye ŋkɔ si woayɔ nɛ: Yehowa, Míaƒe Dzɔdzɔenyenye.
7 And so, truly, the days are coming when they will say no longer, By the living Lord, who took the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt;
“Yehowa be eya ta ŋkekewo li gbɔna esi amewo magagblɔ be, ‘Meta Yehowa, ame si kplɔ Israelviwo do goe le Egipte la ƒe agbe’ o.
8 But, By the living Lord, who took up the seed of Israel, and made them come out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had sent them; and they will be living in the land which is theirs.
Ke boŋ woagblɔ be, ‘Meta Yehowa, ame si kplɔ Israel ƒe dzidzimeviwo do go tso anyiehenyigba dzi kple dukɔ siwo katã me woɖe aboyo wo ɖo ɖo la ƒe agbe.’ Ekema woanɔ woawo ŋutɔ ƒe anyigba dzi.”
9 About the prophets. My heart is broken in me, all my bones are shaking; I am like a man full of strong drink, like a man overcome by wine; because of the Lord, and because of his holy words.
Nya siwo ku ɖe nyagblɔɖilawo ŋu: nye dzi gbã le menye eye nye lãme katã le ƒoƒom. Ɖeko mele abe ŋutsu si mu aha alo abe ŋutsu si wain wu ko na la ene, le Yehowa kple eƒe nya kɔkɔewo ta.
10 For the land is full of men who are untrue to their wives; because of the curse the land is full of grief; the green fields of the waste land have become dry; and they are quick to do evil, their strength is for what is not right.
Anyigba la dzi yɔ fũu kple ahasiwɔlawo eye le fiƒode la ta la, anyigba la ƒu kplakplakpla ale be lãnyiƒe siwo katã le gbegbe la hã yrɔ; elabena Nyagblɔɖilawo ƒe mɔ to vovo eye wowɔa woƒe ŋusẽ ŋu dɔ to mɔ madzɔmadzɔwo dzi.
11 For the prophet as well as the priest is unclean; even in my house I have seen their evil-doing, says the Lord.
“Nyagblɔɖilawo kple Nunɔlawo siaa nye Mawumavɔ̃lawo eye le nye gbedoxɔ me gɔ̃ hã la, mekpɔ woƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi.” Yehowae gblɔe.
12 For this cause their steps will be slipping on their way: they will be forced on into the dark and have a fall there: for I will send evil on them in the year of their punishment, says the Lord.
“Eya ta woƒe mɔ dzi aɖiɖi dribadriba, woatsɔ wo aƒu gbe ɖe blukɔ me eye woadze anyi ɖe afi ma. Mahe gbegblẽ ava wo dzi le ƒe si me mahe to na wo.” Yehowae gblɔe.
13 And I have seen ways without sense in the prophets of Samaria; they became prophets of the Baal, causing my people Israel to go wrong.
“Mekpɔ bometsinu sia le nyagblɔɖila siwo le Samaria la dome. Wogblɔ nya ɖi le Baal ƒe ŋkɔ me eye wokplɔ nye dukɔ Israel trae.
14 And in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a shocking thing; they are untrue to their wives, walking in deceit, and they make strong the hands of evil-doers, so that a man may not be turned back from his evil-doing: they have all become like Sodom to me, and its people like Gomorrah.
Ke mekpɔ ŋunyɔnu sia hã le nyagblɔɖila siwo le Yerusalem la dome. Wole ahasi wɔm eye wole alakpa hã dam. Wodoa ŋusẽ nu baɖa wɔlawo be ne ame aɖeke nagaɖe asi le eƒe nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ ŋu o. Wo katã le nam abe Sodom ene. Yerusalem nɔlawo le abe Gomoratɔwo ene.”
15 So this is what the Lord of armies has said about the prophets: See, I will give them a bitter plant for their food, and bitter water for their drink: for from the prophets of Jerusalem unclean behaviour has gone out into all the land.
Eya ta ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ ɖe nyagblɔɖilawo ŋutie nye esi: “Kpɔ ɖa, mana nuɖuɖu veve wo eye makpe tsi si me wode aɖii la na wo elabena Yerusalem ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo gbɔe wòtso be, mawumavɔmavɔ̃ kaka ɖe anyigba blibo la dzi.”
16 This is what the Lord of armies has said: Do not give ear to the words which the prophets say to you: they give you teaching of no value: it is from themselves that their vision comes, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi: “Migaɖo to nyagblɔɖi siwo gblɔm Nyagblɔɖilawo le na mi la o. Mia flum wole kple mɔkpɔkpɔ ƒuƒlu. Wogblɔa nya si woawo ŋutɔ susu la be ŋutegae yewokpɔ, ke menye nya si do tso Yehowa ƒe nu me o.
17 They keep on saying to those who have no respect for the word of the Lord, You will have peace; and to everyone who goes on his way in the pride of his heart, they say, No evil will come to you.
Wogblɔna na ame siwo doa vlom ɖaa la be, ‘Yehowa be: miakpɔ ŋutifafa’, eye wogblɔna na ame siwo zɔna ɖe woƒe dzi vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ɖoɖo nu la be, ‘Dzɔgbevɔ̃e aɖeke mava mia dzi o.’
18 For which of them has knowledge of the secret of the Lord, and has seen him, and given ear to his word? which of them has taken note of his word and given attention to it?
Ke wo dometɔ kae nɔ Yehowa ƒe aɖaŋu me be wòakpɔ nu alo ase eƒe nya? Ame kae ɖo to hese eƒe nya?
19 See, the storm-wind of the Lord, even the heat of his wrath, has gone out, a rolling storm, bursting on the heads of the evil-doers.
Kpɔ ɖa, Yehowa ƒe ahom atu sesĩe le eƒe dziku helĩhelĩ me, eye yali atso abla ɖe ta na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo kɔtɔɔ.
20 The wrath of the Lord will not be turned back till he has done, till he has put into effect, the purposes of his heart: in days to come you will have full knowledge of this.
Yehowa ƒe dziku magbugbɔ o va se ɖe esime wòwɔ nu si wòɖo ɖe eƒe dzi me de goe. Le ŋkeke siwo gbɔna me la, miase nu siawo gɔme keŋkeŋ.
21 I did not send these prophets, but they went running: I said nothing to them, but they gave out the prophet's word.
Nyemedɔ nyagblɔɖila siawo o, gake wole du dzi kple woawo ŋutɔwo ƒe gbedeasi. Nyemeƒo nu kpli wo o, evɔ wogblɔ nya ɖi.
22 But if they had been in my secret, then they would have made my people give ear to my words, turning them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
Ke ne ɖe wonɔ nye aɖaŋudede me la, anye ne wogblɔ nye nyawo na nye dukɔ eye woatrɔ le woƒe mɔ vɔ̃wo dzi kple woƒe nuwɔwɔ vɔ̃ɖiwo me.”
23 Am I only a God who is near, says the Lord, and not a God at a distance?
Yehowa be, “Kpuiƒe ƒe Mawu ko menyea, eye nyemenye Mawu si le adzɔge oa?
24 In what secret place may a man take cover without my seeing him? says the Lord. Is there any place in heaven or earth where I am not? says the Lord.
Ɖe ame aɖe abe ɖe bebeƒe aɖe be nyemate ŋu akpɔe oa?” Yehowae gblɔe. “Ɖe nyemeyɔ dziƒo kple anyigba taŋtaŋ oa?” Yehowae gblɔe.
25 My ears have been open to what the prophets have said, who say false words in my name, saying, I have had a dream, I have had a dream, I have had a dream,
“Mese nu si gblɔm nyagblɔɖilawo le, ame siwo gblɔ aʋatsonyagblɔɖi le nye ŋkɔ me. Wogblɔ be, ‘Meku drɔ̃e aɖe! Meku drɔ̃e aɖe.’
26 Is (my word) in the hearts of the prophets who give out false words, even the prophets of the deceit of their hearts?
Ɣe ka ɣie nu sia ayi edzi le aʋatsonyagbɔɖila siawo ƒe dzi me ase ɖo, ame siwo gblɔ beblenya siwo woƒe susuwo gblɔ na wo?
27 Whose purpose is to take away the memory of my name from my people by their dreams, of which every man is talking to his neighbour, as their fathers gave up the memory of my name for the Baal.
Wobu xaa be drɔ̃e siwo wolĩna na wo nɔewo la awɔe be nye amewo aŋlɔ nye ŋkɔ be abe ale si wo fofowo ŋlɔ nye ŋkɔ be, to Baal subɔsubɔ me ene.”
28 If a prophet has a dream, let him give out his dream; and he who has my word, let him give out my word in good faith. What has the dry stem to do with the grain? says the Lord.
Yehowa be, “Nyagblɔɖila si ku drɔ̃e la, nelĩ drɔ̃e la faa, gake ame si si nye nya le la, neɖe gbeƒãe anukwaretɔe. Elabena kadodo kae le bli kple atsa dome?” Yehowae gblɔe.
29 Is not my word like fire? says the Lord; and like a hammer, smashing the rock to bits?
“Ɖe nye nya mele abe dzo ene kple zu si gbãa kpe sesẽ gudugudu la ene oa?” Yehowae gblɔ.
30 For this cause I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who take my words, every one from his neighbour.
Eya ta ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: “Matso ɖe nyagblɔɖila siwo fia nya siwo wosusu be etso gbɔnye la le wo nɔewo gbɔ la ŋuti.”
31 See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who let their tongues say, He has said.
Yehowa be, “Kpɔ ɖa, matso ɖe nyagblɔɖila siwo kpa nya kple woƒe aɖewo, evɔ wohegblɔna be, ‘Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi’ la ŋuti.
32 See, I am against the prophets of false dreams, says the Lord, who give them out and make my people go out of the way by their deceit and their uncontrolled words: but I did not send them or give them orders; and they will be of no profit to this people, says the Lord.
Kpɔ ɖa,” ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: “Matso ɖe ame siwo tsɔ alakpadrɔ̃ewo gblɔa nya ɖi la ŋuti. Wogblɔnɛ na dukɔa, eye wokplɔa nye amewo tranae to woƒe alakpa vivivo la me, evɔ nyemedɔ wo alo de dɔ asi na wo o. Womenye viɖe aɖeke na nye dukɔ o,” Yehowae gblɔe.
33 And if this people, or the prophet, or a priest, questioning you, says, What word of weight is there from the Lord? then you are to say to them, You are the word, for I will not be troubled with you any more, says the Lord.
“Ne ame siawo, alo nyagblɔɖila alo nunɔla bia wò be, ‘Nu kae nye Yehowa ƒe gbe hã la,’ ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Nu ka ƒe gbe? Magbe nu le mia gbɔ’ Yehowae gblɔe.
34 And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, A word of weight from the Lord! I will send punishment on that man and on his house.
Ke ne nyagblɔɖila alo nunɔla alo ame aɖe ko agblɔ be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe gbe’ la, mahe to na ame la kple eƒe aƒekɔ katã.
35 But this is what you are to say, every man to his neighbour and every man to his brother, What answer has the Lord given? and, What has the Lord said?
Esiae nye nu si mia dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe nɔ gbɔgblɔm na ehavi alo eƒe ƒometɔ: ‘Aleke Yehowa ɖo eŋutie?’ Alo ‘Nya ka Yehowa gblɔ?’
36 And you will no longer put people in mind of the word of weight of the Lord: for every man's word will be a weight on himself; for the words of the living God, of the Lord of armies, our God, have been twisted by you.
Ke migakɔ nu le ‘Yehowa ƒe nya’ dzi azɔ o, elabena ame sia ame ŋutɔ ƒe nya zu eƒe nyagblɔɖi, ale mietrɔ gbo Mawu gbagbe, Yehowa ƒe Aƒetɔ la, miaƒe Mawu la ƒe nyawo.
37 This is what you are to say to the prophet, What answer has the Lord given to you? and, What has the Lord said?
Esia nye nya si mienɔ gbɔgblɔm ɖaa na nyagblɔɖila, ‘Aleke Yehowa ɖo eŋutie?’ Alo ‘Nya kae Yehowa gblɔ?’
38 But if you say, The word of weight of the Lord; this is what the Lord has said: Because you say, The weight of the Lord, and I have sent to you, saying, You are not to say, The weight of the Lord;
Togbɔ be miegblɔ be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya, ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi’ hã la, miegagblɔna be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya,’ evɔ megblɔe na mi, miganɔ gbɔgblɔm be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya’ o.
39 For this reason, truly, I will put you completely out of my memory, and I will put you, and the town which I gave to you and to your fathers, away from before my face:
Eya ta kpɔ ɖa, maŋlɔ mi be le nyateƒe me, eye matsɔ mi aƒu gbe le nye ŋkume akpe ɖe du si metsɔ na mi kple mia fofowo la ŋuti.
40 And I will give you a name without honour for ever, and unending shame which will never go from the memory of men.
Mahe ŋukpe mavɔ kple vlododo mavɔ si womaŋlɔ be akpɔ o la va mia dzi.”

< Jeremiah 23 >