< Jeremiah 23 >

1 What trouble is coming to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord.
“Nnome nka nnwanhwɛfoɔ a wɔsɛe na wɔhwete me nnwankuo no” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
2 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds who were meant to look after my people: You have scattered my flock. You have chased them away You didn't take care of them, so now I will take care of you for all the evil you've done, declares the Lord.
Ɛno enti yei ne deɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, ka kyerɛ ahwɛfoɔ a wɔhwɛ me nkurɔfoɔ so nie: “Esiane sɛ, moabɔ me nnwankuo ahweteɛ, na moapam wɔn na moanhwɛ wɔn so yie no enti, mede asotwe bɛbrɛ mo wɔ mo bɔne a moayɛ no nti,” deɛ Awurade seɛ nie.
3 I myself will gather what's left of my flock from all the countries where I exiled them, and I will bring them back to their pasture, where they will increase in number.
“Me ara ankasa mɛboaboa me nnwan nkaeɛ no afifiri aman a mapam wɔn akɔ hɔ nyinaa no so na mede wɔn bɛsane aba wɔn adidibea bio, baabi wɔbɛwowo na wɔn ase atrɛ.
4 I will put shepherds in charge of them who will take care of them, and they won't be afraid or discouraged anymore, and none of them will be missing, declares the Lord.
Na mɛyi nnwanhwɛfoɔ a wɔbɛhwɛ wɔn so, na wɔrensuro na wɔremmɔ hu bio na wɔn mu baako mpo renyera.” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
5 Look, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will choose a descendant of David who does what is right. As king he will rule with wisdom and do what is just and right throughout the country.
“Nna bi reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “Mɛma tenenee dubaa bi so ama Dawid, ɔhene bi a ɔbɛdi adeɛ nyansa mu na wayɛ deɛ ɛtene ne deɛ ɛyɛ wɔ asase yi so.
6 When he is king, Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. This is the name he will be called: The Lord Who Makes Us Right.
Ne mmerɛ so, wɔbɛgye Yuda nkwa na Israel bɛtena ase wɔ asomdwoeɛ mu. Yei ne edin a wɔde bɛfrɛ no: Awurade Yɛn Tenenee.
7 Look, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when people won't say anymore, “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Na afei nna bi reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “a nnipa renka bio sɛ, ‘Nokorɛm sɛ Awurade te ase yi, deɛ ɔyii Israelfoɔ firii Misraim,’
8 Instead they'll say, “On the Lord's life, who led the Israelites back from the northern country and all the other countries where he had exiled them.” Then they'll live in their own country.
na mmom, wɔbɛka sɛ, ‘Nokorɛm sɛ Awurade te ase yi, deɛ ɔyii Israel asefoɔ firii atifi asase so ne aman nyinaa a ɔpamoo wɔn kɔɔ hɔ no so.’ Na afei wɔbɛtena wɔn ankasa asase so.”
9 When it comes to the prophets: I'm really disturbed—I'm shaking inside! I stagger like a drunk, like someone who's had too much wine, because of what the Lord is like, because of his holy words.
Ɛfa adiyifoɔ no ho no: Mʼakoma abubu wɔ me mu; me nnompe nyinaa woso. Mete sɛ ɔsabofoɔ, mete sɛ obi a nsã aboro noɔ, ɛsiane Awurade ne ne nsɛm kronkron no enti.
10 For the country is full of people committing adultery so it's under a curse. The land mourns and the desert pastures have dried up. The people live evil lives, using their energy to do wrong.
Awaresɛefoɔ ahyɛ asase no so ma; nnome no enti asase no awo wesee adidibea a ɛwɔ anweatam no so ahye. Adiyifoɔ no nam ɛkwan bɔne so de wɔn tumi yɛ deɛ ɛntene.
11 Both prophets and priests show no respect for me. I see wickedness even in my Temple, declares the Lord.
“Odiyifoɔ ne ɔsɔfoɔ nyinaa nsuro Onyankopɔn; mʼasɔredan mu mpo mehunu wɔn amumuyɛsɛm,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
12 That's why their path will become slippery; they will be chased away in the dark and fall down. I'm going to bring disaster on them at the time when they're punished, declares the Lord.
“Ɛno enti, wɔn ɛkwan so bɛyɛ torotorotoro; wɔbɛpam wɔn akɔ esum mu na ɛhɔ na wɔbɛhwehwe ase. Mede amanehunu bɛba wɔn so wɔ afe a wɔbɛtwe wɔn aso mu no,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
13 I saw the prophets of Samaria doing something really offensive: They prophesied in the name of Baal and led my people Israel to sin.
“Samaria adiyifoɔ mu no mehunuu saa atantanneɛ yi: Wɔde Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm nam so maa me nkurɔfoɔ Israelfoɔ fom ɛkwan.
14 But now I see the prophets of Jerusalem doing something even more disgusting: They commit adultery and their lives are a lie. They support the wicked, so no one stops sinning. To me they're all like Sodom; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.
Na Yerusalem adiyifoɔ mu no mahunu adeɛ a ɛyɛ hu: Wɔsɛe awadeɛ na wɔdi atorɔ. Wɔhyɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no mpamuden, enti obiara nntwe ne ho mfiri nʼamumuyɛsɛm ho. Wɔn nyinaa te sɛ Sodom ma me; na Yerusalemfoɔ te sɛ Gomora.”
15 So this is what the Lord Almighty says about the prophets: I will give them wormwood to eat and poisoned water to drink, because evil has spread across the country from the prophets of Jerusalem.
Ɛno enti, yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ fa adiyifoɔ no ho: “Mema wɔadi aduane a ɛyɛ nwono na wɔanom nsuo a awuduro wɔ mu, ɛfiri sɛ Yerusalem adiyifoɔ enti, abɔnefosɛm ahyɛ asase yi so ma.”
16 This is what the Lord Almighty says: Don't pay attention to what these prophets say when they prophesy to you. They're fooling you with visions they make up in their own minds. They're not from me.
Yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ: “Monntie nkɔm a adiyifoɔ no hyɛ kyerɛ mo; wɔma mo nya anidasoɔ a ɛnni nnyinasoɔ. Wɔbɔ wɔn tirim ka anisoadehunu, a ɛmfiri Awurade anom.
17 They keep on telling people who don't respect me, “The Lord says that you'll live in peace,” and to everyone following their own stubborn attitude, “Nothing bad is going to happen to you.”
Wɔkɔ so ka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔbu me animtia sɛ, ‘Awurade se: Mobɛnya asomdwoeɛ.’ Na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn akomadenyɛ akyi no nyinaa, wɔka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Ɔhaw biara remma mo so.’
18 But who of them has attended the Lord's council to hear and understand what he's saying? Who has paid attention to his instructions and followed them?
Na wɔn mu hwan na waka Awurade agyinatufoɔ ho sɛ ɔbɛhwɛ anaa ɔbɛtie nʼasɛm? Hwan na wayɛ aso ate nʼasɛm?
19 Watch out! The Lord has sent out a furious storm, a tornado swirling around the heads of the wicked.
Hwɛ, Awurade ahum bɛtu abufuhyeɛ mu, ntwahoframa bɛdi kyinhyia wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ mpampam.
20 The Lord's anger won't fade until he's finished doing everything he wants. Only then will you really understand.
Awurade abufuo rennwo kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛwie nʼakoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ nyinaa. Nna a ɛreba no mu no mobɛte aseɛ yie.
21 I didn't send these prophets, but they run to deliver their messages. I didn't tell them to say anything, but they still go on prophesying.
Mansoma saa adiyifoɔ yi, nanso wɔde wɔn asɛm akyinkyini; manto wɔn nkra biara, nanso wɔahyɛ nkɔm.
22 Now if they had attended my council, they would have delivered my instructions to my people and brought them back from their evil way of life, from their evil actions.
Sɛ wɔkaa mʼagyinatufoɔ ho a, anka wɔbɛpae mu aka mʼasɛm akyerɛ me nkurɔfoɔ na ama wɔatwe wɔn ho afiri wɔn akwammɔne ne wɔn nneyɛɛ bɔne ho.
23 Am I only a local God and not a God who operates widely? asks the Lord.
“Meyɛ Onyankopɔn a mebɛn nko ara anaa,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “na mennyɛ Onyankopɔn a mewɔ akyirikyiri nso?
24 Can people hide in secret places where I can't see them? asks the Lord. Don't I operate everywhere in heaven and on earth? asks the Lord.
Obi bɛtumi de ne ho asie baabi a merentumi nhunu no anaa?” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Menyɛɛ ɔsoro ne asase so ma anaa?” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
25 I've listened to the prophets who prophesy lies in my name. They say, “I've had a dream! I've had a dream!”
“Mate deɛ adiyifoɔ a wɔde medin hyɛ nkɔmtorɔ no keka. Wɔkeka sɛ, ‘Mesoo daeɛ! Mesoo daeɛ!’
26 How long will this continue? How long will these prophets go on prophesying these lies which are just the product of their own deluded minds?
Yei bɛkɔ so akɔsi da bɛn wɔ atorɔ adiyifoɔ yi akoma mu? Wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn tirim hyɛ nnaadaa nkɔm?
27 They think the dreams that they repeat to one another will lead my people to forget me, just like their forefathers forgot me by worshiping Baal.
Wɔdwene sɛ daeɛ a wɔkeka kyerɛkyerɛ wɔn ho no bɛma me nkurɔfoɔ werɛ afiri me din, sɛdeɛ Baalsom enti wɔn agyanom werɛ firii me din no.
28 A prophet who has a dream should say it's just a dream, but anyone I've spoken to should deliver my message faithfully. What is straw in comparison to grain? asks the Lord.
Ma odiyifoɔ a waso daeɛ no nka nʼadaeso, na ma deɛ ɔwɔ mʼasɛm no nka no nokorɛm. Na ɛdeɛn na ntɛtɛ ne ayuo wɔ yɛ?” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
29 Doesn't my word burn like fire? asks the Lord. Isn't it like a hammer smashing a rock?
“Na mʼasɛm nte sɛ ogya?” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “Ɛnte sɛ asaeɛ a ɛpaapae ɔbotan mu nketenkete anaa?
30 Pay attention to this, declares the Lord. I'm opposed to those prophets who steal words from one another and then say it's a message from me.
“Ɛno nti,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “mekyi adiyifoɔ a wɔfa nsɛm a ɛfiri wɔn yɔnkonom nkyɛn, na wɔpae mu ka no sɛdeɛ ɛfiri me nkyɛn no.
31 Pay attention to this declares the Lord. I'm opposed to those prophets who make up their own stories and then announce, “This is what the Lord says.”
Aane,” Awurade asɛm nie, “mekyi saa adiyifoɔ a wɔde wɔn ankasa tɛkrɛmawoɔ ka sɛ, ‘Awurade na ɔseɛ.’
32 Pay attention to this declares the Lord, I'm opposed to those who prophesy fictional dreams. They tell them in order to lead my people into sin with their wild lies. I didn't send them or give them any instructions, and they don't do anybody any good, declares the Lord.
Nokorɛm, mekyi wɔn a wɔhyɛ adaeɛso ho nkɔmtorɔ,” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Wɔka kyerɛ wɔn na wɔde atorɔ nsɛm daadaa me nkurɔfoɔ ma wɔfom ɛkwan, nso mensomaa wɔn na mennyii wɔn. Wɔn ho nni mfasoɔ mma saa nnipa yi koraa,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
33 So when a prophet or priest or anyone else comes and asks you, “What is ‘the burden of the Lord?’” tell them, I'm not giving you a burden. I'm giving up on you, declares the Lord.
“Sɛ saa nnipa yi, anaa odiyifoɔ anaa ɔsɔfoɔ bisa mo sɛ, ‘Ɛdeɛn ne Awurade adiyisɛm no a?’ Monka nkyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Adiyisɛm bɛn? Mɛpo mo, Awurade na ɔseɛ.’
34 If a prophet or priest or anyone else claims, “This is the burden of the Lord,” I will punish that person and their family.
Sɛ odiyifoɔ bi, ɔsɔfoɔ bi anaa obi foforɔ si so dua sɛ, ‘Awurade adiyisɛm ni’ a, mɛtwe saa ɔbarima no ne ne fiefoɔ aso.
35 This is what everybody should say to their friends and relatives: “What answer has the Lord given?” or, “What has the Lord said?”
Yei ne deɛ mo mu biara kɔ so ka kyerɛ ne yɔnko anaa ne busuani: ‘Awurade mmuaeɛ ne sɛn?’ Anaa ‘Ɛdeɛn na Awurade aka?’
36 Don't talk about “the burden of the Lord” anymore, because everybody has different ideas about this “burden,” perverting the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God.
Nanso ɛnsɛ sɛ mobɔ ‘Awurade adiyisɛm’ so bio; ɛfiri sɛ, obiara asɛm bɛyɛ nʼadiyisɛm, ne saa enti modanedane nsɛm a ɛfiri Onyankopɔn, Teasefoɔ, Asafo Awurade yɛn Onyankopɔn nkyɛn mu.
37 This is what you are to say ask any prophet: “What message has the Lord given you?” and “What has the Lord told you?”
Yei ne deɛ mokɔ so ka kyerɛ odiyifoɔ: ‘Mmuaeɛ bɛn na Awurade de ama mo?’ Anaa ‘Ɛdeɛn na Awurade aka?’
38 If they say, “This is the burden of the Lord,” then this is the Lord's response: Because you said, “This is the burden of the Lord,” and I warned you not to,
Ɛwom, mosi so dua sɛ, ‘Yei ne Awurade adiyisɛm’ nanso sei na Awurade ka: Mokaa sɛ, ‘Yei yɛ Awurade adiyisɛm,’ wɔ ɛberɛ a maka akyerɛ mo sɛ monnka saa nsɛm yi bio.
39 now I'm going to pick you up like a burden and throw you away, you and the city that I gave to you and your forefathers.
Afei, nokorɛm, me werɛ bɛfiri mo, na mapam mo ne kuropɔn a mede maa mo ne mo agyanom afiri mʼani so.
40 I will disgrace you forever, you shame will never be forgotten.
Na mede daa animguaseɛ, ne daa ahohora a werɛ remfi da bɛba mo so.”

< Jeremiah 23 >