Nehemiah 9
1 On the twenty-fourth day of this same month, the Israelites met together, fasting and wearing sackcloth, with dust on their heads.
Bosome Tisri (bɛyɛ Ahinime) ɛda a ɛtɔ so aduasa baako no, ɔmanfoɔ no boaa wɔn ho ano, dii mmuada, firaa ayitoma, tuu mfuturo petee wɔn tirim.
2 Those of Israelite ancestry separated themselves from the foreigners, and stood to confess their sins and those of their forefathers.
Ɛberɛ a wɔreka wɔn ankasa bɔne ne wɔn agyanom bɔne no, Israelfoɔ no twee wɔn ho firii ananafoɔ nyinaa ho.
3 They spent three hours standing there reading the Book of the Law of the Lord their God, and another three hours confessing their sins and worshiping the Lord their God.
Wɔkenkan Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn, mmara nwoma no den bɛyɛ sɛ nnɔnhwere mmiɛnsa kyerɛɛ wɔn. Afei, wɔde nnɔnhwere mmiɛnsa bio kekaa wɔn bɔne nnidisoɔ nnidisoɔ wɔ ɛberɛ a na wɔresom Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn.
4 The Levites stood on the stage and called out loudly to the Lord their God. (Their names were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani.)
Na Lewifoɔ no bi gyina ntrapoe so reteam frɛ Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn. Saa nnipa no ne Yesua, Bani, Kadmiel, Sebania, Buni, Serebia, Bani ne Kenani.
5 Then the Levites announced: “Stand up and praise the Lord your God who lives eternally: ‘May who you are and your glory be blessed, and may you be lifted up above all blessing and praise.’” (The names of the Levites were Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah.)
Afei, Lewifoɔ ntuanofoɔ a wɔne Yesua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hasabnia, Serebia, Hodia, Sebania ne Petahia teaam frɛɛ ɔmanfoɔ no sɛ, “Monsɔre nkamfo Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔte hɔ afebɔɔ!” Wɔtoaa so sɛ, “Monkamfo ne din kronkron no. Ɛso sene sɛdeɛ yɛbɛtumi adwene anaa deɛ yɛbɛka.
6 They prayed, “Only you are the Lord. It was you who made the sky, the heavens with all their stars, the land and everything on it, the seas and everything in them. You give life to all of them, and all the heavenly beings worship you.
Wo nko ara ne Awurade. Wo na wobɔɔ ɔsoro ne ɔsoro mu ɔsoro ne nsoromma nyinaa. Wo na wobɔɔ asase ne deɛ ɛwɔ so nyinaa ne ɛpo ne deɛ ɛwɔ mu nyinaa. Wo na wokora biribiara so ma no nkwa, na ɔsoro abɔfoɔ nyinaa som wo.
7 You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram, who led him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham.
“Woyɛ Awurade Onyankopɔn a woyii Abram firii Ur a ɛwɔ Kaldea asase so, sane too no edin Abraham.
8 You knew he would be faithful to you, and made an agreement with him to give him and his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You kept your promise, because you do what is right.
Ɔdii wo nokorɛ no, wo ne no yɛɛ apam sɛ, wode Kanaanfoɔ, Hetifoɔ, Perisifoɔ Yebusifoɔ ne Girgasifoɔ asase bɛma ɔne nʼasefoɔ. Na wodii wo bɔhyɛ so, ɛfiri sɛ, daa wodi wʼasɛm so.
9 You saw how much our forefathers were suffering in Egypt. You heard their cries for help at the Red Sea.
“Wohunuu amane ne awerɛhoɔ a yɛn agyanom kɔɔ mu wɔ Misraim, na wotee wɔn su firi Ɛpo Kɔkɔɔ no ho.
10 You performed miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all his people of his land, for you recognized how arrogantly they treated our forefathers. You created a wonderful reputation for yourself that people still recognize to this day.
Woyɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ a ɛyɛ hu ne anwanwadeɛ kyerɛɛ Farao, nʼasomfoɔ ne ne manfoɔ nyinaa, ɛfiri sɛ, na wonim nhyɛsoɔ ɛkwan a na Misraimfoɔ no de wɔn fa so. Wowɔ animuonyam a ahyeta a ani mpa so da.
11 You split the sea apart in front of them so that they could walk through it on dry ground. But you threw their pursuers into the depths of the sea, like stones thrown into raging waters.
Wopaee ɛpo mu maa wo nkurɔfoɔ, sɛdeɛ wɔbɛtumi afa asase wesee so. Na wopuaa wɔn atamfoɔ guu ɛpo bunu mu. Wɔmemem sɛ aboɔ wɔ nsubunu a emu dɔ no ase.
12 You led them with a column of cloud during the day, and a column of fire at night, showing them the way which they should go.
Wonam omununkum fadum so dii yɛn agyanom anim awia ne ogya fadum so, dii wɔn anim anadwo sɛdeɛ wɔbɛhunu ɛkwan.
13 You descended on Mount Sinai. You spoke to them from heaven. You gave them right ways to live, true laws, and good regulations and commandments.
“Wosianee bepɔ Sinai, kasa kyerɛɛ wɔn firi ɔsoro. Wode mmara a ɛyɛ turodoo ne ahyɛdeɛ a ɛyɛ nokorɛ brɛɛ wɔn.
14 You explained your holy Sabbath to them. You gave them commandments and regulations and laws through your servant Moses.
Wokyerɛɛ wɔn mmara a ɛfa wo homeda kronkron ho. Na wonam wo ɔsomfoɔ Mose so hyɛɛ wɔn sɛdeɛ wɔnsi nni wʼahyɛdeɛ ne wo mmara no nyinaa so.
15 When they were hungry you gave them bread from heaven, and when they were thirsty you brought water out of the rock for them. You told them to go and take ownership of the land which you had sworn to give them.
Ɛberɛ a ɛkɔm de wɔn no, womaa wɔn burodo a ɛfiri ɔsoro ne nsuo a ɛfiri ɔbotan mu wɔ ɛberɛ a sukɔm de wɔn no. Wohyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnkɔfa asase a woaka ho ntam sɛ wode bɛma wɔn no.
16 But they and our forefathers acted arrogantly and became stubborn, and didn't pay attention to your commands.
“Nanso, yɛn agyanom yɛɛ ahantan ne asoɔden, na wɔanni wʼahyɛdeɛ so.
17 They refused to listen to you, and forgot about all the miracles you did for them. They became obstinate and decided to choose themselves a leader to take them back to slavery in Egypt. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and merciful, slow to get angry, and full of trustworthy love. You did not give up on them,
Wɔantie, na wɔankae wʼanwanwadeɛ a woyɛ maa wɔn no. Mmom, wɔyɛɛ dɔm yii ntuanoni sɛ ɔnsane mfa wɔn nkɔ wɔn nkoasom mu wɔ Misraim. Nanso, woyɛ ɔfakyɛfoɔ, ahummɔborɔ ne ɔdomfoɔ Onyankopɔn a wo bo kyɛre fu na wʼadɔeɛ dɔɔso. Woannyaa wɔn
18 even when they made themselves a metal calf and said, ‘This is your god who led you out of Egypt,’ and committed terrible blasphemies.
wɔ ɛberɛ a wɔyɛɛ ohoni sɛso a ɔte sɛ nantwie ba na wɔkaa sɛ, ‘Yei ne mo nyame a ɔyii mo firii Misraim no.’ Wɔyɛɛ bɔne, kekaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.
19 But you because you are so merciful didn't abandon them in the desert. The column of cloud didn't stop guiding them during the day, and the column of fire continued to light their way at night.
“Nanso, wo mmɔborɔhunu mu, woannyaa wɔn amma wɔanwuwu wɔ ɛserɛ no so. Omununkum fadum no kɔɔ so dii wɔn anim awia, na ogya fadum no kyerɛɛ wɔn ɛkwan anadwo.
20 You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You did not stop feeding them with your manna, and you gave them water when they were thirsty.
Wosomaa wo honhom pa no kyerɛɛ wɔn deɛ wɔnyɛ, na woannyae sɛ wobɛma wɔn burodo afiri soro anaa nsuo wɔ ɛberɛ a sukɔm de wɔn.
21 You took care of them for forty years in the desert. Their clothes didn't wear out, they didn't want for anything. Their feet didn't even swell up!
Wohwɛɛ wɔn so mfeɛ aduanan wɔ ɛserɛ so. Saa ɛberɛ no, biribiara anhia wɔn. Wɔn ntadeɛ antete, na wɔn anan ase antaatae.
22 You gave them kingdoms and nations; you assigned their borders. They took control of the land of Sihon, king of Heshbon, and of Og, king of Bashan.
“Woboaa yɛn agyanom, ma wɔdii ahemman akɛseɛ ne aman bebree so, na wode wo nkurɔfoɔ duaa aman no afanan nyinaa so. Wɔfaa ɔhene Sihon a ɔfiri Hesbon ne Basanhene Og asase no nyinaa.
23 You made their descendants as countless as the stars of heaven, and led them to the land you had promised their fathers they would enter and possess.
Womaa wɔn asefoɔ dɔɔso sɛ ɔsoro nsoromma, na wode wɔn baa asase a woahyɛ wɔn agyanom ho bɔ no so.
24 Their descendants went in and took over the land. Right in front of them you conquered the Canaanites who lived there, handing over their kings and people so they could do with them whatever they wanted.
Wɔkɔfaa asase no. Wobrɛɛ aman no nyinaa ase wɔ wɔn anim. Na, mpo, ahemfo ne Kanaanfoɔ a wɔtenaa asase no so no tumi saeɛ. Wo nkurɔfoɔ ne wɔn dii no sɛdeɛ wɔpɛ.
25 They captured fortified cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of valuable things, water cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full, and grew fat. They were so happy at how good you were to them.
Yɛn agyanom faa nkuro a wɔabɔ ho ban ne nsase bereɛ no. Wɔfaa afie a nnepa wɔ mu ne nsuseneeɛ a wɔatutu dada no ne bobefuo ne ngofuo ne nnuabafuo no bebree. Enti, wɔdidiiɛ ara kɔsii sɛ wɔdodɔreeɛ, yɛɛ akɛseɛ, na wɔn ani gyee wɔn ho wɔ wo nhyira mu.
26 But they completely rebelled against you. They tossed your Law over their shoulders. They killed your prophets who warned them to try and bring them back to you, and they committed terrible blasphemies.
“Nanso, yeinom nyinaa akyi no, wɔyɛɛ asoɔden, yɛɛ dɔm tiaa wo. Wɔtoo wo mmara no guu nkyɛn. Wɔkunkumm adiyifoɔ no a wɔhyɛɛ wɔn nkuran sɛ wɔnsane mmra wo nkyɛn no, na wɔkaa abususɛm a ɛyɛ hu.
27 So you handed them over to their enemies who treated them badly. In their suffering they cried out to you for help. But you heard their cries from heaven, and because you're so merciful you sent them leaders to save them from their enemies.
Enti, wode wɔn hyɛɛ wɔn atamfoɔ nsa. Nanso, wɔn amanehunu mu no, wɔsu frɛɛ wo, na wotiee wɔn firi ɔsoro. Na ahummɔborɔ a ɛso mu, wosomaa agyefoɔ a wɔgyee wɔn firii wɔn atamfoɔ nsam.
28 However, as soon as they had peace, they went back to doing evil in your sight. So once more you handed them over to their enemies, who dominated them. They came back to you, and they cried out to you again. But you heard from heaven once more, and you saved them time and again because you are so merciful.
“Nanso, na nneɛma nyinaa rekɔ so yie no, wo manfoɔ sane kɔɔ bɔne mu bio, na wosane maa wɔn atamfoɔ dii wɔn so. Nanso, ɛberɛ biara a wo nkurɔfoɔ bɛsu afrɛ wo bio, apɛ mmoa no, wotiee bio firi ɔsoro. Wʼahummɔborɔ nwanwa enti, wogyee wɔn ntoatoasoɔ.
29 You warned them to come back to your Law, but they were arrogant. They ignored your commands, and sinned against your rules, which, as you previously said, ‘If people obey they will live by them.’ They obstinately turned their backs on you and refused to listen.
“Wobɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ sɛ, wɔnsane mmɛdi wo mmara no so nanso, wɔyɛɛ ahomasoɔ ne asoɔden a wɔanni wʼahyɛdeɛ no so. Wɔanni wo mmara a sɛ nnipa di so a, wɔnam so bɛnya nkwa. Nanso, wɔnam ahomasoɔ so danee wɔn akyi kyerɛɛ wo a wɔampɛ sɛ wɔbɛtie wo.
30 You were patient with them for many years. You warned them by your Spirit through your prophets, but they didn't listen, so you handed them over to the other nations.
Wo dɔ enti, wonyaa wɔn ho ntoboaseɛ mfeɛ bebree. Wosomaa wo honhom a ɔnam adiyifoɔ so bɔɔ wɔn kɔkɔ faa wɔn bɔne ho. Nanso, ɛkɔka he ara a, wɔntie. Enti, bio, womaa abosonsomfoɔ a wɔwɔ asase yi so no ho kwan, ma wɔdii wɔn so.
31 But because of your wonderful mercy you did not finish with them, and you did not abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.
Nanso, wo mmɔborɔhunu a ɛdɔɔso enti, woantɔre wɔn ase anaa woannyaa wɔn afebɔɔ. Woyɛ ɔdomfoɔ ne ahummɔborɔ Onyankopɔn.
32 So now, our God, the great and powerful and awesome God who keeps his agreement of trustworthy love, please don't see as unimportant all the hardships that have happened to us, and to our kings and leaders, our priests and prophets, our forefather and all your people, from the time of the Assyrian kings of Assyria up till now.
“Afei, yɛn Onyankopɔn, ɔkɛseɛ, otumfoɔ ne ɔnwanwani Onyankopɔn a ne dɔ apam a ɔyɛeɛ no ɔmmu so, mma yɛn amanehunu a yɛkɔɔ mu no nyinaa nnyɛ ɔkwa wɔ wʼanim. Ɔhaw kɛseɛ aba yɛn ne yɛn ahemfo, yɛn ahenemma ne asɔfoɔ ne adiyifoɔ ne yɛn agyanom so, firi ɛberɛ a Asiria ahemfo didii yɛn so nkonim, de bɛsi saa ɛberɛ yi.
33 But you have done what is right regarding everything that has happened to us. You have always acted faithfully, while we have done so much evil.
Ɛberɛ biara a wobɛtwe yɛn aso no, na ɛfata. Yɛayɛ bɔne kɛseɛ a wotwe yɛn aso sɛdeɛ ɛsɛ wɔ so.
34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our forefathers did not follow your Law, and they ignored your commands and regulations you ordered them to keep.
Yɛn ahemfo, ahenemma, asɔfoɔ, ne yɛn agyanom no anni wo mmara so anaa wʼahyɛdeɛ ne wo kɔkɔbɔ denden no so.
35 But they, even during the time they had their own kingdom, with so many blessings you had given them in the wide and fertile land you had provided for them, even then they refused to serve you and would not turn from their evil ways.
Mpo, ɛberɛ a wɔn ankasa nyaa wɔn ahemman no, wɔansom wo wɔ ɛberɛ a woahwie wʼayamyɛ adom agu wɔn so no. Womaa wɔn nsase pa akɛseɛ nanso, wɔannu wɔn ho amfiri wɔn amumuyɛsɛm ho.
36 Look at us now, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers to enjoy its fruit and all its good things. Look at us slaves here!
“Enti, seesei, yɛyɛ nkoa wɔ asase a nnepa abu so wɔ so a wode maa yɛn agyanom no so. Dodoɔ yi nyinaa mu, yɛyɛ nkoa.
37 The rich harvests of this land go to the kings you have placed over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and our cattle, doing whatever they want. We are suffering so much!”
Afudeɛ a ɛbu so boro so no nyinaa akɔdi ahemfo a ɛsiane yɛn bɔne enti, woatu wɔn sɛ wɔnhwɛ yɛn so no nsam. Wɔwɔ yɛn ne yɛn anantwie so tumi. Yɛsom wɔn sɛdeɛ wɔpɛ, na yɛwɔ ahokyere kɛseɛ mu.
38 In response the people declared, “Considering all this, we are making a solemn agreement, putting it in writing. It is sealed by our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
“Yeinom nyinaa akyi, yɛnam nkurukyire so rehyɛ bɔ a emu yɛ den. Saa nsɔano krataa yi mu na yɛn ahenemma ne Lewifoɔ ne asɔfoɔ din wɔ.”
