Zephaniah 3
1 What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!
Nnome nka nhyɛsofo kuropɔn atuatew kuropɔn a ho agu fi!
2 You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.
Ɔnyɛ osetie mma obiara onnye nteɛso biara nto mu. Ɔmfa ne ho nto Awurade so. Ontwiw mmɛn ne Nyankopɔn.
3 Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.
Nʼakannifo yɛ gyata a wɔbobɔ mu, ne sodifo yɛ mpataku a wɔnam anadwo, a wonnya biribiara mma adekyee.
4 Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.
Ne nkɔmhyɛfo yɛ ahantan; wɔyɛ afatwafo. Nʼasɔfo gu kronkronbea ho fi. Wɔnam mmara no so di nsɛmmɔne.
5 But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have no shame.
Awurade a ɔte ne mu no yɛ ɔtreneeni; ɔnyɛ mfomso biara. Adekyee biara, ɔda ne trenee adi, na onni huammɔ da, nanso amumɔyɛfo de, wonnim aniwu.
6 I have destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.
“Masɛe amanaman; madwiriw wɔn abandennen agu. Wɔn mmorɔn so adeda mpan, a obiara ntwa mu hɔ. Wɔasɛe wɔn nkuropɔn; a obiara renka.
7 I told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.
Meka kyerɛɛ kuropɔn no se, ‘ampa ara wubesuro me na woagye nteɛso ato mu!’ Na afei ne tenabea rensɛe, na mʼasotwe biara nso remma no so. Nanso wɔn ho peree wɔn sɛ wɔbɛkɔ so ayɛ bɔne, wɔn nneyɛe nyinaa mu.
8 You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.
Enti twɛn me,” sɛnea Awurade se ni, “na da no mɛsɔre adi adanse. Mayɛ mʼadwene sɛ mɛboaboa amanaman ne ahenni ano na mahwie mʼabufuw agu wɔn so mʼabufuwhyew nyinaa. Me ninkutwe abufuw gya mu no, asase nyinaa bɛhyew.
9 For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.
“Afei medwira nnipa no ano, na wɔn nyinaa abɔ Awurade din na wɔaka abɔ mu asom no.
10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.
Mʼasomfo, me nkurɔfo a wɔabɔ ahwete no befi nsubɔnten a ɛwɔ Kus nohɔ de wɔn afɔrebɔde abrɛ me.
11 On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.
Saa da no, wo Yerusalem, wɔrengu wʼanim ase wɔ nneyɛe bɔne a woayɛ atia me ho, efisɛ meyi afi saa kuropɔn yi mu, wɔn a wodi ahantan mu ahurusi, na worenyɛ ahantan bio wɔ me bepɔw kronkron no so.
12 I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.
Nanso megyaw wɔ wo mu wɔn a wodwo na wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase, na wɔde wɔn ho to Awurade so no.
13 The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.
Wɔrenyɛ bɔne biara; wɔrenka nkontomposɛm, na wɔn ano renka nnaadaasɛm wobedidi na wɔada, na obiara renyi wɔn hu.”
14 Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!
To dwom, Ɔbabea Sion; teɛ mu dennen, Israel! Ma wʼani nnye, na di ahurusi wɔ wo koma nyinaa mu, Ɔbabea Yerusalem!
15 For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.
Efisɛ Awurade ayi wʼasotwe afi wo so, wama wo tamfo asan nʼakyi. Awurade, Israelhene ka wo ho; worensuro ɔhaw biara bio.
16 On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”
Saa da no, wɔbɛka akyerɛ Yerusalem se, “Nsuro, Sion! Mma wo nsa mu ngow.
17 The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.
Awurade wo Nyankopɔn ne wo wɔ hɔ, Ɔyɛ ogyefo ɔhoɔdenfo. Nʼani begye wo ho ne dɔ mu, ɔrenka wʼanim bio, ɔde nnwonto bedi wo ho anigye.”
18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.
“Meyi wɔn a wodi awerɛhow wɔ wʼafahyɛnna ahorow a woahwere; a ayɛ adesoa ne animguase ama wo no ho.
19 Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.
Saa bere no me ne wɔn a wɔhyɛɛ wo so nyinaa bedi. Megye mmerɛwyɛfo na mɛboaboa wɔn a wɔabɔ wɔn ahwete no ano. Mɛkamfo wɔn ahyɛ wɔn anuonyam asase biara a woguu wɔn anim ase wɔ so no so.
20 At that time I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.
Saa bere no, mɛboaboa mo ano; saa bere no, mede mo bɛba fie. Mɛhyɛ wo anuonyam na makamfo mo wɔ asase so nnipa nyinaa mu bere a mede mo ahonyade bɛsan ama wo na mode mo ani behu no,” sɛnea Awurade se ni.
