Ezekiel 20

1 And it came to pass in the seventh year in the fifth month, on the tent of the month, that there came in men of the elders of Israel to enquire of Yahweh, —and they sat before me.

Afe a ɛto so ason no, ɔsram anum no da a ɛto so du no, Israel mpanyimfo no mu bi bebisaa Awurade hɔ ade, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.

2 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me saying: -

Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

3 Son of man Speak thou with the elders of Israel and say unto them, Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh, To enquire of me, are ye coming in? As I live, verily I will not be enquired of by you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh.

“Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanyimfo no se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Moaba sɛ morebebisa me nkyɛn ade ana? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo kwan ma mummisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfo Awurade na ose.’

4 Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, O son of man? The abominations of their fathers, let them know:

“Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwade a wɔyɛɛ no si wɔn anim

5 So then thou shalt say unto them Thus, saith My Lord Yahweh, In the day when I made choice of Israel, then lifted I up my hand. to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them, in the land of Egypt, - Yea I lifted up my hand to them, saying, I Yahweh, am your God.

na ka kyerɛ wɔn se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Da a miyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakobfi asefo, na miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”

6 In that day, lifted I up my hand to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, —into a land that I had looked out for them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was of all lands,

Saa da no, mekaa wɔn ntam se meyi wɔn afi Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu nea ɛyɛ papa pa ara no.

7 And I said unto them. Every one the abomination of his eyes, cast ye away, And with the manufactured gods of Egypt, let it not be that ye defile yourselves: I, Yahweh, am your God.

Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo mu biara ntow nsɛsode tantan a mode mo ani asi so no nkyene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”

8 But they rebelled against me And were not willing to hearken unto me, Every man the abominations of their eyes, they cast not away, And the manufactured gods of Egypt, forsook they not; Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them to bring mine anger to an end against them, in the midst of the land of Egypt.

“‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantotow nsɛsode tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi so no angu na wɔannyae ahoni a efi Misraim no akyidi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.

9 Howbeit I wrought with effect, for the sake of mine own Name, that it might not be profaned—before the eyes of the nations in whose midst they were, —before whose eyes I made myself known unto them, by bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Nanso me din nti meyɛɛ nea ɛremma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfo wɔ mu, de yii wɔn fii Misraim no.

10 Therefore brought I them forth out of the land of Egypt, —and caused them to come into the desert.

Enti midii wɔn anim fii Misraim, de wɔn baa sare no so.

11 Then gave I unto them my statutes, And my regulations, caused I them to know, - By the which the man that doeth them shall live.

Mede me nhyehyɛe maa wɔn na mema wohuu me mmara, efisɛ obiara a odi so no nam so benya nkwa.

12 Moreover also my sabbaths, gave I unto them, to become a sign betwixt me and them, —that it might be known that, I, Yahweh, was hallowing them.

Na mede me homenna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛnea wobehu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron no.

13 But the house of Israel, rebelled against me, in the desert, In my statutes, walked they not, And my regulations, they rejected By the which the man, that doeth them, shall live, My sabbaths also, they profaned exceedingly. Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them in the desert, to make an end of them.

“‘Nanso Israelfo tew mʼanim atua wɔ sare no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛe so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a obedi so no benya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na woguu me homenna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ sare no so.

14 Howbeit I wrought with effect for the sake of mine own Name, —that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose eyes I had brought them forth.

Nanso me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho kwan ma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.

15 Yet even I lifted up my hand to them. in the desert, — That I would not bring them into the land which I had given to them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was. of all lands:

Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nnkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, nsase nyinaa mu nea eye pa ara no,

16 Because my regulations, they had rejected. And as for my statutes, they had not walked therein, My sabbaths also, had they profaned; For after their manufactured gods, their heart had been going.

efisɛ wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛde so na woguu me homenna ho fi, esiane sɛ na wɔn koma da wɔn ahoni no so nti.

17 Nevertheless mine eye threw a shield over them that they should not be destroyed; So I made not of them a full end in the desert.

Nanso mihuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ sare no so.

18 But I said unto their children in the desert, In the statutes of your fathers, let it not be that ye walk, And their regulations, let it not be that ye observe, — And with their manufactured gods, let it not be that ye defile yourselves.

Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ sare no so se, “Munnni mo agyanom ahyɛde ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.

19 I, Yahweh, am your God, In my statutes, walk ye, — And my regulations, observe ye and do them;

Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn; munni mʼahyɛde so na monhwɛ yiye nni me mmara so.

20 My sabbaths also, hallow ye, — And they shall become a sign betwixt me and you, That it may be known that I Yahweh am your God.

Monyɛ me homenna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no.”

21 Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me, In my statutes, walked they not, And my regulations, observed they not to do them Wherein the man who shall do them shall live, My sabbaths, they profaned. Therefore spake I of pouring out mine indignation upon them to bring mine anger to an end against them. in the desert.

“‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛde so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so; nea onipa di so a obenya nkwa no, woguu me homenna ho fi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw a etia wɔn wɔ sare no so no.

22 Howbeit I withdrew my hand, and wrought with effect for the sake of mine own Name, —that it should not be profaned before the eyes of the nations, before whose eyes I had brought them forth:

Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho ngu fi wɔ aman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.

23 Even, I, lifted up my hand to them in the desert, — That I would disperse them throughout the nations, And scatter them throughout the lands;

Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so se mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,

24 Because my regulations, had they not done And my statutes, they had rejected, My sabbaths also, they had profaned, - And after the manufactured gods of their fathers, were their eyes turned.

efisɛ wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛde guu me homenna ho fi, na wɔn ani kodii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.

25 I myself, indeed, suffered them to walk in statutes which were not good, — And regulations in which they could not live.

Enti memaa wɔn ahyɛde a enye ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;

26 Yea I let them defile themselves with their gifts, when they caused every firstborn to pass through the fire, -. that I might make them desolate. To the end they might know that, I, am Yahweh.

memaa ho kwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔre de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛnea mede ahodwiriw bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahu sɛ mene Awurade.’

27 Therefore speak thou unto the house of Israel Son of man, and say unto them, Thus saith My Lord Yahweh, — Yet further in this, did your fathers insult me, by the treachery wherewith they dealt treacherously against me;

“Enti onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfo, ka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Nea Otumfo Awurade se ni: Na eyi mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:

28 When I brought them into the land as to which I had lifted up mine hand to give it them, then beheld they every high hill and every tangled tree And offered there their sacrifices, And presented there, their provoking gift, And placed there, their satisfying odour, And poured out there, their drink- offerings.

Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔre, yɛɛ afɔrebɔde maa koko biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhaban de hyɛɛ me abufuw; wɔde nnuhuam mae, na wohwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.

29 Therefore said I unto them, What! a high-place, whereinto ye are entering? And so the name thereof hath been called High-place, until this day.

Na mibisaa wɔn se: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de besi nnɛ.)

30 Therefore say thou unto the house of Israel. Thus saith My Lord Yahweh, Is it in the way of your fathers, ye are defiling yourselves, - And after their abominations, that ye are committing lewdness?

“Enti ka kyerɛ Israelfi se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mubegu mo ho fi sɛnea mo agyanom yɛe, na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni atantan no ana?

31 Yea when ye lift up your gifts When ye cause your children to pass through the fire, Ye are defiling yourselves unto all your manufactured gods unto this day, And shall, I, be enquired of by you O house of Israel? As I live, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, Surely I will not be enquired of by you.

Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ mo mmabarima bɔ afɔre wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, na mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi besi nnɛ. Memma mommebisa me hɔ ade ana, Israelfi? Ampa ara sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, meremma mummmisa me hɔ ade.

32 And as for that which is rising up on your spirit, it shall, not at all come to pass, In that ye are saying Let us be like the nations Like the families of the lands, By ministering unto Wood and Stone!

“‘Moka se, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ wiasefo a wɔsom nnua ne abo no.” Nanso nea ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.

33 As I live, Declareth My Lord Yahweh, Surely, with a strong hand and With an outstretched arm and With outpoured indignation, Will I be king over you;

Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, Mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu bedi mo so.

34 And I will bring you forth from among the peoples, And gather you together out of the lands, throughout which ye have been dispersed, With a strong hand and With an outstretched arm, and With outpoured indignation;

Mede mo befi amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afi nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no so; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.

35 And I will bring you into the desert of the peoples, —and will contend with you there, face to face.

Mede mo bɛba amanaman no sare so, na hɔ na mebu mo atɛn anim ne anim.

36 Just as I contended with your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, So will I contend with you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh;

Sɛnea mibuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim sare so no, saa ara na mebu mo atɛn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.

37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod And will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahu mo yiye na mede mo aba apam no nkyehama ase.

38 And will sever from you those who are rebelling and those who are transgressing against me, Out of the land of their sojournings, will I bring them forth, Yet upon the soil of Israel, shall they not enter, So shall ye know that, I, am Yahweh.

Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ meyi wɔn afi aman a wɔte so no mu, nanso wɔn anan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade no.

39 But as for you, O house of Israel Thus, saith my Lord. Yahweh, Go. serve every man his own manufactured gods, Yet afterwards, surely Ye shall be ready to hearken unto me, — And my holy name, shall ye profane no more, With your gifts, and With your manufactured gods.

“‘Na mo de, Israelfi, sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso akyiri no, mubetie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛde ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.

40 For in my holy mountain. In the mountain of the height of Israel, Declareth, My Lord Yahweh, There shall all the house of Israel serve me, all of it, in the land, There will I accept them, and There, will I seek your heave-offerings and the firstfruits of your gifts, in all your holy things:

Efisɛ me bepɔw kronkron no so, Israel bepɔw a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfo Awurade na ose, hɔ wɔ asase no so na Israelfi nyinaa bɛsom me, na hɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mehia mo afɔrebɔde ne mo ayɛyɛde a edi mu no, aka mo afɔre kronkron no nyinaa ho.

41 As a satisfying odour, will I accept you, Through my bringing you forth from among the peoples, And gathering you out of the lands, throughout which ye have been dispersed; Thus will I hallow myself in you before the eyes of the nations.

Sɛ miyi mo fi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano fi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no so a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ kurobow a eyi hua, afei mɛda me kronkronyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahu.

42 So shall ye know that I am Yahweh, Through my bringing you in unto the soil of Israel, Unto the land as to which I lifted up my hand, to give it unto your fathers.

Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom no so a, na mubehu sɛ mene Awurade.

43 Then shall ye call to mind. there, your own ways and all your own doings, wherewith ye had defiled yourselves, - And ye shall become loathsome in your own sight, for all your wickednesses, which ye have done.

Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛe nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwini esiane amumɔyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa nti.

44 So shall ye know that, I, am Yahweh, Through my dealing effectively with you, for the sake of mine own Name, - Not according to your own wicked ways. Nor according to your corrupted doings. O house of Israel, Declareth My Lord Yahweh.

Mubehu sɛ mene AWURADE no, bere a me ne mo di no sɛnea me din te na mmom ɛnyɛ sɛnea mo akwammɔne ne mo porɔwee nneyɛe no te, mo Israelfo, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”

45 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me. saying:

Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

46 Son of man Set thy face the way towards Teman, And drop thy word against the land of the sun, And prophesy unto the forest of the field of the South;

“Onipa ba fa wʼani kyerɛ anafo fam, ka asɛm tia anafo fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwae a ɛwɔ anafo fam asase so.

47 And thou shalt say to the forest of the South Hear the word of Yahweh, — Thus saith My Lord Yahweh-Behold me! kindling in thee a fire. And it shall devour in thee every moist tree and every dry tree. The spreading flame shall not be quenched, Then shall be scorched thereby all faces from south to north;

Ka kyerɛ anafo fam kwae no se: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Merebɛto wo mu gya, na ɛbɛhyew nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Nea ɛyɛ amono ne nea awo. Wɔrennum ogyaframa no na ɛbɛhyew asase no ani nyinaa; efi anafo fam kosi atifi fam.

48 And all flesh shall see that I. Yahweh have kindled it, - It shall not be quenched.

Obiara behu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”

49 Then said I, Ah! My Lord Yahweh: They are saying of me, Is not he a putter forth of parables?

Afei mekae se, “Aa, Otumfo Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho se, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi ana?’”