< Jeremiah 31 >
1 At that time, Declareth Yahweh, I will become a God, to all the families of Israel; And, they, shall become my people.
“Saa ɛberɛ no,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “Mɛyɛ Israel mmusuakuo no nyinaa Onyankopɔn, na wɔbɛyɛ me nkurɔfoɔ.”
2 Thus, saith Yahweh, —There hath found favour in the desert people escaped from the sword, —I must go to cause him, even Israel, to rest.
Deɛ Awurade seɛ nie: “Nnipa a wɔntotɔ wɔ akofena ano no bɛnya adom wɔ anweatam so; mede ahomegyeɛ bɛbrɛ Israel.”
3 From afar, Yahweh hath appeared unto me, Yea with an age-abiding love, have I loved thee, For this cause, have I prolonged to thee lovingkindness.
Awurade daa ne ho adi kyerɛɛ yɛn kane no na ɔkaa sɛ, “Mede ɔdɔ a ɛnsa da adɔ mo mede adɔeɛ atwe mo.
4 Again, will I build thee and thou shalt be built, thou virgin, Israel, —Again, shalt thou deck thyself with thy timbrels, And go forth in the dance of them that make merry:
Mede wo bɛsi hɔ bio na wɔbɛsane de wo asi hɔ, Ao Israel babunu. Wobɛfa wʼakasaeɛ bio na wafiri adi ne anigyefoɔ akɔsa.
5 Again, shalt thou plant vineyards in the mountains of Samaria, The planters have planted, and have laid open the vineyards,
Bio, mobɛyɛ bobe nturo wɔ Samaria nkokoɔ so; akuafoɔ no bɛdua na wɔadi so aba.
6 For it is a day the watchmen have proclaimed throughout the hill country of Ephraim, —Arise ye and let us go up to Zion, unto Yahweh our God.
Ɛda bi bɛba a, awɛmfoɔ bɛteam wɔ Efraim nkokoɔ so sɛ, ‘Mommra momma yɛnforo nkɔ Sion nkɔ Awurade yɛn Onyankopɔn nkyɛn.’”
7 For, thus, saith Yahweh—Shout ye for Jacob with gladness, Make shrill thy voice, as the head of the nations, —Publish ye praise ye and say, Save thou O Yahweh thy people, the remnant of Israel.
Deɛ Awurade seɛ nie: “Momfa ahosɛpɛ nto nnwom mma Yakob; Monteam mma amanaman mu dikanfoɔ. Momma wɔnte mo ayɛyie na monka sɛ, ‘Ao Awurade gye wo nkurɔfoɔ, Israel nkaeɛfoɔ no.’
8 Behold me bringing them in out of the land of the North, And I will gather them out of the remote parts of the earth, Among them, the blind and the lame The woman with child and she that giveth birth, together, —A great convocation, shall return hither:
Hwɛ, mede wɔn bɛfiri atifi fam asase so aba na maboa wɔn ano afiri nsase ano. Wɔn mu bi bɛyɛ anifirafoɔ, mpakye, apemfoɔ ne mmaa a wɔwɔ awokoɔ mu. Ɛdɔm kɛseɛ bɛsane aba.
9 With weeping, shall they come in, And with supplications, will I lead them, I will bring them unto rivers of waters By a smooth way, wherein they shall not stumble, —For I have become, to Israel, a father, And as for Ephraim, my firstborn, is he!
Wɔde esu na ɛbɛba; wɔbɛbɔ mpaeɛ ɛberɛ a mede wɔn resane aba. Mede wɔn bɛfa nsuwa ho, ɛkwan tamaa a wɔrensunti wɔ so, ɛfiri sɛ mɛyɛ Israel agya, na Efraim yɛ me babarima piesie.
10 Hear ye the word of Yahweh, O ye nations, And declare ye in the Coastlands, afar off, —And say—He that scattereth Israel, will gather him, And watch over him as a shepherd his flock;
“Montie Awurade asɛm, Ao amanaman; mommɔ no dawuro wɔ mpoano nsase a ɛwɔ akyirikyiri so sɛ, ‘Deɛ ɔbɔɔ Israel peteeɛ no bɛboaboa wɔn ano na wahwɛ ne nnwankuo so sɛ odwanhwɛfoɔ.’
11 For Yahweh hath ransomed Jacob, —And redeemed him from the hand of one stronger than he.
Na Awurade bɛgyina mu ama Yakob na wagye wɔn afiri wɔn a wɔwɔ ahoɔden sene wɔn no nsam.
12 Then shall they come in and shall shout in triumph on the height of Zion, And shall stream unto the goodness of Yahweh To the wheat, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flocks and of the herds, —So shall their soul become like a garden well watered, And they shall not again languish any more.
Wɔbɛba na wɔde ahurisie ateam wɔ Sion sorɔnsorɔmmea; wɔbɛsɛpɛ wɔn ho wɔ akyɛdeɛ bebrebe a ɛfiri Awurade hɔ mu, atokoɔ, nsã foforɔ ne ngo, nnwammaa ne anantwie. Wɔbɛyɛ sɛ turo a wɔagugu so nsuo yie, na wɔrenni awerɛhoɔ bio.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice, in the dance, And young men and elders [rejoice] together, And I will turn their mourning into gladness and will comfort them, And will make them rejoice from their sorrow;
Afei, mmabaawa bɛsa na wɔn ani agye, mmeranteɛ ne nkɔkoraa nso. Mɛma wɔn awerɛhoɔ adane anigyeɛ; mɛma wɔn ahotɔ ne ahosɛpɛ asi awerɛhoɔ anan mu.
14 Then will I satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, And my people with my goodness, shall be satisfied, Declareth Yahweh.
Mɛma asɔfoɔ no deɛ ɛhia wɔn ama abu so, na mama mʼakyɛdeɛ bebrebe amee me nkurɔfoɔ,” Awurade, na ɔseɛ.
15 Thus, saith Yahweh—A voice, in Ramah, is heard, Wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, —She refuseth to be comforted for her children, For they are not!
Yei ne deɛ Awurade seɛ: “Wɔte nne bi wɔ Rama, awerɛhoɔ ne agyaadwotwa bebree, Rahel resu ne mma na ɔmpɛ sɛ wɔkyekyere ne werɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, ne mma nni hɔ bio.”
16 Thus, saith Yahweh—Restrain thy voice from weeping, And thine eyes from tears, —For there is a reward for thy labour, Declareth Yahweh, So they shall return from the land of the enemy:
Yei ne deɛ Awurade seɛ: “Hyɛ wo ho so na woansu mia wʼani na woante nisuo, ɛfiri sɛ wɔbɛtua wʼadwumayɛ so ka,” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Wɔbɛsane afiri atamfoɔ no asase so aba.
17 Yea there is hope for thy future Declareth Yahweh, —And thy sons shall return to their own boundary.
Enti anidasoɔ wɔ hɔ ma wo daakye.” Awurade na ɔseɛ. Wo mma bɛsane aba wɔn ankasa asase so.
18 I have, heard, Ephraim bemoaning himself, Thou hast chastised me and I have been chastised, Like a bullock, not broken in, Suffer me to return that I may return, For thou, art Yahweh my God.
“Ampa ara mate sɛ Efraim resu sɛ, ‘Wotenetenee me so sɛ nantwie ba a nʼani yɛ den, na woatwe me mʼaso. Gye me bio, na mɛsane aba, ɛfiri sɛ wo ne Awurade, me Onyankopɔn.
19 Surely after my return, I was filled with regret, And after I came to know myself, I smote upon the thigh, —I turned pale and was even confounded For I had borne the reproach of my youthful days.
Memaneeɛ akyi no, menyaa adwensakyera; na akyire a menyaa nteaseɛ no, mede awerɛhoɔ boroo me koko so. Mʼanim guu ase na mefɛreeɛ ɛfiri sɛ me mmabunu mu animguaseɛ da so so me.’
20 Was Ephraim, a very precious son to me? Was he a most delightful child? For as often as I have spoken against him, I have, remembered, him again! For this cause, have my affections been deeply moved for him, I must have, compassion, upon him, Declareth Yahweh.
Efraim nyɛ me babarima dɔfoɔ anaa? Efraim nyɛ ɔba a ɔsɔ mʼani anaa? Ɛwom sɛ metaa kasa tia no deɛ, nanso meda so kae no. Enti mʼakoma pere hwehwɛ no; mewɔ ayamhyehyeɛ ma no,” sei na Awurade seɛ.
21 Erect thee waymarks Set thee up finger-posts, Apply thy heart to The highway—The road by which thou didst depart, —Return O virgin of Israel, Return unto these thy cities.
“Momfa ahyɛnsodeɛ nsisi ɛkwan ho; monsisi akwankyerɛ afadum. Monhyɛ ɛkwantempɔn no nso ɛkwan a monam so ba. Sane wakyi, Ao ɔbabunu Israel, sane bra wo nkuro so.
22 How long wilt thou turn hither and thither, O apostate daughter? For Yahweh hath created a new thing in the earth, A female defendeth, a strong man!
Wobɛkyinkyini akɔsi da bɛn, Ao, ɔbabaa ɔsesafoɔ? Awurade bɛyɛ ade foforɔ wɔ asase so, ɔbaa bɛbɔ ɔbarima ho ban.”
23 Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, Again, shall they say this word, in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I cause their captivity to return, Yahweh, bless thee, Thou home of righteousness! Thou mountain of holiness!
Yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn no seɛ: “Sɛ mesane de wɔn firi nnommumfa mu ba a, nnipa a wɔwɔ Yuda asase ne nkuro so bɛsane aka saa nsɛm yi bio sɛ, ‘Awurade nhyira wo, Ao, tenenee atenaeɛ, Ao, bepɔ kronkron.’
24 Then shall there dwell throughout Judah itself and all the cities thereof, together, —Husbandmen, who shall move about with a flock;
Nnipa bɛbom atena ase wɔ Yuda ne ne nkuro nyinaa so, akuafoɔ ne wɔn a wɔde wɔn nnwankuo nenam.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, —And every languishing soul, have I filled.
Mɛma deɛ wabrɛ no anya ahoɔden foforɔ, na deɛ watɔ baha no nso mɛma no amee.”
26 Upon this, I awoke and considered, —And, my sleep, had been sweet to me!
Ɛha na menyaneeɛ, na mehwɛɛ me ho hyiaeɛ. Me nna no kɔɔ me yie.
27 Lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh—That I will sow, The house of Israel, and The house of Judah, With the seed of men, and With the seed of beasts;
“Nna bi reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “a mede nnipa mma ne mmoa mma bɛdua Israel ne Yuda efie.
28 And it shall come to pass, that—Just as I watched over them, to root up and to break down and to tear out and to destroy, and to break in pieces, So, will I watch over them, to build and to plant, Declareth Yahweh.
Sɛdeɛ mehwɛ ma wɔtutuiɛ, wɔdwiriiɛ, wɔbubuiɛ, wɔsɛeɛ na wɔde amanehunu baeɛ no, saa ara na mɛhwɛ ama wɔasi na wɔadua,” sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie.
29 In those days, shall they say no more, Fathers, did eat sour grapes, —And, children’s teeth, are blunted!
Saa nna no mu, nnipa renka bio sɛ, “‘Agyanom adi bobe a ɛkeka, na mma se afem.’
30 But, every one, for his own iniquity, shall die, —Any human being who eateth the sour grapes, his own teeth, shall be blunted.
Ɛno enti, obiara bɛwu wɔ ɔno ara bɔne ho; deɛ ɔbɛdi bobe a ɛkeka no, ɔno na ne se bɛfem.
31 Lo! days are coming, Declareth Yahweh, —When I will solemnize—With the house of Israel and With the house of Judah, A new covenant:
“Ɛberɛ no reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “a me ne Israel efie ne Yuda efie bɛyɛ apam foforɔ.
32 Not like the covenant which I solemnised with their fathers, In the day when I grasped their hand, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, —In that, they, brake my covenant Though, I, had become a husband unto them, Declareth Yahweh.
Ɛrenyɛ sɛ apam a me ne wɔn agyanom yɛeɛ no ɛberɛ a mesɔɔ wɔn nsa, dii wɔn anim firii Misraim no. Saa ɛberɛ no deɛ, wɔbuu mʼapam so, wɔ ɛberɛ a na meyɛ okunu ma wɔn,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
33 For, this, is the covenant which I will solemnize with the house of Israel after those days Declareth Yahweh, I will put my law within them, Yea, on their heart, will I write it, —So will I become their God, And they shall become my people.
“Nanso yei ne apam a me ne Israel efie bɛyɛ saa ɛberɛ no akyi,” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Mede me mmara bɛhyɛ wɔn adwene mu, na matwerɛ wɔ wɔn akoma so. Mɛyɛ wɔn Onyankopɔn, na wɔbɛyɛ me nkurɔfoɔ.
34 Then shall they no longer teach Every man his neighbour, and Every man his brother, saying, Know ye Yahweh, —For, they all, shall know me, From the least of them Even unto the greatest of them, Declareth Yahweh, For I will forgive their iniquity, And their sin, will I remember, no more.
Na obiara renkyerɛkyerɛ ne yɔnko bio, anaa ne nua sɛ, ‘Hunu Awurade,’ Ɛfiri sɛ, wɔn nyinaa bɛhunu me, ɛfiri wɔn mu akumaa so, kɔsi ɔkɛseɛ so,” Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie. “Na mede wɔn amumuyɛ bɛkyɛ wɔn, na merenkae wɔn bɔne bio.”
35 Thus, saith Yahweh—Who hath given the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, —Who excited the sea, and the waves thereof roared Yahweh of hosts, is his name: —
Yei ne deɛ Awurade seɛ, deɛ ɔma owia hyerɛn adekyeeɛ, na ɔhyɛ ɔsrane ne nsoromma sɛ wɔnhyerɛn anadwo; deɛ ɔkanyane ɛpo ma ɛbɔ asorɔkye, Asafo Awurade ne ne din.
36 If these ordinances depart from before me, Declareth Yahweh, —the seed of Israel also, may cease from being a nation before me, all the days,
“Saa ahyɛdeɛ yi twam mpo a,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “merennyaa Israel da.”
37 Thus, saith Yahweh—If the heavens above can be measured, Or the foundations of the earth beneath, be searched out I also, may reject all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, Declareth Yahweh.
Yei ne deɛ Awurade seɛ: “Sɛ wɔbɛtumi asusu ewiem ntrɛmu na wɔatumi ahwehwɛ asase ase fapem mpo a, ɛwom sɛ Israel ayɛ bɔne deɛ, nanso merempa Israel asefoɔ nyinaa da,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.
38 Lo days, are coming, Declareth Yahweh, That the city shall be built for Yahweh, From the tower of Hananeel, [As far as] the gate of the corner;
“Nna no reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “a wɔbɛkyekyere kuropɔn yi bio ama me, firi Hananel abantenten kɔsi Twɛtwɛwaso Ɛpono.
39 Then shall go forth again the measuring-line straight forward, Over the hill Gareb, And it shall go round to Goah;
Wɔbɛtwe susuhoma no mu, afiri hɔ de akɔsi Gareb kokoɔ so, na akontono akɔ Goa.
40 And, all the vale of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron torrent-bed, as far as the horse-gate corner on the east, Shall be holy unto Yahweh, —It shall not be rooted up, nor thrown down, any more, unto times age-abiding.
Bɔnhwa a wɔto afunu ne nsõ gu mu no nyinaa ne asase a ɛkɔ Kidron bɔnhwa wɔ apueeɛ fam, kɔsi apɔnkɔ ɛpono no twɛtwɛwaso bɛyɛ kronkron ama Awurade. Wɔrentutu na wɔrensɛe kuropɔn no da.”