Jeremiah 2
1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
Yehowa ƒe gbe va gbɔnye be,
2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, 'Yahweh says this: I have called to mind on your behalf the covenant faithfulness in your youthfulness, your love at the time when we were engaged, when you went after me in the wilderness, the land that was not sown.
“Yi nàkui ɖe to me na Yerusalem be, “Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye si: “‘Meɖo ŋku wò ɖetugbime ƒe nuteƒewɔwɔ dzi, kple ale si nèlɔ̃mee esi nènye nye ŋugbetɔ. Èkplɔm ɖo to gbedadaƒo kple kuɖiɖinyigba dzi.
3 Israel was set apart to Yahweh, the firstfruits of his harvest! All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty; disaster came upon them—this is Yahweh's declaration.'”
Israel nɔ kɔkɔe na Yehowa, eƒe nukuwo ƒe ŋgɔgbetɔwo, ame siwo katã ʋuʋui la, dze agɔ eya ta dzɔgbevɔ̃e dzɔ ɖe wo dzi.’” Yehowae gblɔe.
4 Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of Israel.
Se Yehowa ƒe nya, O Yakob ƒe aƒe, mi Israel ƒe aƒe la ƒe towo katã.
5 Yahweh says this, “What did your fathers find wrong with me, that they went far from following me? That they went after useless idols and became useless themselves?
Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye si. “Vodada kae mia fofowo kpɔ le ŋunye be wotra ɖa tso gbɔnye nenema gbegbe? Wokplɔ legba maɖinuwo ɖo eye woawo ŋutɔ hã zu nu maɖinuwo.
6 They did not say, 'Where is Yahweh, who brought us up from the land of Egypt? Where is Yahweh, who led us to the wilderness, into the land of the Arabah and pits, in a land of drought and deep darkness, a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?'
Womebia be, ‘Afi ka Yehowa, ame si kplɔ mí tso Egipte, to dzogbe, afi si nuku mewɔna le o, to gbedadaƒo kple aganuwo, to kuɖiɖinyigba dzi kple viviti me, anyigba si dzi ame aɖeke metona alo tso aƒe ɖo o la le?’ o.
7 But I brought you to the land of Carmel, to eat its fruit and other good things! Yet when you came, you defiled my land, you made my inheritance an abomination!
Mekplɔ mi va anyigba si nyoa nu la dzi be miaɖu eƒe kutsetsewo kple eƒe nu nyuiwo, gake mieva do gu nye anyigba eye miewɔ nye domenyinu wòzu ŋunyɔnu.
8 The priest did not say, 'Where is Yahweh?' and the experts in the law did not care about me! The shepherds transgressed against me. The prophets prophesied for Baal and walked after unprofitable things.
Nunɔlawo gɔ̃ hã mebia be, ‘Afi ka Yehowa le?’ o. Ame siwo wɔa sea ŋuti dɔ la menyam o. Kplɔlawo dze aglã ɖe ŋutinye. Nyagblɔɖilawo gblɔ nya ɖi le Baal ƒe ŋkɔ me eye wokplɔ legba maɖinuwo ɖo.”
9 So I will still accuse you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will accuse your sons' sons.
Yehowa be, “Eya ta megatsɔ nya ɖe mia ŋu, eye matsɔ nya ɖe mia viwo ƒe viwo ŋuti.
10 For cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look. Send messengers out to Kedar and find out and see if there has ever before been anything like this.
Mitso ƒu ne miava Kiprotɔwo ƒe fukpo dzi ne miakpɔ nu. Midɔ ame ɖo ɖe Kedar ne woalé ŋku ɖe nuwo ŋu nyuie. Mikpɔe ɖa be nane nɔ anyi alea kpɔ hã.
11 Has a nation exchanged gods, even though they were not gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what cannot help them.
Ɖe dukɔ aɖe ɖɔli eƒe mawuwo kpɔa? Evɔ menye mawuwoe wonye hafi o; gake nye dukɔ tsɔ woƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ɖɔli legba maɖinuwoe.
12 Shudder, heavens, because of this! Be shocked and horrified—this is Yahweh's declaration.
O, dziƒowo, miaƒe nu neku le esia ta, eye miadzo nyanyanya kple ŋɔdzi gã.” Yehowae gblɔe.
13 For my people have committed two evils against me: They have abandoned the springs of living waters, and they have dug out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
“Nye dukɔ wɔ nu vɔ̃ eve. Wogbe nu le nye agbetsivudo la gbɔ eye woɖe woawo ŋutɔ ƒe tsiʋewo, tsiʋe siwo ŋɔ eye tsi mate ŋu atɔ ɖe wo me o.
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born in his master's home? So why has he become plunder?
Subɔvi alo kluvie Israel nye tso dzidzimea? Ke nu ka ta wòva zu nuhaha ɖo?
15 Young lions roared against him. They made a lot of noise and made his land a horror. His cities are destroyed without any inhabitants.
Dzatawo ɖe gbe, wole gbe tem ɖe eŋu. Wowɔ eƒe anyigba wòzu gbegbe. Wotɔ dzo eƒe duwo eye wozu aƒedowo.
16 Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes will shave your skull.
Memfistɔwo kple Tapanhestɔwo hã ƒlɔ dzodome na wo.
17 Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your God, while he was leading you along the way?
Ɖe menye miawo ŋutɔe he esia va mia ɖokui dzii esi miegbe Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la esi wòkplɔ mi le mɔ dzi oa?
18 So now, why take the road to Egypt and drink the waters of Shihor? Why take the road to Assyria and drink the waters of the Euphrates River?
Azɔ nu ka ta miebe yewoayi ɖe Egipte, aɖano Sihor me tsi? Eye nu ka ta miayi Asiria be miano Frat tɔsisi me tsi?
19 Your wickedness rebukes you, and your faithlessness punishes you. So think about it and understand that it is wicked and bitter when you forsake Yahweh your God, and have no fear of me—this is the declaration of Lord Yahweh of hosts.
Miaƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi ahe to na mi eye miaƒe megbedede aka mo na mi. Bu eŋu nàdze si ale si wòavɔ̃ɖi na wò, ahave wòe esi nègblẽ Yehowa, wò Mawu la ɖi, eye mèvɔ̃m o la ta.” Aƒetɔ Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe.
20 For I broke your yoke that you had in ancient days; I tore your fetters off you. Still you said, 'I will not serve!' since you bowed down on every high hill and beneath every leafy tree, you adulterer.
“Tso gbe aɖe gbe ke nèŋe wò kɔkuti, eye nètso wò bablawo, ègblɔ bena, ‘Nyemasubɔ wò o!’ Vavã, èmlɔ anyi abe gbolo ene ɖe togbɛ kɔkɔ ɖe sia ɖe dzi kple ati dama ɖe sia ɖe te.
21 I planted you as a choice vine, completely from pure seed. How then have you have changed yourself into a corrupt, worthless vine?
Medo wò abe wainti nyuitɔ si tso wainka vavã siwo tsena nyuie la dometɔ ɖeka ene. Ke nu ka ta nèwɔ ɖe ŋutinye alea hezu abe wainka si mie le eɖokui si la ene?
22 For even if you clean yourself in the river or wash with strong soap, your iniquity is a stain before me—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.
Togbɔ be èle tsi kple adzalẽ eye nèle adzalẽ ʋeʋĩ geɖe hã la, wò nu vɔ̃ ƒe ɖiƒoƒo gale nye ŋkume kokoko.” Aƒetɔ Yehowae gblɔe.
23 How can you say, 'I am not defiled! I have not walked after the Baals'? Look at what you did in the valleys! Consider what you have done—you are a swift female camel running here and there,
“Nu ka ta nàgblɔ be, ‘Nyemeɖu kɔ o, nyemeƒu du dze Baalwo yome o?’ Kpɔ ale si nèwɔ le balime la ɖa. Bu nu si nèwɔ la ŋu kpɔ. Èle abe kposɔnɔ si ɖia du eye wòle du sim tso afi yi afi mɛ la ene.
24 a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, in her heat sniffing the wind! Who can restrain her lust? None of the males need wear themselves out pursuing her; at mating time they will find her.
Èle abe gbetedzi si nyagbegbe nyuie hele ya ʋẽm kple eƒe ŋɔti le eƒe fieŋufieŋu me la ene. Ne asiyɔyɔ le edzrom la, ame ka ate ŋu axe mɔ nɛ? Mehiã gɔ̃ hã be atsu siwo le eyome tim la nakplɔe ɖo ɖeɖi nate wo ŋuti o elabena ne eɖo asiyɔyɔ dzi la, woake ɖe eŋu bɔbɔe.
25 You must restrain your feet from becoming bare and your throat from being thirsty! But you have said, 'It is hopeless! No, I love strangers and go after them!'
Mègaƒu du va se ɖe esime wò afɔwo natsi ƒuƒlu, eye wò ve me naƒu kplakplakpla o. Gake, ègblɔ be, ‘Mehiã o; melɔ̃ dutamawuwo eya ta ele nam be mati wo yome.’
26 Like the shame of a thief when he is found, so the house of Israel will be ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets!
“Abe ale si ŋu kpea fiafitɔ ne asi su edzi ene la, nenema ke ŋu akpe Israel ƒe aƒe la, woƒe fiawo, woƒe dumegãwo, woƒe nunɔlawo kple woƒe nyagblɔɖilawo.
27 These are the ones who say to the tree, 'You are my father,' and to the stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For their back faces me and not their faces. Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles, 'Arise and save us!'
Wogblɔna na ati be, ‘Wòe nye fofonye.’ Wogblɔna na kpe be, ‘Wòe dzim.’ Wotrɔ woƒe megbe dem ke menye woƒe ŋkume o, gake ne woɖo xaxa me la, wogblɔna be, ‘Va, nàɖe mí!’
28 Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves? Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles, for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!
Ekema afi ka gɔ̃e mawu siwo miewɔ na mia ɖokuiwo la le? Woneva ne woate ŋu aɖe mi, ne mieɖo xaxa me! O Yuda, wò mawuwo sɔ gbɔ abe wò duwo ene.”
29 So why do you accuse me of doing wrong? All of you have sinned against me—this is Yahweh's declaration.
Yehowa be, “Nu ka ta mietsɔ nya ɖe ŋutinye ɖo?” Evɔ mi katã miedze aglã ɖe ŋutinye.
30 I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!
“Dzodzroe mehe to na wò amewo, elabena mehe ɖɔɖɔɖo aɖeke va woƒe agbe mee o. Wò yi vuvu wò nyagblɔɖilawo abe dzata dɔwui ene.
31 You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh! Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of deep darkness? Why would my people say, 'Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore'?
“O dzidzime sia, mibu Yehowa ƒe nya ŋu. “Gbegbee menye na Israel loo alo viviti tsiɖitsiɖi ƒe anyigba? Nu ka ta nye dukɔ le gbɔgblɔm be, ‘Ablɔɖe le mía si be míatsa eya ta miagatrɔ ava gbɔwò o?’
32 Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her veils? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number!
Ɖe ɖetugbi aŋlɔ eƒe atsyɔ̃ɖonuwo be alo ŋugbetɔ naŋlɔ eƒe lekewɔnuwo bea? Gake nye dukɔ ŋlɔm be hena ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe.
33 How well you make your way to look for love. You have even taught your ways to wicked women.
Aleke nèhenya ahiãdidii! Nyɔnu siwo bi ɖe ŋunyɔnuwo wɔwɔ me hã ate ŋu asrɔ̃ nu tso gbɔwò.
34 The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people has been found on your clothes. These people were not discovered in acts of burglary.
Amewo kpɔ ame maɖifɔ dahewo ƒe ʋu le wò awuwo me, evɔ mèlé wo wonɔ ʋɔ gbãm hafi o, gake le esiawo katã megbe hã la,
35 Yet you say, 'I am innocent; surely his anger has turned away from me.' But look! I will bring down judgment on you because you say, 'I have not sinned.'
ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemeɖi fɔ o. Mekpɔ dziku ɖe ŋutinye o.’ Ke madrɔ̃ ʋɔnu wò elabena ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemewɔ nu vɔ̃ o.’
36 Why do you treat so very lightly this change in your ways? You will also be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were by Assyria.
Nu ka ta nèle yiyim nenema gbegbe le wò mɔwo trɔm? Egipte ana ŋu nakpe wò abe ale si Asiria hã na ŋu kpe wò ene.
37 You will also go out from there dejected, with your hands on your head, for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted, so you will not be helped by them.”
Àtsɔ asi akpla ta hafi adzo le teƒe ma hã elabena Yehowa gbe nu le ame siwo dzi nèka ɖo la gbɔ. Eya ta womakpe ɖe ŋuwò o.
