Jeremiah 2
1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
Awurade asɛm baa me so:
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.
“Kɔpae mu ka ma Yerusalem nte: “‘Mekae sɛnea wode wo ho maa me wo mmabun bere mu, sɛnea wodɔɔ me wɔ wʼayeforo bere mu na wudii mʼakyi wɔ sare so, asase a wonnuaa hwee wɔ so no.
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.'”
Na Israel yɛ kronkron ma Awurade, ne twabere mu aduankan; wɔn a wodii nʼani no wobuu wɔn fɔ, na amanehunu baa wɔn so,’” sɛnea Awurade, se ni.
4 Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of Israel.
Muntie Awurade asɛm, mo Yakob asefo, mo Israel mmusuakuw nyinaa.
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?
Eyi ne nea Awurade se: “Mfomso bɛn na mo agyanom huu wɔ me ho a ɛma wɔtwee wɔn ho kɔɔ akyirikyiri sɛɛ? Wodii ahoni a wɔn so nni mfaso akyi, maa wɔn ankasa bɛyɛɛ ahuhufo.
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?'
Wɔammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ? Nea oyii yɛn fii Misraim na ɔde yɛn faa sare wosee so, nweatam ne abonabon asase a awo na ayɛ owubon no. Asase a obiara mfa so na obiara nte so no.’
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!
Mede mo beduaa asasebere so sɛ munni so nnuaba ne ɛso nnepa. Nanso mubeguu mʼasase ho fi, na moyɛɛ mʼagyapade akyiwade.
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.
Asɔfo no ammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ?’ Wɔn a wɔde mmara yɛ adwuma no anhwehwɛ me; ntuanofo sɔre tiaa me. Adiyifo no de Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm, na wodii ahoni huhuw akyi.
9 So I will still accuse you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will accuse your sons' sons.
“Ɛno nti, merebɔ mo kwaadu bio,” nea Awurade se ni. “Na mɛbɔ mo mma mma kwaadu.
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.
Muntwa nkɔ Kitim mpoano nkɔhwɛ, monsoma nkɔ Kedar nkɔhwehwɛ mu yiye; monhwɛ sɛ biribi a ɛte sɛɛ asi wɔ hɔ:
11 Has a nation exchanged gods, even though they were not gods? But my people have exchanged their glory for what cannot help them.
Ɔman bi asesa wɔn anyame pɛn ana? Nso wɔnnyɛ anyame mpo. Nanso me nkurɔfo de wɔn anuonyam asesa ahoni huhuw.
12 Shudder, heavens, because of this! Be shocked and horrified—this is Yahweh's declaration.
Mo ɔsorosoro, momma mo ho nnwiriw mo wɔ eyi ho, na mo ho nwosow wɔ akomatu mu,” nea Awurade se ni.
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.
“Me nkurɔfo ayɛ bɔne ahorow abien: Wɔapa me, me a meyɛ nkwa asubura no, na wɔatutu wɔn ankasa mmura amoa, mmura a apaapae a entumi nkora nsu.
14 Is Israel a slave? Was he born in his master's home? So why has he become plunder?
Israel yɛ akoa anaa ɔsomfo fi awo mu ana? Adɛn nti na wayɛ asade yi?
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.
Gyata abobɔ mu; wɔaworo so akyerɛ no. Wɔama nʼasase ada mpan; wɔahyehyew ne nkurow ayɛ no amamfo.
16 Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes will shave your skull.
Afei Memfis ne Tapanhes mmarima ayi wo ti so nwi.
17 Did you not do this to yourselves when you abandoned Yahweh your God, while he was leading you along the way?
Ɛnyɛ wo na woama eyi aba wo so sɛ wopaa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi, wɔ bere a ɔrekyerɛ wo kwan no?
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?
Afei adɛn nti na wokɔ Misraim kɔnom Sihor mu nsu? Na adɛn nti na wokɔ Asiria kɔnom Asubɔnten no mu nsu?
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.
Wo amumɔyɛ bɛtwe wʼaso; wo nsanakyi bɛka wʼanim. Enti dwene ho na hu sɛ, sɛ wopa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi na woannya ne ho suro a, ɛyɛ bɔne ne ɔyaw ma wo.” Awurade, Asafo Awurade na ose.
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.
“Tete mmere no, wububuu wo konnua mu, na wotetew wo nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn mu; na wokae se, ‘Merensom wo!’ Ampa, wɔ koko biara so ne dua biara a adennan ase na wotena bɔɔ aguaman.
21 I planted you as a choice vine, completely from pure seed. How then have you have changed yourself into a corrupt, worthless vine?
Miduaa wo sɛ bobe ankasa a efi bobe a ase ye pa ara mu. Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wodan wʼakyi kyerɛɛ me bɛyɛɛ bobe a anyin asɛe wɔ wura mu yi?
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.
Sɛ wode soda ne samina bebree guare mpo a, wʼafɔdi nkekae da so wɔ mʼanim ara,” sɛnea Otumfo Awurade se ni.
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,
“Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woaka se, ‘Me ho nguu fi ɛ; minnii Baalnom akyi ɛ’? Hwɛ sɛnea woyɛɛ wo ho wɔ obon no mu; dwene nea woayɛ no ho. Woyɛ yomabere hoɔharefo a wutu mmirika kɔ ha ba ha,
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.
wura mu afurum a nweatam so tena akokwaw no, ohuahua bere a ɔpɛ sɛ onini hyia no. Sɛ nʼakɔnnɔ no ano yɛ den a hena na obesianka no? Anini biara a wɔtaa no no nhaw wɔn ho bebree; edu bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wohyia no a wobenya no.
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!'
Ntu mmirika nkosi sɛ wʼanan ase bɛyɛ kwaterekwa, na wo mene mu bɛyow. Nanso wokae se, ‘So nni mfaso! Mepɛ ananafo anyame, na ɛsɛ sɛ midi wɔn akyi.’
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!
“Sɛnea wɔkyere ɔkorɔmfo a wogu nʼanim ase no, saa na wɔagu Israelfi anim ase, wɔn ankasa, wɔn ahemfo ne wɔn adwumayɛfo, wɔn asɔfo ne wɔn adiyifo.
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!'
Wɔka kyerɛ dua se, ‘Woyɛ mʼagya,’ ne ɔbo se, ‘Wo na wowoo me.’ Wɔadan wɔn akyi akyerɛ me na ɛnyɛ wɔn anim; nanso sɛ amanehunu bi ba wɔn so a, wɔka se, ‘Bra begye yɛn!’
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!
Anyame a moyɛ maa mo ho no wɔ he? Momma wɔmmra sɛ wobetumi agye mo bere a mowɔ amanehunu mu! Efisɛ mowɔ anyame bebree te sɛ nea mowɔ nkurow bebree no, Yuda.
29 So why do you accuse me of doing wrong? All of you have sinned against me—this is Yahweh's declaration.
“Adɛn nti na mobɔ me sobo? Mo nyinaa ayɛ dɔm atia me,” Awurade na ose.
30 I have punished your people in vain. They would not accept discipline. Your sword has devoured your prophets like a destructive lion!
“Metwee mo nkurɔfo aso kwa; wɔamfa me nteɛso. Wʼafoa akunkum wʼadiyifo te sɛ gyata a nʼani abere.
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'?
“Mo nnɛmmafo, munnwen Awurade asɛm ho: “Mayɛ sɛ, nweatam ama Israel ana? Anaasɛ asase a so aduru sum kabii ana? Adɛn nti na me nkurɔfo ka se, ‘Yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yekyinkyin; yɛremma wo nkyɛn bio.’
32 Will a virgin forget her jewelry, a bride her veils? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number!
Ɔbabun werɛ fi ne mpempranne, ayeforo werɛ befi nʼahyehyɛde ana? Nanso me nkurɔfo werɛ afi me nna a wontumi nkan.
33 How well you make your way to look for love. You have even taught your ways to wicked women.
Hwɛ nyansa a mowɔ de pɛ mo adɔfo! Mmea a wɔnsɛ hwee koraa tumi sua mo akwan.
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.
Mo adurade mu wɔ ahiafo a wodi bem mogya, nanso moankyere wɔn sɛ wɔrebubu akɔ mu. Eyinom nyinaa akyi
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.'
woka se, ‘Midi bem; ne bo mfuw me.’ Nanso mebu wo atɛn efisɛ woka se, ‘Menyɛɛ bɔne biara ɛ.’
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.
Adɛn nti na wukyinkyin sɛɛ, sesa wʼakwan? Misraim bedi wo huammɔ sɛnea Asiria yɛe no.
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.”
Afei wubefi saa beae hɔ a wo nsa gu wo ti so. Efisɛ Awurade apo wɔn a wode wo ho too wɔn so no; wɔremmoa wo.
