Yeremia 2
1 Yehowa ƒe gbe va gbɔnye be,
And he said, Thus saith the Lord,
2 “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.
I remember the kindness of thy youth, and the love of thine espousals,
3 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.
in following the Holy One of Israel, saith the Lord, Israel was the holy [people] to the Lord, [and] the first-fruits of his increase: all that devoured him shall offend; evils shall come upon them, saith the Lord.
4 Se Yehowa ƒe nya, O Yakob ƒe aƒe, mi Israel ƒe aƒe la ƒe towo katã.
Hear the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and every family of the house of Israel.
5 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.
Thus saith the Lord, What trespass have your fathers found in me, that they have revolted far from me, and gone after vanities, and become vain?
6 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.
And they said not, Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who guided us in the wilderness, in an untried and trackless land, in a land which no man at all went through, and no man dwelt there?
7 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.
And I brought you to Carmel, that ye should eat the fruits thereof, and the good thereof; and ye went in, and defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
8 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.”
The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that held by the law knew me not: the shepherds also sinned against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after that which profited not.
9 Yehowa be, “Eya ta megatsɔ nya ɖe mia ŋu, eye matsɔ nya ɖe mia viwo ƒe viwo ŋuti.
Therefore I will yet plead with you, and will plead with your children's children.
10 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.
For go to the isles of the Chettians, and se; and send to Kedar, and observe accurately, and see if such things have been done;
11 Ɖe dukɔ aɖe ɖɔli eƒe mawuwo kpɔa? Evɔ menye mawuwoe wonye hafi o; gake nye dukɔ tsɔ woƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ɖɔli legba maɖinuwoe.
if the nations will change their gods, though they are not gods: but my people have changed their glory, [for that] from which they shall not be profited.
12 O, dziƒowo, miaƒe nu neku le esia ta, eye miadzo nyanyanya kple ŋɔdzi gã.” Yehowae gblɔe.
The heaven is amazed at this, and is very exceedingly horror-struck, saith the Lord.
13 “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.
For my people has committed two [faults], and evil ones: they have forsaken me, the fountain of water of life, and hewn out for themselves broken cisterns, which will not be able to hold water.
14 Subɔvi alo kluvie Israel nye tso dzidzimea? Ke nu ka ta wòva zu nuhaha ɖo?
Is Israel a servant, or a home-born slave? why has he become a spoil?
15 Dzatawo ɖe gbe, wole gbe tem ɖe eŋu. Wowɔ eƒe anyigba wòzu gbegbe. Wotɔ dzo eƒe duwo eye wozu aƒedowo.
The lions roared upon him, and uttered their voice, which have made his land a wilderness: and his cities are broken down, that they should not be inhabited.
16 Memfistɔwo kple Tapanhestɔwo hã ƒlɔ dzodome na wo.
Also the children of Memphis and Taphnas have known thee, and mocked thee.
17 Ɖe menye miawo ŋutɔe he esia va mia ɖokui dzii esi miegbe Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la esi wòkplɔ mi le mɔ dzi oa?
Has not thy forsaking me brought these things upon thee? saith the Lord thy God.
18 Azɔ nu ka ta miebe yewoayi ɖe Egipte, aɖano Sihor me tsi? Eye nu ka ta miayi Asiria be miano Frat tɔsisi me tsi?
And now what hast thou to do with the way of Egypt, to drink the water of Geon? and what hast thou to do with the way of the Assyrians, to drink the water of rivers?
19 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.
Thine apostasy shall correct thee, and thy wickedness shall reprove thee: know then, and see, that thy forsaking me [has been] bitter to thee, saith the Lord thy God; and I have taken no pleasure in thee, saith the Lord thy God.
20 “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.
For of old thou hast broken thy yoke, and plucked asunder thy bands; and thou has said, I will not serve thee, but will go upon every high hill, and under every shady tree, there will I indulge in my fornication.
21 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?
Yet I planted thee a fruitful vine, entirely of the right sort: how art thou a strange vine turned to bitterness!
22 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.
Though thou shouldest wash thyself with nitre, and multiply to thyself soap, [still] thou art stained by thine iniquities before me, saith the Lord.
23 “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.
How wilt thou say, I am not polluted, and have not gone after Baal? behold thy ways in the burial-ground, and know what thou hast done: her voice has howled in the evening:
24 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.
she has extended her ways over the waters of the desert; she was hurried along by the lusts of her soul; she is given up [to them], who will turn her back? none that seek her shall be weary; at [the time of] her humiliation they shall find her.
25 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.’
Withdraw thy foot from a rough way, and thy throat from thirst: but she said I will strengthen myself: for she loved strangers, and went after them.
26 “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.
As is the shame of a thief when he is caught, so shall the children of Israel be ashamed; they, and their kings, and their princes, and their priests, and their prophets.
27 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!’
They said to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou has begotten me: and they have turned [their] backs to me, and not their faces: yet in the time of their afflictions they will say, Arise, and save us.
28 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.”
And where are thy gods, which thou madest for thyself? will they arise and save in the time of thine affliction? for according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Juda; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem they sacrificed to Baal.
29 Yehowa be, “Nu ka ta mietsɔ nya ɖe ŋutinye ɖo?” Evɔ mi katã miedze aglã ɖe ŋutinye.
Wherefore do ye speak unto me? ye all have been ungodly, and ye all have transgressed against me, saith the Lord.
30 “Dzodzroe mehe to na wò amewo, elabena mehe ɖɔɖɔɖo aɖeke va woƒe agbe mee o. Wò yi vuvu wò nyagblɔɖilawo abe dzata dɔwui ene.
In vain have I smitten your children; ye have not received correction: a sword has devoured your prophets as a destroying lion; yet ye feared not.
31 “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?’
Hear ye the word of the Lord: thus saith the Lord, Have I been a wilderness or a dry land to Israel? wherefore has my people said, We will not be ruled over, and will not come to thee any more?
32 Ɖe ɖetugbi aŋlɔ eƒe atsyɔ̃ɖonuwo be alo ŋugbetɔ naŋlɔ eƒe lekewɔnuwo bea? Gake nye dukɔ ŋlɔm be hena ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe.
Will a bride forget her ornaments, or a virgin her girdle? but my people has forgotten me days without number.
33 Aleke nèhenya ahiãdidii! Nyɔnu siwo bi ɖe ŋunyɔnuwo wɔwɔ me hã ate ŋu asrɔ̃ nu tso gbɔwò.
What fair device wilt thou yet employ in thy ways, so as to seek love? [it shall] not [be] so; moreover thou has done wickedly in corrupting thy ways;
34 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,
and in thine hands has been found the blood of innocent souls; I have not found them in holes, but on every oak.
35 ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemeɖi fɔ o. Mekpɔ dziku ɖe ŋutinye o.’ Ke madrɔ̃ ʋɔnu wò elabena ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemewɔ nu vɔ̃ o.’
Yet thou saidst, I am innocent: only let his wrath be turned away from me. Behold, I [will] plead with thee, whereas thou sayest, I have not sinned.
36 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.
For thou has been so exceedingly contemptuous as to repeat thy ways; but thou shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assur.
37 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.
For thou shalt go forth thence also with thine hands upon thine head; for the Lord has rejected thine hope, and thou shalt not prosper in it.
