Yeremia 2
1 Yehowa ƒe gbe va gbɔnye be,
And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying;
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.
Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem saying—Thus saith Yahweh, I remember in thy behalf, the lovingkindness of thy youthful days, The love of thy bridal estate, —Thy coming out after me, Through the desert, Through a land, not sown:
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.
Holiness, was Israel unto Yahweh, The first-fruit of his increase, —All that devoured it, were held guilty, Calamity used to come upon them, —Declareth Yahweh.
4 Se Yehowa ƒe nya, O Yakob ƒe aƒe, mi Israel ƒe aƒe la ƒe towo katã.
Hear ye the word of Yahweh O house of Jacob, And all the families 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 Yahweh, —What did your fathers find in me by way of perversity, that they removed far from me, —and went after vanity, and became 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.
Neither said they, Where is Yahweh, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, —Who led us Through the desert, Through a land of wastes and clefts, Through a land of parched places and of death-shade, Through a land, Along which no man had passed, And in which no son of earth dwelt?
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.
Then brought I you into a country of garden land, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof, —and yet when ye entered, then defiled ye my land, and mine inheritance, ye made 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 Yahweh? And, they who handled the law, did not acknowledge me, And the shepherds transgressed against me, —And the prophets, prophesied by Baal, And so after things that could not profit, did they walk.
9 Yehowa be, “Eya ta megatsɔ nya ɖe mia ŋu, eye matsɔ nya ɖe mia viwo ƒe viwo ŋuti.
Therefore yet further will I plead with you Declareth Yahweh, Yea with your children’s children, will I plead.
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—pass through the coastlands of the West and see, And unto Kedar, send ye and consider diligently, —And see—whether there hath been the like of this!
11 Ɖe dukɔ aɖe ɖɔli eƒe mawuwo kpɔa? Evɔ menye mawuwoe wonye hafi o; gake nye dukɔ tsɔ woƒe ŋutikɔkɔe ɖɔli legba maɖinuwoe.
Hath a nation, changed gods, although they were No-gods? Yet my people have changed my glory for that which could not profit!
12 O, dziƒowo, miaƒe nu neku le esia ta, eye miadzo nyanyanya kple ŋɔdzi gã.” Yehowae gblɔe.
Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this, —And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh.
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 two wicked things, have my people committed, —Me, have they forsaken a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves cisterns broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
14 Subɔvi alo kluvie Israel nye tso dzidzimea? Ke nu ka ta wòva zu nuhaha ɖo?
Was Israel a servant? Born in the house, was he? Wherefore hath he become a prey?
15 Dzatawo ɖe gbe, wole gbe tem ɖe eŋu. Wowɔ eƒe anyigba wòzu gbegbe. Wotɔ dzo eƒe duwo eye wozu aƒedowo.
Against him, have been roaring wild lions, They have uttered their voice, —and have made his land a desolation, His cities, have been burned, so as to have no inhabitant.
16 Memfistɔwo kple Tapanhestɔwo hã ƒlɔ dzodome na wo.
Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes have been crushing the crown of the head.
17 Ɖe menye miawo ŋutɔe he esia va mia ɖokui dzii esi miegbe Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la esi wòkplɔ mi le mɔ dzi oa?
Is not this what thou wast certain to do for thyself, —in that thou didst forsake Yahweh thy God, when he was leading thee by the way?
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?
Now, therefore what hast thou to do with the way to Egypt, to drink the waters of Shihor? Or what hast thou to do with the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River ["Euphrates"]?
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.
Let thy wickedness correct thee And thine apostasies, rebuke thee, Know therefore and see That it is a wicked thing and a bitter, that thou shouldest have forsaken Yahweh thy God, And that the dread of me should not have pertained to thee, Declareth My Lord, Yahweh of hosts.
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, in age-past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress, —Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman.
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 precious vine, a wholly true seed, —How then didst thou change thyself towards me, into the degenerate plantings of the alien vine?
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.
For though thou wash thee with nitre, And take thee much soap, Yet is thine iniquity inscribed before me Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
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 canst thou say, I have not defiled myself, After the Baalim, have I not gone? See thy way, in the valley, Own what thou hast done, —A nimble young she-camel, crossing her own ways;
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.
A wild ass, taught of the desert, In the desire of her soul, she snuffeth the wind, In her occasion, who can turn her back? None who seek her, will weary themselves, In her month, 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.’
Withhold thy foot from being unshod, And thy throat from thirst! But thou saidst Hopeless! No! for I love foreigners and after them, will I go.
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 the shame of a thief when he is found, So, hath been put to shame, the house of Israel, —They, their kings 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!’
Saying, to a tree, My father, art thou! And to a stone, Thou, didst give us birth, For they have turned unto me the back and not the face, —But in the time of their calamity, 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.”
Where then are thy gods which thou hast made for thyself? Let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy calamity, —For according to the number of thy cities, have become thy gods O Judah.
29 Yehowa be, “Nu ka ta mietsɔ nya ɖe ŋutinye ɖo?” Evɔ mi katã miedze aglã ɖe ŋutinye.
Wherefore, should ye plead against me, All of you, have transgressed against me Declareth Yahweh.
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, Correction, have they not accepted, —Your sword hath devoured your prophets, as a lion that destroyeth.
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?’
O generation see, ye, the word of Yahweh, A desert, became I unto Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Wherefore, have my people said, We have roved about, We will not come in any more unto thee?
32 Ɖe ɖetugbi aŋlɔ eƒe atsyɔ̃ɖonuwo be alo ŋugbetɔ naŋlɔ eƒe lekewɔnuwo bea? Gake nye dukɔ ŋlɔm be hena ɣeyiɣi didi aɖe.
Can, a virgin, forget, her ornaments, —A bride, her girdle? Yet, my people, have forgotten me, days without number.
33 Aleke nèhenya ahiãdidii! Nyɔnu siwo bi ɖe ŋunyɔnuwo wɔwɔ me hã ate ŋu asrɔ̃ nu tso gbɔwò.
How thou dost make winsome thy way, to seek love! Therefore, even unto wicked women, hast thou taught 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,
Even in thy skirts, is there found, The blood of the lives of the helpless innocents, —Not in the act of breaking in, didst thou find them, yet [the blood is] on all these.
35 ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemeɖi fɔ o. Mekpɔ dziku ɖe ŋutinye o.’ Ke madrɔ̃ ʋɔnu wò elabena ègblɔ be, ‘Nyemewɔ nu vɔ̃ o.’
Although thou saidst, Because I am innocent, surely hath his anger turned back from me, —Behold me! entering into judgment with thee, because 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.
How vigorously, thou goest about changing thy way! Even of Egypt, shalt thou be ashamed, just as thou wast ashamed of Assyria:
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.
Even from this one, shalt thou go forth, with thy hands upon thy head, —For Yahweh hath rejected those in whom thou confidest, and thou shalt not prosper with them.
