Yeremia 23

1 Yehowa be, “Baba na alẽkplɔla siwo le alẽ siwo le nye lãnyiƒe la vuvum hele wo kakam!”

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration.”

2 Eya ta ale Yehowa, Israel ƒe Mawu la gblɔ na alẽkplɔla siwo le nye dukɔ la kplɔm lae nye esi: “Esi mielé be na nye alẽhawo o, ke boŋ miekaka wo eye mienya wo de gbe ta la, mahe to na mi ɖe nu vɔ̃ɖi si miewɔ la ta.” Yehowae gblɔe.

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the evil you have done—this is Yahweh's declaration.

3 “Nye ŋutɔ maƒo nye alẽ mamlɛawo nu ƒu tso anyigba siwo katã dzi menya wo ɖo ɖo la dzi, eye makplɔ wo va wo nyiƒe, afi si woadzi ɖe edzi fũu le.

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase.

4 Matsɔ alẽkplɔla siwo akpɔ wo dzi nyuie la aɖo wo nu, ale womagavɔ̃ alo dzidzi naƒo wo alo wo dometɔ aɖeke nabu o.” Yehowae gblɔe.

Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be shattered. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.

5 Yehowa be, “Ŋkekewo li gbɔna esime mana atilɔ dzɔdzɔe, aɖe nadze atso David ƒe ƒome me, anye fia si aɖu fia le nunya me eye wòawɔ nu si le eteƒe kple nu si le dzɔdzɔe le anyigba dzi.

See, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch. He will reign as king; he will act wisely and cause justice and righteousness in the land.

6 Le eƒe ŋkekewo me la, woaɖe Yuda eye Israel anɔ anyi le dedinɔnɔ me. Esiae nye ŋkɔ si woayɔ nɛ: Yehowa, Míaƒe Dzɔdzɔenyenye.

In his days Judah will be rescued, and Israel will live in security. Then this is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh is our righteousness.

7 “Yehowa be eya ta ŋkekewo li gbɔna esi amewo magagblɔ be, ‘Meta Yehowa, ame si kplɔ Israelviwo do goe le Egipte la ƒe agbe’ o.

Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from the land of Egypt.'

8 Ke boŋ woagblɔ be, ‘Meta Yehowa, ame si kplɔ Israel ƒe dzidzimeviwo do go tso anyiehenyigba dzi kple dukɔ siwo katã me woɖe aboyo wo ɖo ɖo la ƒe agbe.’ Ekema woanɔ woawo ŋutɔ ƒe anyigba dzi.”

Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where they had been driven.' Then they will live in their own land.”

9 Nya siwo ku ɖe nyagblɔɖilawo ŋu: nye dzi gbã le menye eye nye lãme katã le ƒoƒom. Ɖeko mele abe ŋutsu si mu aha alo abe ŋutsu si wain wu ko na la ene, le Yehowa kple eƒe nya kɔkɔewo ta.

Regarding the prophets, my heart is broken in me, and all of my bones tremble. I have become like a drunk man, like a man whom wine has overpowered, because of Yahweh and his holy words.

10 Anyigba la dzi yɔ fũu kple ahasiwɔlawo eye le fiƒode la ta la, anyigba la ƒu kplakplakpla ale be lãnyiƒe siwo katã le gbegbe la hã yrɔ; elabena Nyagblɔɖilawo ƒe mɔ to vovo eye wowɔa woƒe ŋusẽ ŋu dɔ to mɔ madzɔmadzɔwo dzi.

For the land is full of adulterers. Because of these the land is dried up. The meadows in the wilderness dry up. These prophets' paths are wicked; their power is not used in a right manner.

11 “Nyagblɔɖilawo kple Nunɔlawo siaa nye Mawumavɔ̃lawo eye le nye gbedoxɔ me gɔ̃ hã la, mekpɔ woƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi.” Yehowae gblɔe.

“For both the prophets and the priests are polluted. I even found their wickedness in my house!—this is Yahweh's declaration—

12 “Eya ta woƒe mɔ dzi aɖiɖi dribadriba, woatsɔ wo aƒu gbe ɖe blukɔ me eye woadze anyi ɖe afi ma. Mahe gbegblẽ ava wo dzi le ƒe si me mahe to na wo.” Yehowae gblɔe.

therefore their way will be like a slippery place in the darkness. They will be pushed down. They will fall in it. For I will send disaster against them in the year of their punishment—this is Yahweh's declaration.

13 “Mekpɔ bometsinu sia le nyagblɔɖila siwo le Samaria la dome. Wogblɔ nya ɖi le Baal ƒe ŋkɔ me eye wokplɔ nye dukɔ Israel trae.

For I have seen the prophets in Samaria doing what is repulsive: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

14 Ke mekpɔ ŋunyɔnu sia hã le nyagblɔɖila siwo le Yerusalem la dome. Wole ahasi wɔm eye wole alakpa hã dam. Wodoa ŋusẽ nu baɖa wɔlawo be ne ame aɖeke nagaɖe asi le eƒe nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔwɔ ŋu o. Wo katã le nam abe Sodom ene. Yerusalem nɔlawo le abe Gomoratɔwo ene.”

Among the prophets in Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: They commit adultery and walk in deceit. They strengthen the hands of evildoers; no one turns back from his evildoing. All of them have become like Sodom to me and its inhabitants like Gomorrah!”

15 Eya ta ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ ɖe nyagblɔɖilawo ŋutie nye esi: “Kpɔ ɖa, mana nuɖuɖu veve wo eye makpe tsi si me wode aɖii la na wo elabena Yerusalem ƒe nyagblɔɖilawo gbɔe wòtso be, mawumavɔmavɔ̃ kaka ɖe anyigba blibo la dzi.”

Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets, “Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisonous water, for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem to all the land.”

16 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi: “Migaɖo to nyagblɔɖi siwo gblɔm Nyagblɔɖilawo le na mi la o. Mia flum wole kple mɔkpɔkpɔ ƒuƒlu. Wogblɔa nya si woawo ŋutɔ susu la be ŋutegae yewokpɔ, ke menye nya si do tso Yehowa ƒe nu me o.

Yahweh of hosts says this, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They have deluded you! They are announcing visions from their own minds, not from Yahweh's mouth.

17 Wogblɔna na ame siwo doa vlom ɖaa la be, ‘Yehowa be: miakpɔ ŋutifafa’, eye wogblɔna na ame siwo zɔna ɖe woƒe dzi vɔ̃ɖiwo ƒe ɖoɖo nu la be, ‘Dzɔgbevɔ̃e aɖeke mava mia dzi o.’

They are constantly saying to those who dishonor me, 'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.' For everyone walking in the stubbornness of his own heart says, 'Disaster will not come upon you.'

18 Ke wo dometɔ kae nɔ Yehowa ƒe aɖaŋu me be wòakpɔ nu alo ase eƒe nya? Ame kae ɖo to hese eƒe nya?

Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting? Who sees and hears his word? Who pays attention to his word and listens?

19 Kpɔ ɖa, Yehowa ƒe ahom atu sesĩe le eƒe dziku helĩhelĩ me, eye yali atso abla ɖe ta na ame vɔ̃ɖiwo kɔtɔɔ.

See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh! His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about. It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.

20 Yehowa ƒe dziku magbugbɔ o va se ɖe esime wòwɔ nu si wòɖo ɖe eƒe dzi me de goe. Le ŋkeke siwo gbɔna me la, miase nu siawo gɔme keŋkeŋ.

Yahweh's wrath will not return until it has carried out and brought into being his heart's intentions. In the final days, you will understand it.

21 Nyemedɔ nyagblɔɖila siawo o, gake wole du dzi kple woawo ŋutɔwo ƒe gbedeasi. Nyemeƒo nu kpli wo o, evɔ wogblɔ nya ɖi.

I did not send out these prophets. They just appeared. I did not proclaim anything to them, but they have still prophesied.

22 Ke ne ɖe wonɔ nye aɖaŋudede me la, anye ne wogblɔ nye nyawo na nye dukɔ eye woatrɔ le woƒe mɔ vɔ̃wo dzi kple woƒe nuwɔwɔ vɔ̃ɖiwo me.”

For if they had stood in my council meeting, they would have caused my people to hear my word; they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words and corrupt practices.

23 Yehowa be, “Kpuiƒe ƒe Mawu ko menyea, eye nyemenye Mawu si le adzɔge oa?

Am I only a God nearby—this is Yahweh's declaration—and not also a God far away?

24 Ɖe ame aɖe abe ɖe bebeƒe aɖe be nyemate ŋu akpɔe oa?” Yehowae gblɔe. “Ɖe nyemeyɔ dziƒo kple anyigba taŋtaŋ oa?” Yehowae gblɔe.

Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?—this is Yahweh's declaration— and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?—this is Yahweh's declaration.

25 “Mese nu si gblɔm nyagblɔɖilawo le, ame siwo gblɔ aʋatsonyagblɔɖi le nye ŋkɔ me. Wogblɔ be, ‘Meku drɔ̃e aɖe! Meku drɔ̃e aɖe.’

I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'

26 Ɣe ka ɣie nu sia ayi edzi le aʋatsonyagbɔɖila siawo ƒe dzi me ase ɖo, ame siwo gblɔ beblenya siwo woƒe susuwo gblɔ na wo?

How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in their hearts?

27 Wobu xaa be drɔ̃e siwo wolĩna na wo nɔewo la awɔe be nye amewo aŋlɔ nye ŋkɔ be abe ale si wo fofowo ŋlɔ nye ŋkɔ be, to Baal subɔsubɔ me ene.”

They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.

28 Yehowa be, “Nyagblɔɖila si ku drɔ̃e la, nelĩ drɔ̃e la faa, gake ame si si nye nya le la, neɖe gbeƒãe anukwaretɔe. Elabena kadodo kae le bli kple atsa dome?” Yehowae gblɔe.

The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration—

29 “Ɖe nye nya mele abe dzo ene kple zu si gbãa kpe sesẽ gudugudu la ene oa?” Yehowae gblɔ.

Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?

30 Eya ta ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: “Matso ɖe nyagblɔɖila siwo fia nya siwo wosusu be etso gbɔnye la le wo nɔewo gbɔ la ŋuti.”

So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.

31 Yehowa be, “Kpɔ ɖa, matso ɖe nyagblɔɖila siwo kpa nya kple woƒe aɖewo, evɔ wohegblɔna be, ‘Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi’ la ŋuti.

See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations.

32 Kpɔ ɖa,” ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: “Matso ɖe ame siwo tsɔ alakpadrɔ̃ewo gblɔa nya ɖi la ŋuti. Wogblɔnɛ na dukɔa, eye wokplɔa nye amewo tranae to woƒe alakpa vivivo la me, evɔ nyemedɔ wo alo de dɔ asi na wo o. Womenye viɖe aɖeke na nye dukɔ o,” Yehowae gblɔe.

See, I am against the prophets who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.

33 “Ne ame siawo, alo nyagblɔɖila alo nunɔla bia wò be, ‘Nu kae nye Yehowa ƒe gbe hã la,’ ɖo eŋu na wo be, ‘Nu ka ƒe gbe? Magbe nu le mia gbɔ’ Yehowae gblɔe.

When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration.

34 Ke ne nyagblɔɖila alo nunɔla alo ame aɖe ko agblɔ be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe gbe’ la, mahe to na ame la kple eƒe aƒekɔ katã.

As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and his house.

35 Esiae nye nu si mia dometɔ ɖe sia ɖe nɔ gbɔgblɔm na ehavi alo eƒe ƒometɔ: ‘Aleke Yehowa ɖo eŋutie?’ Alo ‘Nya ka Yehowa gblɔ?’

You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?'

36 Ke migakɔ nu le ‘Yehowa ƒe nya’ dzi azɔ o, elabena ame sia ame ŋutɔ ƒe nya zu eƒe nyagblɔɖi, ale mietrɔ gbo Mawu gbagbe, Yehowa ƒe Aƒetɔ la, miaƒe Mawu la ƒe nyawo.

But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

37 Esia nye nya si mienɔ gbɔgblɔm ɖaa na nyagblɔɖila, ‘Aleke Yehowa ɖo eŋutie?’ Alo ‘Nya kae Yehowa gblɔ?’

This is what you will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you? or 'What did Yahweh say?'

38 Togbɔ be miegblɔ be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya, ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi’ hã la, miegagblɔna be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya,’ evɔ megblɔe na mi, miganɔ gbɔgblɔm be, ‘Esiae nye Yehowa ƒe nya’ o.

But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, “The burden of Yahweh,”'

39 Eya ta kpɔ ɖa, maŋlɔ mi be le nyateƒe me, eye matsɔ mi aƒu gbe le nye ŋkume akpe ɖe du si metsɔ na mi kple mia fofowo la ŋuti.

therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors.

40 Mahe ŋukpe mavɔ kple vlododo mavɔ si womaŋlɔ be akpɔ o la va mia dzi.”

Then I will put everlasting shame and insult on you that will not be forgotten.'”