Zekaria 8
1 Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedeasi gava nam be,
Then the Lord Almighty sent another message to me.
2 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be, “Meʋã ŋu ɖe Zion nu vevie, eye medo dɔmedzoe, ʋã ŋu ɖe enu vevie.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says. I am jealously protective of the people of Zion; I am extremely passionate about them.
3 Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: “Matrɔ ayi Zion, eye manɔ Yerusalem, ekema woayɔ Yerusalem be Nyateƒedu, eye woayɔ Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la, ƒe to la be, To Kɔkɔe.”
This is what the Lord says. I have returned to Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the “Faithful City,” and the mountain of the Lord Almighty the “Holy Mountain.”
4 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be, “Ŋutifafa kple dzidzeme agava Yerusalem hena ƒe geɖewo, ale be woagakpɔ amegãɖeɖiwo kple nyagãɖeɖiwo woalé kpo ɖe asi, anɔ zɔzɔm ɖɔɖɔɖɔ le ablɔ dzi abe tsã ene.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. Old people will be able to sit again in the streets of Jerusalem, each with their walking sticks they need because of their age.
5 Duwo ƒe mɔtatawo dzi ayɔ fũu kple ɖekakpuiwo kple ɖetugbiwo eye woanɔ fefem kple dzidzɔ.”
The streets will be full of boys and girls playing happily.
6 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be, “Ɣe ma ɣi la, adze nu si wɔ nuku na ame ʋɛ siwo susɔ, ke nye ya la, ɖe wòawɔ nuku nama?”
This is what the Lord Almighty says. It may seem too good to be true now, to you who remain of my people in these days. But is it impossible for me to do? asks the Lord Almighty.
7 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi, “Maɖe nye amewo tso dukɔ siwo le ɣedzeƒe kple ɣetoɖoƒe la ƒe asi me.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. I will save my people from the countries to the east and to the west.
8 Makplɔ wo agbɔe be woava nɔ Yerusalem. Woanye nye amewo, eye manye woƒe Mawu le nyateƒe kple dzɔdzɔenyenye me.”
I will bring them back and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people and I will be their God, trustworthy and true.
9 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi, “Mi ame siwo le nya siwo nyagblɔɖilawo gblɔ da ɖi la sem, ame siwo nɔ anyi hafi woɖo Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedoxɔ la gɔme anyi, mido ŋusẽ nu be miawu gbedoxɔ la tutu nu.
This is what the Lord Almighty says. Be strong, so that the Temple may be completed. Everyone who is here today is listening to the same words from the prophets who were present on the day when the foundation of the Lord Almighty's Temple was laid.
10 Hafi ɣe ma ɣi naɖo la, womexea fe na amewo alo lãwo o. Ame aɖeke mate ŋu ado go, ayi eƒe dɔwɔƒe le dedinɔnɔ me o ɖe eƒe futɔwo ta, elabena mena ame sia ame tso ɖe ehavi ŋuti.
Before that time there wasn't enough for people or for animals. No one could live normally because they were not safe from their enemies, and I set everyone against each other.
11 Ke azɔ la, nyemawɔ na ame siwo susɔ la abe ale si mewɔ na amewo va yi ene o.” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe.
But now I won't treat those who remain of my people like I treated them before, declares the Lord Almighty.
12 “Atiku la amie, atsi, wainkawo atse nyuie, anyigba aʋã eƒe nukuwo, eye ahũ adza tso dziƒo. Matsɔ nu siawo katã ana nye ame siwo susɔ la abe woƒe domenyinu ene.
They will sow in peace; the vine will produce grapes; the soil will grow crops and the heavens will water them. I will make sure this happens to all those who remain of this people.
13 Esi mienye ɖiŋudonu le dukɔwo dome ta la, O! Yuda kple Israel, maɖe mi, eye mianye yayra. Migavɔ̃ o, mido ŋusẽ miaƒe alɔwo.”
People of Judah and Israel: just as you were considered a curse among the nations, so I will save you and you will become a blessing. Don't be afraid! Be strong!
14 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi: “Abe ale si meɖoe kplikpaa be mahe tsɔtsrɔ̃ va mia dzii, eye nyemakpɔ nublanui o, esi mia fofowo do dɔmedzoe nam ene la,” Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ lae gblɔe,
For this is what the Lord Almighty says: I decided to bring disaster on you when your forefathers angered me and I did not change my mind.
15 “nenema azɔ, meɖoe kplikpaa be magawɔ nyui na Yerusalem kple Yuda, eya ta migavɔ̃ o.
But now I have made up my mind to do good to Jerusalem and the people of Judah. Don't be afraid!
16 Esiawoe nye nu siwo miawɔ: mito nyateƒe na mia haviwo, mitso afia si le eteƒe, eye wòle dzɔdzɔe la le miaƒe ʋɔnuwo.
This what you have to do: Tell each other the truth. In your courts judge honestly and truthfully, which makes for peace.
17 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe hawòvi ŋuti o, eye atam dzodzro kaka megado dzidzɔ na wò o, elabena metsri nu siawo.” Yehowae gblɔe.
Don't think up evil schemes against one another. Stop your love of lies. I hate all this, declares the Lord.
18 Esia hã nye gbedeasi bubu si va nam tso Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔ:
The Lord Almighty gave me another message.
19 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi: “Nutsitsidɔ siwo miewɔna le ɣleti enelia, atɔ̃lia, adrelia kple ewolia me la, anye dzidzɔ kple aseyetsotso ƒe azãwo na Yuda, eya ta milɔ̃ nyateƒe kple ŋutifafa.”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: The fasts you observe in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth month will become times of joy and happiness for the people of Judah—they will be festivals of celebration. But love truth and peace.
20 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi, “Ame geɖewo kple ame siwo tso du geɖewo me le mɔ dzi gbɔna,
This is what the Lord Almighty says: People from many nations and cities will yet come to Jerusalem,
21 eye amewo atso du ɖeka me ayi du bubu me ahagblɔ be, ‘Mina míatso zi ɖeka, míayi aɖaɖe kuku na Yehowa, eye míadi Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la. Nye la, medze mɔ yina.’
going from one city to another saying, “Let us be sure to go and seek the Lord and ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty. I myself am going!”
22 Ale amewo kple dukɔ siwo ŋu ŋusẽ le la ava Yerusalem be yewoadi Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la, eye woaƒo koko nɛ.”
Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to ask for the blessing of the Lord Almighty and seek the Lord.
23 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi: “Le ŋkeke mawo me la, ŋutsu ewo atso gbegbɔgblɔwo kple dukɔ bubuwo me alé Yudatɔ ɖeka ƒe awu to ahagblɔ be, ‘Na míayi kpli wò, elabena míese be Mawu li kpli mi.’”
This is what the Lord Almighty says: At that time ten men from different nations and languages will grab hold of the hem of a Jewish man's robe and plead, “Please take us with you for we have heard that God is with you.”
