Zekaria 8

1 Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedeasi gava nam be,

And the word of the Lord of hosts came, saying,

2 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be, “Meʋã ŋu ɖe Zion nu vevie, eye medo dɔmedzoe, ʋã ŋu ɖe enu vevie.”

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, I am jealous for Zion with a great jealousy, and with great fury am I jealous for her.

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.”

Thus hath said the Lord, I return unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called, The city of truth; and the mount of the Lord of hosts, The holy mount.

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.

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Again shall there sit old men and old women in the streets of Jerusalem, and every one with his staff in his hand because of their multitude of years.

5 Duwo ƒe mɔtatawo dzi ayɔ fũu kple ɖekakpuiwo kple ɖetugbiwo eye woanɔ fefem kple dzidzɔ.”

And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in her streets.

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?”

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, If it should be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.

7 Ale Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔe nye esi, “Maɖe nye amewo tso dukɔ siwo le ɣedzeƒe kple ɣetoɖoƒe la ƒe asi me.

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the country of the setting of the sun;

8 Makplɔ wo agbɔe be woava nɔ Yerusalem. Woanye nye amewo, eye manye woƒe Mawu le nyateƒe kple dzɔdzɔenyenye me.”

And I will bring them [back], that they may dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be unto me for a people, and I will be unto them for a God, in truth and in righteousness.

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.

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, Let your hands be strong, ye that hear in these days these words out of the mouth of the prophets, who [spoke] on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, when the temple was to be built.

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.

For before those days there was no reward for man, nor any reward for beast; and for him that went out or came in there was no peace, because of the oppressor: and I let loose all men, every one against his neighbor.

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 am no more as in the former days unto the residue of this people, saith the Lord of hosts.

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.

For the seed shall be undisturbed; the vine shall give its fruit, and the ground shall give her production, and the heavens shall give their dew: and I will bestow on the remnant of this people all these things.

13 Esi mienye ɖiŋudonu le dukɔwo dome ta la, O! Yuda kple Israel, maɖe mi, eye mianye yayra. Migavɔ̃ o, mido ŋusẽ miaƒe alɔwo.”

And it shall come to pass, that, in the same degree as ye have been a curse among the nations, O house of Judah, and house of Israel, so will I save you and ye shall be a blessing: fear not; let your hands 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 thus hath said the Lord of hosts, As I had purposed to do you evil, when your fathers incensed me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I bethought myself not:

15 “nenema azɔ, meɖoe kplikpaa be magawɔ nyui na Yerusalem kple Yuda, eya ta migavɔ̃ o.

So do I again purpose in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; fear ye not.

16 Esiawoe nye nu siwo miawɔ: mito nyateƒe na mia haviwo, mitso afia si le eteƒe, eye wòle dzɔdzɔe la le miaƒe ʋɔnuwo.

These are the things that ye shall do, Speak ye the truth every man to his neighbor; [with] truth and the judgment of peace judge ye in your gates;

17 Mègaɖo vɔ̃ ɖe hawòvi ŋuti o, eye atam dzodzro kaka megado dzidzɔ na wò o, elabena metsri nu siawo.” Yehowae gblɔe.

And let none of you think evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love not a false oath, for all these are what I hate, saith the Lord.

18 Esia hã nye gbedeasi bubu si va nam tso Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔ:

And the word of the Lord of hosts came unto me, saying,

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.”

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, The fast of the fourth, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth [month], shall become to the house of Judah gladness and joy, and merry festivals: only love ye the 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,

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, [A time] shall yet be! when there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities;

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.’

And the inhabitants of one [city] shall go to another, saying, Let us only go to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts: I too will likewise go.

22 Ale amewo kple dukɔ siwo ŋu ŋusẽ le la ava Yerusalem be yewoadi Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la, eye woaƒo koko nɛ.”

And many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before 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.’”

Thus hath said the Lord of hosts, In those days [it shall happen], that ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold—yea, they shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.