< Zekaria 8 >
1 Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la ƒe gbedeasi gava nam be,
Now this message of the Lord of hosts came to me:
2 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be, “Meʋã ŋu ɖe Zion nu vevie, eye medo dɔmedzoe, ʋã ŋu ɖe enu vevie.”
The Lord of hosts says: I passionately care for Zion, and I am fiercely protective of 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.”
The Lord says, I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and Jerusalem will be called, ‘The City of Truth’ and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, ‘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.
The Lord of hosts says: Old men and old women will sit again in the squares of Jerusalem, each leaning on a staff because of old age.
5 Duwo ƒe mɔtatawo dzi ayɔ fũu kple ɖekakpuiwo kple ɖetugbiwo eye woanɔ fefem kple dzidzɔ.”
And the streets of the city will be full of boys, and of girls playing in its squares.
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?”
The Lord of hosts says: Just because it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, is it also impossible for me? says 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.
The Lord of hosts says: I will rescue my people from the land of the east and the land of 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 and they will live in Jerusalem, and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and 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.
The Lord of hosts says: Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days the words of the prophets spoken when the foundations for the house of the Lord of hosts were 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.
For before those days there were no wages for people or animals. No one could go out or return safe from enemies, because I set each against their 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 will treat the remnant of the people differently from former days, says 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.
Peace will be sown. The vine will bear its fruit and the ground will yield its produce, and the skies will give their dew. I will give 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.”
Just as you were accursed among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but 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 the Lord of hosts says: As I planned to do evil to you when your ancestors provoked me to anger, says the Lord of hosts, and I did not relent,
15 “nenema azɔ, meɖoe kplikpaa be magawɔ nyui na Yerusalem kple Yuda, eya ta migavɔ̃ o.
so again have I planned in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not 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.
These are the things that you should do: Speak the truth to each other. Render peaceful decisions 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.
Let none of you devise evil in your heart against one another. Do not love perjury. All these are things I hate, says the Lord.
18 Esia hã nye gbedeasi bubu si va nam tso Yehowa Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gbɔ:
And this message of the Lord of hosts came to me:
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.”
The Lord of hosts says: The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, will be festivals of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah. Therefore 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,
The Lord of hosts says: Peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will come,
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 will go to another, saying, “Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will go also.”
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 strong nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of 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.’”
The Lord of hosts says: In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, “We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”