2 Beresosɛm 29
1 Hesekia dii hene wɔ Yuda no, na wadi mfe aduonu anum. Na odii ade mfe aduonu akron wɔ Yerusalem. Na ne na yɛ Sakaria babea a ne din de Abia.
Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became the king [of Judah]. He ruled from Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of [a man whose name was] Zechariah.
2 Ɔyɛɛ nea ɛsɔ Awurade ani, sɛnea nʼagya Dawid yɛe pɛpɛɛpɛ.
Hezekiah did things that Yahweh considered to be right, like his ancestor King David had done.
3 Afe a edi kan wɔ nʼahenni mu, ɔsram a edi kan no, Hesekia buebuee Awurade Asɔredan apon no, siesiee no.
During March of the first year that Hezekiah was ruling Judah, he unlocked the doors of the temple, and his workers repaired them.
4 Ɔfrɛfrɛɛ asɔfo no ne Lewifo no sɛ, wommehyia no wɔ Asɔredan no adiwo a ɛwɔ apuei fam hɔ.
Then he gathered the priests and other descendants of Levi in the area on the east side of the temple,
5 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Lewifo, muntie me! Munnwira mo ho, na munnwira Awurade, mo agyanom Nyankopɔn Asɔredan no nso. Munyiyi biribiara a efi aka no mfi kronkronbea hɔ.
and he said to them, “You descendants of Levi, listen to me! Consecrate yourselves. And then consecrate the temple of Yahweh, the God whom our ancestors [worshiped/belonged to]. Remove from the temple all the things that are not pleasing to God.
6 Yɛn agyanom anni nokware, na wɔyɛɛ bɔne wɔ Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn anim. Wogyaw Awurade ne nʼAsɔredan no; wɔdan wɔn akyi kyerɛɛ no.
Our ancestors disobeyed God; they did many things that he considered to be evil, things that were not pleasing to him. They abandoned this place where Yahweh lives, and they have turned away from him.
7 Afei, wɔtotoo Asɔredan no ntwironoo apon mu, dunum akanea no. Wogyaee nnuhuamhyew, gyaee ɔhyew afɔrebɔde a wɔde ba Israel Nyankopɔn, kronkronbea hɔ no.
They locked the doors of the temple and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn any incense, and they did not offer any sacrifices that were to be completely burned [on the altar].
8 Ɛno nti na Awurade abufuw aba Yuda ne Yerusalem so no. Wama yɛadan ahufo, ayamhyehyefo ne aserewde, sɛnea muhu no pefee no.
Therefore, Yahweh has become very angry with us people of Jerusalem and [other places in] Judah, and he has caused other people to become frightened and horrified [when they hear what Yahweh did to punish us]. And they ridicule us. You know this very well.
9 Wɔakunkum yɛn agyanom wɔ ɔko mu, na wɔakyekyere yɛn mmabarima, yɛn mmabea ne yɛn yerenom sɛ nneduafo.
That is why our fathers have been killed in battles, and our sons and daughters and our wives have been captured and taken [to other countries].
10 Nanso mprempren, me ne Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn bɛyɛ apam sɛnea nʼabufuwhyew no befi yɛn so.
But now I intend to make an agreement with Yahweh, our God, in order that he will no longer be angry with us.
11 Me mma, afei monnto mo nnwuma asaworam. Awurade ayi mo sɛ munnyina nʼanim nsom no, na munni ɔmanfo anim nsom no na monhyew nnuhuam.”
[You who are like] my sons, do not waste any time. [Do immediately what Yahweh wants you to do.] Yahweh has chosen you to stand in his presence and offer sacrifices and burn incense.”
12 Afei saa Lewifo yi hyɛɛ dwumadi no ase. Wɔn a wofi Kohat abusua mu no yɛ: Amasai babarima Mahat ne Asaria babarima Yoel. Wɔn a wofi Merari abusua mu no yɛ: Abdi babarima Kis ne Yehalelel babarima Asaria. Wɔn a wofi Gerson abusua mu yɛ: Sima babarima Yoa ne Yoa babarima Eden;
Then these descendants of Levi started to work [in the temple]: From the descendants of Kohath there were Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah. From the descendants of Merari there were Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel. From the descendants of Gershon there were Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah.
13 Wɔn a wofi Elisafan abusua mu yɛ: Simri ne Yeiel. Wɔn a wofi Asaf abusua mu yɛ: Sakaria ne Matania.
From the descendants of Elizaphan there were Shimri and Jeiel. From the descendants of Asaph there were Zechariah and Mattaniah.
14 Wɔn a wofi Heman abusua mu yɛ: Yehiel ne Simei. Wɔn a wofi Yedutun abusua mu yɛ: Semaia ne Usiel.
From the descendants of Heman there were Jehiel and Shimei. From the descendants of Jeduthun there were Shemaiah and Uzziel.
15 Saa mmarima yi frɛfrɛɛ wɔn mfɛfo Lewifo, na wodwiraa wɔn ho. Na afei, wofii ase dwiraa Awurade Asɔredan no sɛnea ɔhene no hyɛe no. Wɔyɛɛ ahwɛyie, dii Awurade ahyɛde no so pɛpɛɛpɛ wɔ wɔn dwumadi no mu.
When those men had gathered their fellow descendants of Levi and had consecrated themselves, they entered the temple in order to consecrate it. That was what the king had commanded them to do, and they were also obeying what Yahweh had commanded.
16 Asɔfo no kɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan kronkronbea hɔ, kodwiraa hɔ, na wɔfaa biribiara a ɛho agu fi a wohui no fii hɔ de baa Asɔredan no adiwo. Lewifo no twee ne nyinaa fii hɔ, kɔtow guu Kidron Bon mu.
The priests entered the temple to consecrate it. They brought out into the courtyard of the temple everything that they had found in the temple that was not pleasing to Yahweh. Then the descendants of Levi took those things down to the Kidron Valley [and burned them there].
17 Wofii dwumadi no ase wɔ da bi a ɛwɔ ɔsram a edi kan no mu. Na da a ɛto so awotwe no, na wɔadu Awurade Asɔredan no ntwironoo mu hɔ. Na wɔde nnafua awotwe bio dwiraa Awurade Asɔredan no ankasa. Enti wɔde nnafua dunsia na ewiee dwumadi no nyinaa.
The priests and other descendants of Levi started this work on the first day of March and finished purifying the courtyard [of the temple] on the eighth day of that month, and they finished purifying the temple one week later.
18 Na Lewifo no kɔɔ ɔhene Hesekia nkyɛn, kɔkaa sɛnea dwumadi no akosi kyerɛɛ no. Wɔkae se, “Yɛadwira Awurade Asɔredan no, ɔhyew afɔrebɔ afɔremuka no a nneɛma ahorow ka ho ne Daa Daa Brodo pon no ne ɛho nneɛma ho.
Then they went to King Hezekiah and reported, “We have purified all parts of the temple, and the altar where sacrifices are completely burned, and all the items used at the altar, the table on which the priests place the sacred bread, and the things [used at that table].
19 Afei nso, nneɛma a ɔhene Ahas tasee bere a na ɔyɛ asoɔden, na ɔtoo asɔredan no mu no nso, yɛakogye ne nyinaa. Ne nyinaa gu Awurade afɔremuka no anim a wɔadwira ho na wobetumi de adi dwuma biara.”
While Ahaz was our king, he disobeyed what Yahweh had commanded, and he removed from the temple many things [that should be there], but now we have brought them back and placed them in front of the sacred altar.”
20 Ade kyee anɔpahema no, ɔhene Hesekia boaboaa kurow no mpanyimfo ano ne wɔn kɔɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu.
Early the next morning, King Hezekiah gathered together the city officials, and they went to the [courtyard of the] temple.
21 Wɔde anantwinini ason, adwennini ason, nguantenmma ason ne mpapo ason bae sɛ, ahenni, asɔredan no ne Yuda bɔne ho afɔrebɔde. Ɔhene no hyɛɛ asɔfo no a wɔyɛ Aaron asefo sɛ wɔmfa mmoa no mmɔ afɔre wɔ Awurade afɔremuka no so.
They took with them seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs, and seven male goats to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of all the people in the kingdom of Judah, and in order to purify the temple. The king commanded that the priests, who were descendants of Aaron, should offer those animals to be sacrificed to Yahweh on the altar.
22 Na wokunkum anantwinini no, na asɔfo no de mogya no petee afɔremuka no so. Afei, wokunkum adwennini no de wɔn mogya petee afɔremuka no so. Na awiei no, wɔde nguantenmma no yɛɛ saa ara.
So first the priests slaughtered those bulls, and took their blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar. Then they slaughtered the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar.
23 Wɔde mpapo a wɔde rebɛbɔ bɔne ho afɔre no baa ɔhene no ne ɔmanfo no anim ma wɔde wɔn nsa guu wɔn so.
The goats that were slaughtered to be an offering in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins of the people were brought to the king and the others who were there. Then the king and those who were present laid their hands on those goats.
24 Afei, asɔfo no kunkum mpapo no sɛ bɔne ho afɔrebɔ, de wɔn mogya petee afɔremuka no so, sɛ bɔne ho mpata maa Israel nyinaa. Ɔhene no sii so dua sɛ, saa ɔhyew ne bɔne ho afɔrebɔ no, wɔmmɔ mma Israel nyinaa.
Then the priests slaughtered those goats and splashed their blood on the altar in order that Yahweh would forgive the sins that all the Israeli people had committed. The priests did that because the king had commanded that offerings that would be completely burned [on the altar] and other sacrifices should be made for all the people of Israel.
25 Afei, ɔhene Hesekia de Lewifo no gyinagyinaa Awurade Asɔredan no mu. Ɔde kyɛnkyɛn, mmɛnta ne asankuten maa wɔn. Odii ahyɛde a Awurade nam Gad, a ɔyɛ ɔhene nhumuni ne odiyifo Natan so de maa Dawid no so.
The king then told the descendants of Levi to stand in the temple with their cymbals and harps and lyres, obeying what David and his prophets Gad and Nathan had commanded. Those were things that Yahweh had told his prophets that the descendants of Levi should do.
26 Afei, Lewifo no faa Dawid nnwontode no kogyinagyina wɔn gyinabea wɔ Asɔredan no ho. Saa ara nso na asɔfo no faa wɔn ntorobɛnto kogyinagyina wɔn afa.
So the descendants of Levi [went and] stood in the temple, ready to play the musical instruments that King David had given to them. And the priests were ready to blow their trumpets.
27 Afei, ɔhene Hesekia hyɛɛ sɛ wɔmfa ɔhyew afɔre no nsi afɔremuka no so. Bere a wɔde ɔhyew afɔre no reba no, wofii ase too ayeyi nnwom maa Awurade, na wɔde ntorobɛnto ne Israelhene Dawid nnwontode no gyigyee ho.
Then Hezekiah told some of the priests to burn the animals that would be sacrificed on the altar. When they started to burn the animals, the people started to sing to [praise] Yahweh, while the other descendants of Levi were playing their instruments.
28 Bagua no sɔree Awurade bere a na nnwontofo no reto nnwom, na wɔrehyɛn ntorobɛnto no ara kosii sɛ ɔhyew afɔrebɔde no nyinaa sae.
All the people who were there bowed to worship Yahweh, while the singers sang and the trumpeters blew their trumpets. They continued to do this until they had finished slaughtering all the animals that would be completely burned.
29 Na ɔhene no ne wɔn a wɔka ne ho no nyinaa kotow somee.
When they finished making those offerings, the king and all those who were there knelt down and worshiped Yahweh.
30 Ɔhene Hesekia ne ne mpanyimfo hyɛɛ Lewifo no sɛ, wɔmfa Dawid nnwom ne nhumuni Asaf de, nkamfo Awurade. Enti, wɔde anigye kamfoo Awurade, na wɔkotow sɔree.
Then King Hezekiah and his officials commanded the descendants of Levi to praise Yahweh, singing the songs [composed/written] by David and Asaph the prophet. So they sang songs joyfully and bowed their heads to worship.
31 Afei, Hesekia de too gua se, “Ɔsom no aba awiei. Momfa mo afɔrebɔde ne mo aseda mmra Awurade Asɔredan mu.” Enti ɔmanfo no de wɔn afɔrebɔde ne wɔn aseda afɔrebɔde bae, na wɔn a wɔpɛ no de ɔhyew afɔrebɔde nso kaa ho.
Then Hezekiah said, “You have now dedicated yourselves to Yahweh. So come close to the temple and bring animals to be sacrificed and other offerings to thank [Yahweh for what he has done for you].” And those who wanted to bring animals to be completely burned [on the altar] brought them.
32 Ɔmanfo no de anantwinini aduɔson, adwennini ɔha ne nguantenmma ahannu sɛ ɔhyew afɔrebɔde brɛɛ Awurade.
Altogether they brought 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 male lambs to be completely burned on the altar.
33 Wɔsan de anantwinini ahansia ne nguan mpensa baa sɛ afɔrebɔde.
The other animals that they brought were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats that were set apart to be sacrifices.
34 Nanso na asɔfo a wɔwɔ hɔ no sua sɛ wobetumi asiesie ɔhyew afɔre no nyinaa nti, wɔn abusuafo Lewifo no boaa wɔn kosii sɛ dwumadi no baa awiei. Wɔtew asɔfo no pii ho ansa na wɔreboa dwumadi no, efisɛ na Lewifo no adwene wɔ wɔn ahotew so sen asɔfo no.
But there were not enough priests to remove the skins from the animals that would be completely burned [on the altar]. So their fellow descendants of Levi helped them until that work was finished, and until other priests had purified/consecrated themselves to do that work. It was necessary for them to do that because many of the priests had not yet performed the rituals to consecrate themselves for that work, like the descendants of Levi had done.
35 Na ɔhyew afɔre ne daa nsa afɔre no buu so. Saa ara nso na asomdwoe afɔre srade nso yɛɛ bebree. Enti wosiesiee Awurade Asɔredan no maa ɔsom no.
In addition to the all the offerings that were completely burned [on the altar], the priests also burned the fat of the other animals that were sacrificed to maintain good fellowship with Yahweh, and the usual wine offerings. So the worship at the temple began again.
36 Na Hesekia ne ɔmanfo no nyinaa gyee wɔn ani wɔ nea Onyankopɔn ayɛ ama nnipa no ho, efisɛ wowiee biribiara ntɛm.
And Hezekiah and all the other people of Judah celebrated, because God had enabled them to do all those things very quickly.
