2 Ahemfo 18

1 Ahas babarima Hesekia fii ase dii hene wɔ Yuda no, na Ela babarima Hosea adi hene wɔ Israel mfe abiɛsa.

In the third year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, reigned Ezechias the son of Achaz king of Juda.

2 Odii hene no na wadi mfirihyia aduonu anum, na odii hene wɔ Yerusalem mfirihyia aduonu akron. Na ne na yɛ Sakaria babea a wɔfrɛ no Abi.

He was five and twenty years old when he began to reign: and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem: the name of his mother was Abi the daughter of Zacharias.

3 Ɔyɛɛ nea ɛsɔ Awurade ani, sɛnea nʼagya Dawid yɛe pɛpɛɛpɛ.

And he did that which was good before the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

4 Otutuu abosonnan, bubuu afadum kronkron no, kaa Asera nnua no guu fam. Obubuu kɔbere mfrafrae ɔwɔ a Mose ayɛ no, efisɛ na nnipa no hyew nnuhuam ma no de som. Na wɔfrɛ ɔwɔ no a wɔde kɔbere mfrafrae ayɛ no Nehustan.

He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name Nohestan.

5 Hesekia de ne ho too Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn so. Nʼakyi ne nʼanim no, na ɔhene biara nni hɔ a ɔte sɛ ɔno wɔ Yuda asase so.

He trusted in the Lord the God of Israel: so that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Juda, nor any of them that were before him:

6 Biribiara mu, odii Awurade nokware, na ɔde ntoboase dii ahyɛde a Awurade de maa Mose no nyinaa so.

And he stuck to the Lord, and departed not from his steps, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses.

7 Ne saa nti, na Awurade ka ne ho, na Hesekia kɔɔ so wɔ biribiara a ɔyɛe mu. Ɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa Asiriahene, na wantua sonkahiri amma no.

Wherefore the Lord also was with him, and in all things, to which he went forth, he behaved himself wisely. And he rebelled against the king of the Assyrians, and served him not.

8 Afei, okodii Filistifo so nkonim, de kosii Gasa ne nʼahye so, fi ne nkuraa, de kosii wɔn kuropɔn a wɔato ɔfasu atwa ho no.

He smote the Philistines as far as Gaza, and all their borders, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

9 Hesekia ahenni no mfe anan so a na ɔhene Hosea nso wɔ nʼahenni wɔ Israel mfe ason mu no, Asiriahene Salmaneser kotuaa Israel ano, fii ase kaa Samaria kuropɔn hyɛe.

In the fourth year of king Ezechias, which was the seventh year of Osee the son of Ela king of Israel, Salmanasar king of the Assyrians came up to Samaria, and besieged it,

10 Mfe abiɛsa akyi a, na ɔhene Hesekia adi ade mfe asia a, na ɛyɛ ɔhene Hosea nso adedi wɔ Israel mfe akron mu no, Samaria bɔe.

And took it. For after three years, in the sixth year of Ezechias, that is, in the ninth year of Osee king of Israel, Samaria was taken:

11 Saa bere no, Asiriahene twaa Israelfo no asu kɔɔ Asiria, de wɔn hyehyɛɛ aman so wɔ Halah wɔ Asubɔnten Habor a ɛwɔ Gosan konkɔn so ne nkurow akɛse a ɛwɔ Media mu.

And the king of the Assyrians carried away Israel into Assyria, and placed them in Hale, and in Habor by the rivers of Gozan in the cities of the Medes:

12 Efisɛ wɔantie Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn no. Wobuu nʼapam no so, mmara a Awurade nam Mose so hyehyɛ maa wɔn no.

Because they hearkened not to the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant: all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, they would not hear nor do.

13 Ɔhene Hesekia adedi mfe dunan so, Asiriahene Sanaherib bɛtow hyɛɛ Yuda nkurow a na wɔabɔ ho ban no so, dii wɔn so nkonim.

In the fourteenth year of king Ezechias, Sennacherib king of the Assyrians came up against the fenced cities of Juda: and took them.

14 Na Hesekia de saa nkra yi kɔmaa Asiriahene wɔ Lakis se, “Mayɛ mfomso. Sɛ wubefi ha akɔ nko ara de a, sonkahiri biara a wubegye me no, metua.” Na Asiriahene bisaa mpata a ɛboro dwetɛ tɔn dubaako ne sikakɔkɔɔ nso bɛyɛ tɔn baako.

Then Ezechias king of Juda sent messengers to the king of the Assyrians to Lachis, saying: I have offended, depart from me: and all that thou shalt put upon me, I will bear. And the king of the Assyrians put a tax upon Ezechias king of Juda, of three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold.

15 Enti ɔhene Hesekia de dwetɛ a wɔakora no wɔ Awurade Asɔredan no mu ne nea ɛwɔ ahemfi adekorae hɔ nyinaa mae.

And Ezechias gave all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the king’s treasures.

16 Mpo, Hesekia waawae sikakɔkɔɔ a wɔde aduradura asɔredan no apon ho, de ne nyinaa maa Asiriahene.

At that time Ezechias broke the doors of the temple of the Lord, and the plates of gold which he had fastened on them, and gave them to the king of the Assyrians.

17 Eyinom nyinaa akyi no, Asiriahene somaa ne sahene, nʼasraafodɔmhene ne nʼananmusini fii Lakis ne asraafodɔm a wɔn mu yɛ duru, kɔɔ Hesekia so wɔ Yerusalem. Asiriafo no gyinaa nsukwan bi a ɛma atifi ɔtare nsu a ɛbɛn ɔkwan a ɛde kɔ faako a wɔpa ntama ani no ho.

And the king of the Assyrians sent Tharthan and Rabsaris, and Rabsaces from Lachis to king Ezechias with a strong army to Jerusalem: and they went up and came to Jerusalem, and they stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the way of the fuller’s field.

18 Wɔfrɛɛ Hesekia, nanso ɔsomaa ne mpanyimfo yi sɛ wonkohyia wɔn: Hilkia babarima Eliakim a ɔhwɛ ahemfi hɔ so, ɔkyerɛwfo Sebna ne Asaf babarima Yoa a ɔyɛ ahemfi abakɔsɛm kyerɛwfo.

And they called for the king: and there went out to them Eliacim the son of Helcias who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder.

19 Na ɔsahene no ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Monka nkyerɛ Hesekia se, “‘Asɛm a otumfo, Asiriahene ka ni: Dɛn na wode wo ho to so a ɛma wugye wo ho di saa?

And Rabsaces said to them: Speak to Ezechias: Thus saith the great king, the king of the Assyrians: What is this confidence, wherein thou trustest?

20 Woka se wowɔ akodi ho nyansa ne nʼahoɔden, nanso woka nsɛm hunu. Hena na ɔtaa wʼakyi a enti wotew mʼanim atua?

Perhaps thou hast taken counsel, to prepare thyself for battle. On whom dost thou trust, that thou darest to rebel?

21 Hwɛ wʼani da Misraim so, demmire a emu abu a ɛte sɛ pema a wutweri a ɛbɛwɔ wo nsa mu apira wo no! Saa na Misraimhene Farao te ma wɔn a wɔde wɔn ho to ne so no nyinaa.

Dost thou trust in Egypt a staff of a broken reed, upon which if a man lean, it will break and go into his hand, and pierce it? so is Pharao king of Egypt, to all that trust in him.

22 Ebia wobɛka se, “Yɛde yɛn ho to Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn so!” Ɛnyɛ ɔno na ɔhene Hesekia atutu nʼabosonnan ne afɔremuka nyinaa, ahyɛ Yudafo sɛ wɔnsom wɔ afɔremuka a ɛwɔ Yerusalem ha nko ara so no?

But if you say to me: We trust in the Lord our God: is it not he, whose high places and altars Ezechias hath taken away: and hath commanded Juda and Jerusalem: You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?

23 “‘Mɛka asɛm bi akyerɛ wo! Me wura Asiriahene ne wo bɛyɛ nhyehyɛe bi. Sɛ wubenya apɔnkɔsotefo mpenu, afi wo asraafo mu a, ɔbɛma wɔn apɔnkɔ mpenu ama wɔatenatena wɔn so.

Now therefore come over to my master the king of the Assyrians, and I will give you two thousand horses, and see whether you be able to have riders for them.

24 Na wʼasraafo ketewa sɛɛ yi, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woaso dae, sɛ wubetumi ne me wura asraafo no mu fa bi a wɔyɛ mmerɛw no mpo adi asi. Minim sɛ wode wo ho ato Misraim nteaseɛnam ne apɔnkɔsotefo mmoa so.

And how can you stand against one lord of the least of my master’s servants? Dost thou trust in Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?

25 Bio, wugye di sɛ, maba sɛ merebɛtow ahyɛ asase yi so asɛe no kwa a Awurade nsa nni mu? Awurade ankasa ka kyerɛɛ me se menkɔko ntia saa asase yi na mensɛe no.’”

Is it without the will of the Lord that I am come up to this place to destroy it? The Lord said to me: Go up to this land and destroy it.

26 Afei, Hilkia babarima Eliakim ne Sebna ne Yoa ka kyerɛɛ ɔhene no ananmusini no se, “Kasa wɔ Arameike mu kyerɛ yɛn, na saa kasa no na yɛte ase yiye. Nka Hebri nkyerɛ yɛn, efisɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ fasu no so no bɛte.”

Then Eliacim the son of Helcias, and Sobna, and Joahe said to Rabsaces: We pray thee speak to us thy servants in Syriac: for we understand that tongue: and speak not to us in the Jews’ language, in the hearing of the people that are upon the wall.

27 Na Senaherib nanmusini no buae se, “Me wura pɛ sɛ obiara a ɔwɔ Yerusalem te saa asɛm yi, na ɛnyɛ mo nko. Ɔpɛ sɛ wɔte sɛ, sɛ moamma mo nsa so a, wobetua kuropɔn yi. Ɔkɔm ne osukɔm werɛmfo bɛde nkurɔfo no ara kosi sɛ, wobedi wɔn ara agyanan, anom wɔn dwonsɔ.”

And Rabsaces answered them, saying: Hath my master sent me to thy master and to thee, to speak these words, and not rather to the men that sit upon the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their urine with you?

28 Afei, ɔsɔre gyinae, maa ne nne so kasaa wɔ Hebri mu, kyerɛɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ ɔfasu no so se, “Muntie nkra a efi Asiria ɔhene kɛse no nkyɛn!

Then Rabsaces stood, and cried out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said: Hear the words of the great king, the king of the Assyrians.

29 Sɛnea ɔhene se ni: Mommma ɔhene Hesekia nnaadaa mo. Ɔrentumi nnye mo mfi me tumi ase.

Thus saith the king: Let not Ezechias deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of my hand.

30 Mommma Hesekia mfa saa asɛm a ɔkae se, ‘Awurade begye yɛn! Wɔremfa saa kurow yi mma Asiriahene’ no mma mo tirim nyɛ mo dɛ.

Neither let him make you trust in the Lord, saying: The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be given into the hand of the king of the Assyrians.

31 “Munntie Hesekia. Nea Asiriahene ka ni: Mo ne me nyɛ asomdwoe nhyehyɛe na mommra me nkyɛn. Na afei, mɛma mo mu biara adi ɔno ankasa bobe ne borɔdɔma na woanom nsu afi ɔno ankasa abura mu.

Do not hearken to Ezechias. For thus saith the king of the Assyrians: Do with me that which is for your advantage, and come out to me: and every man of you shall eat of his own vineyard, and of his own fig tree: and you shall drink water of your own cisterns,

32 Na mɛyɛ nhyehyɛe de mo akɔ asase foforo bi a ɛte sɛ eyi so. Ɛyɛ ɔman a atoko, nsa, brodo, bobe nturo, ngonnua ne ɛwo abu so hɔ. Ɛyɛ asase a nneɛma pa abu so hɔ. Mompere nkwa, na munyi owu akwa! “Mommma Hesekia nnaadaa mo nka se, ‘Awurade begye yɛn!’

Till I come, and take you away to a land, like to your own land, a fruitful land, and plentiful in wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olives, and oil and honey, and you shall live, and not die. Hearken not to Ezechias, who deceiveth you, saying: The Lord will deliver us.

33 Anyame a wɔwɔ aman so no atumi agye wɔn nkurɔfo afi Asiriahene nsam da?

Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their land from the hand of the king of Assyria?

34 Asɛm bɛn na ɛtoo Hamat ne Arpad anyame no? Na Sefarwaim, Hena ne Iwa anyame nso, wɔwɔ he? Wotumi gyee Samaria fii me tumi ase ana?

Where is the god of Emath, and of Arphad? where is the god of Sepharvaim, of Ana, and of Ava? have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?

35 Ɔman bɛn so anyame na watumi agye ne nkurɔfo afi me tumi ase? Mommɔ baako pɛ din. Na afei, dɛn na ɛma mo dwene sɛ Awurade betumi agye Yerusalem?”

Who are they among all the gods of the nations, that have delivered their country out of my hand, that the Lord may deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?

36 Na nnipa no yɛɛ komm a wɔamma mmuae biara, efisɛ na Hesekia aka akyerɛ wɔn se wɔnnkasa.

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for they had received commandment from the king that they should not answer him.

37 Afei Hilkia babarima Eliakim a na ɔhwɛ ahemfi no ntotoe so, Sebna a na ɔyɛ ɔkyerɛwfo ne Asaf babarima Yoa a ɔno nso yɛ ɔkyerɛwfo kɔɔ Hesekia nkyɛn a wɔasunsuane wɔn ntade mu, kɔkaa nea ɔsahene no aka akyerɛ no no.

And Eliacim the son of Helcias, who was over the house, and Sobna the scribe, and Joahe the son of Asaph the recorder, came to Ezechias, with their garments rent, and told him the words of Rabsaces.