Hesekiel 14

1 Israel mpanyimfo no mu bi baa me nkyɛn bɛtenatenaa mʼanim.

Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me.

2 Afei Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

3 “Onipa ba, saa mmarima yi de ahoni ahyɛ wɔn koma mu na wɔde amumɔyɛ hintidua asisi wɔn anim. Ɛsɛ sɛ mema wobisa mʼase koraa ana?

“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

4 Enti kasa kyerɛ wɔn na ka se, ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Sɛ Israelni biara de ahoni hyehyɛ ne koma mu na ɔde amumɔyɛ hintidua sisi nʼanim, na afei ɔkɔ odiyifo nkyɛn a, me Awurade, mɛma no mmuae a ɛfata nʼahonisom no kɛseyɛ.

Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him according to his great idolatry,

5 Mɛyɛ eyi de atwe Israelfo a wɔagyaw me akodi wɔn abosom akyi no koma aba bio.’

so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’

6 “Enti ka kyerɛ Israelfi se, ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Monsakra mo adwene. Mumfi mo ahoni ho na munnyae mo nneyɛe a ɛyɛ akyiwade no!

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.

7 “‘Sɛ Israelni bi anaa ɔnanani a ɔte Israel twe ne ho fi me nkyɛn na ɔde ahoni hyɛ ne koma mu de amumɔyɛ hintidua si nʼanim, na afei ɔkɔ odiyifo nkyɛn kobisa mʼase a, me, Awurade ankasa bebua no.

For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.

8 Metu mʼani asa onipa no na mede no ayɛ nhwɛso ne kasabebui. Meyi no afi me nkurɔfo mu. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade no.’

I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

9 “‘Na sɛ odiyifo no ma wɔdaadaa no ma ɔhyɛ nkɔm a, me Awurade na madaadaa odiyifo no, mɛteɛ me nsa wɔ ne so na matwa no afi me nkurɔfo Israelfo mu.

But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.

10 Wɔbɛsoa wɔn afɔdi; odiyifo no ne nea okohuu no no nyinaa bedi fɔ.

They will bear their punishment—the punishment of the inquirer will be the same as that of the prophet—

11 Na Israelfo renkwati me bio, na wɔremfa wɔn nnebɔne no ngu wɔn ho fi bio. Wɔbɛyɛ me nkurɔfo na mɛyɛ wɔn Nyankopɔn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”

in order that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me and no longer defile themselves with all their transgressions. Then they will be My people and I will be their God, declares the Lord GOD.’”

12 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

13 “Onipa ba, sɛ ɔman bi anni me nokware na enti wɔyɛ bɔne de tia me, na meteɛ me nsa wɔ wɔn so na migyae wɔn aduanma, na mema ɔkɔm ba bekunkum mu nnipa ne wɔn mmoa a,

“Son of man, if a land sins against Me by acting unfaithfully, and I stretch out My hand against it to cut off its supply of food, to send famine upon it, and to cut off from it both man and beast,

14 mpo sɛ saa nnipa baasa a wɔyɛ Noa, Daniel ne Hiob wɔ ɔman no mu a, wɔn trenee begye wɔn nko ara nkwa, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.

then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.

15 “Anaa sɛ mema wuram mmoa kɔ saa asase no so na wokunkum so nnipa nyinaa na asase no sɛe a obiara ntumi mfa so, esiane wuram mmoa no nti a,

Or if I send wild beasts through the land to leave it childless and desolate, with no man passing through it for fear of the beasts,

16 sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, mpo sɛ saa mmarima baasa yi wɔ asase no so a, wɔrentumi nnye wɔn ankasa mmabarima ne mmabea nkwa. Wɔn nko ara na wobegye wɔn nkwa na asase no bɛsɛe.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.

17 “Sɛ nso metwe afoa wɔ asase no so, na meka se, ‘Ma afoa no nkɔ asase no so nyinaa,’ na mikunkum so nnipa ne wɔn mmoa,

Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, ‘Let a sword pass through it,’ so that I cut off from it both man and beast,

18 sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, mpo sɛ saa mmarima baasa yi wɔ asase no so a, wɔrentumi nnye wɔn ankasa mmabarima ne mmabea nkwa. Wɔn nko ara na wobenya nkwa.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if these three men were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. They alone would be delivered.

19 “Sɛ nso mesoma ɔyaredɔm kɔ asase no so na menam mʼabufuwhyew so hwie mogya gu wɔ asase no so, kunkum so nnipa ne wɔn mmoa a,

Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,

20 sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, sɛ Noa, Daniel ne Hiob mpo wɔ hɔ a, wɔrentumi nnye ɔbabarima anaa ɔbabea nkwa. Wɔn trenee nti wobegye wɔn nkwa.

then as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, they could not deliver their own sons or daughters. Their righteousness could deliver only themselves.

21 “Na sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Ɛbɛyɛ hu mmoroso sɛ mɛma mʼatemmu huhuhuhu anan, a ɛyɛ afoa, ɔkɔm, wuram mmoa ne ɔyaredɔm akɔ Yerusalem so akokunkum ne mmarima ne wɔn mmoa!

For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem My four dire judgments—sword, famine, wild beasts, and plague—in order to cut off from it both man and beast?

22 Nanso ebinom bɛka, mmabarima ne mmabea a wobeyi wɔn afi mu no. Wɔbɛba mo nkyɛn na sɛ muhu wɔn su ne wɔn nneyɛe a, mo bo bɛtɔ mo yam wɔ amanehunu a me de aba Yerusalem so no ho, amanehunu a mede aba ne so biara.

Yet, behold, some survivors will be left in it—sons and daughters who will be brought out. They will come out to you, and when you see their conduct and actions, you will be comforted regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem—all that I have brought upon it.

23 Sɛ muhu wɔn su ne wɔn nneyɛe a mo bo bɛtɔ mo yam, efisɛ mubehu sɛ, menyɛɛ biribiara wɔ hɔ a enni farebae, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.”

They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”