Hesekiel 20
1 Afe a ɛto so ason no, ɔsram anum no da a ɛto so du no, Israel mpanyimfo no mu bi bebisaa Awurade hɔ ade, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.
And it came to pass in the seventh year, on the fifteenth day of the month, there came men of the elders of the house of Israel to enquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.
2 Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
3 “Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanyimfo no se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Moaba sɛ morebebisa me nkyɛn ade ana? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo kwan ma mummisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfo Awurade na ose.’
Son of man, speak to the elders of the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; Are you come to enquire of me? [As] I live, I will not be enquired of by you, says the Lord.
4 “Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwade a wɔyɛɛ no si wɔn anim
Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
5 na ka kyerɛ wɔn se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Da a miyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakobfi asefo, na miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”
and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord; From the day that I chose the house of Israel, and became known to the seed of the house of Jacob, and was known to them in the land of Egypt, and helped them with my hand, saying, I am the Lord your God;
6 Saa da no, mekaa wɔn ntam se meyi wɔn afi Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu nea ɛyɛ papa pa ara no.
in that day I helped them with my hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is abundant beyond every land.
7 Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo mu biara ntow nsɛsode tantan a mode mo ani asi so no nkyene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”
And I said to them, Let every one cast away the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the devices of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
8 “‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantotow nsɛsode tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi so no angu na wɔannyae ahoni a efi Misraim no akyidi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.
But they revolted from me, and would not listen to me: they cast not away the abominations of their eyes, and forsook not the devices of Egypt: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my wrath upon them in the midst of Egypt.
9 Nanso me din nti meyɛɛ nea ɛremma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfo wɔ mu, de yii wɔn fii Misraim no.
But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they are, amongst whom I was made known to them in their sight, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
10 Enti midii wɔn anim fii Misraim, de wɔn baa sare no so.
And I brought them into the wilderness.
11 Mede me nhyehyɛe maa wɔn na mema wohuu me mmara, efisɛ obiara a odi so no nam so benya nkwa.
And I gave them my commandments, and made known to them mine ordinances, all which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them.
12 Na mede me homenna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛnea wobehu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron no.
And I gave them my sabbaths, that they should be for a sign between me and them, that they should know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
13 “‘Nanso Israelfo tew mʼanim atua wɔ sare no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛe so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a obedi so no benya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na woguu me homenna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ sare no so.
And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk you in my commandments: but they walked not [in them], and they rejected mine ordinances, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them; and they grievously profaned my sabbaths: and I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
14 Nanso me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho kwan ma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.
But I wrought [so] that my name should not be at all profaned before the Gentiles, before whose eyes I brought them out.
15 Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nnkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, nsase nyinaa mu nea eye pa ara no,
But I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness once for all, that I would not bring them into the land which I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is sweeter than all lands:
16 efisɛ wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛde so na woguu me homenna ho fi, esiane sɛ na wɔn koma da wɔn ahoni no so nti.
because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my commandments, but profaned my sabbaths, and went after the imaginations of their hearts.
17 Nanso mihuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ sare no so.
Yet mine eyes spared them, so as [not] to destroy them utterly, and I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
18 Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ sare no so se, “Munnni mo agyanom ahyɛde ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.
And I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk not you in the customs of your fathers, and keep not their ordinances, and have no fellowship with their practices, nor defile yourselves [with them].
19 Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn; munni mʼahyɛde so na monhwɛ yiye nni me mmara so.
I [am] the Lord your God; walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
20 Monyɛ me homenna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no.”
and hallow my sabbaths, and let them be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God.
21 “‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛde so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so; nea onipa di so a obenya nkwa no, woguu me homenna ho fi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw a etia wɔn wɔ sare no so no.
But they provoked me, and their children walked not in my commandments, and they took no heed to mine ordinances to do them, which [if] a man shall do, he shall even live in them, and they profaned my sabbaths: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish mine anger upon them.
22 Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho ngu fi wɔ aman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.
But I wrought so that my name might not be at all profaned before the Gentiles; and I brought them out in their sight.
23 Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so se mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,
I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them amongst the Gentiles, [and] disperse them in the countries;
24 efisɛ wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛde guu me homenna ho fi, na wɔn ani kodii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.
because they kept not mine ordinances, and rejected my commandments, and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes went after the imaginations of their fathers.
25 Enti memaa wɔn ahyɛde a enye ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;
So I gave them commandments [that were] not good, and ordinances in which they should not live.
26 memaa ho kwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔre de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛnea mede ahodwiriw bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahu sɛ mene Awurade.’
And I will defile them by their [own] decrees, when I pass through upon every one that opens the womb, that I may destroy them.
27 “Enti onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfo, ka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Nea Otumfo Awurade se ni: Na eyi mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:
Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: Hitherto have your fathers provoked me in their trespasses in which they transgressed against me.
28 Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔre, yɛɛ afɔrebɔde maa koko biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhaban de hyɛɛ me abufuw; wɔde nnuhuam mae, na wohwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.
Whereas I brought them into the land concerning which I lifted up mine hand to give it them; and they looked upon every high hill, and every shady tree, and they sacrificed there to their gods, and offered there sweet smelling savour, and there they poured out their drink-offerings.
29 Na mibisaa wɔn se: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de besi nnɛ.)
And I said to them, What is Abama, that you go in there? and they called its name Abama, until this day.
30 “Enti ka kyerɛ Israelfi se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mubegu mo ho fi sɛnea mo agyanom yɛe, na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni atantan no ana?
Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord, Do you pollute yourselves with the iniquities of your fathers, and do you go a-whoring after their abominations,
31 Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ mo mmabarima bɔ afɔre wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, na mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi besi nnɛ. Memma mommebisa me hɔ ade ana, Israelfi? Ampa ara sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, meremma mummmisa me hɔ ade.
and [do you pollute yourselves] with the first fruits of your gifts, in the offerings wherewith you pollute yourselves in all your imaginations, until this day; and shall I answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, says the Lord, I will not answer you, neither shall this thing come upon your spirit.
32 “‘Moka se, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ wiasefo a wɔsom nnua ne abo no.” Nanso nea ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.
And it shall not be as you say, We will be as the nations, and as the tribes of the earth, to worship stocks and stones.
33 Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, Mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu bedi mo so.
Therefore, [as] I live, says the Lord, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath:
34 Mede mo befi amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afi nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no so; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.
I will bring you out from the nations, and will take you out of the lands wherein you were dispersed, with a strong hand, and with a high arm, and with outpoured wrath.
35 Mede mo bɛba amanaman no sare so, na hɔ na mebu mo atɛn anim ne anim.
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and will plead with you there face to face.
36 Sɛnea mibuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim sare so no, saa ara na mebu mo atɛn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.
As I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I judge you, says the Lord.
37 Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahu mo yiye na mede mo aba apam no nkyehama ase.
And I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will bring you in by number.
38 Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ meyi wɔn afi aman a wɔte so no mu, nanso wɔn anan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade no.
And I will separate from amongst you the ungodly and the revolters; for I will lead them forth out of their place of sojourning, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord, [even] the Lord.
39 “‘Na mo de, Israelfi, sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso akyiri no, mubetie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛde ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.
And [as to] you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Put away each one his [evil] practices, and hereafter if you listen to me, then shall you no more profane my holy name by your gifts and by devices.
40 Efisɛ me bepɔw kronkron no so, Israel bepɔw a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfo Awurade na ose, hɔ wɔ asase no so na Israelfi nyinaa bɛsom me, na hɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mehia mo afɔrebɔde ne mo ayɛyɛde a edi mu no, aka mo afɔre kronkron no nyinaa ho.
For upon my holy mountain, on the high mountain, says the Lord, [even] the Lord, there shall all the house of Israel serve me for ever: and there will I accept [you], and there will I have respect to your first fruits, and the first fruits of your offerings, in all your holy things.
41 Sɛ miyi mo fi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano fi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no so a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ kurobow a eyi hua, afei mɛda me kronkronyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahu.
I will accept you with a sweet smelling savour, when I bring you out from the nations, and take you out of the countries wherein you have been dispersed; and I will be sanctified amongst you in the sight of the nations.
42 Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom no so a, na mubehu sɛ mene Awurade.
And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have brought you into the land of Israel, into the land concerning which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.
43 Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛe nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwini esiane amumɔyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa nti.
And you shall there remember your ways, and your devices wherewith you defiled yourselves; and you shall bewail yourselves for all your wickedness.
44 Mubehu sɛ mene AWURADE no, bere a me ne mo di no sɛnea me din te na mmom ɛnyɛ sɛnea mo akwammɔne ne mo porɔwee nneyɛe no te, mo Israelfo, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”
And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have done thus to you, that my name may not be profaned in your evil ways, and in your corrupt devices, says the Lord.
45 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:
And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
46 “Onipa ba fa wʼani kyerɛ anafo fam, ka asɛm tia anafo fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwae a ɛwɔ anafo fam asase so.
Son of man, set your face against Thaeman, and look towards Darom, and prophesy against the chief forest of Nageb,
47 Ka kyerɛ anafo fam kwae no se: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Merebɛto wo mu gya, na ɛbɛhyew nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Nea ɛyɛ amono ne nea awo. Wɔrennum ogyaframa no na ɛbɛhyew asase no ani nyinaa; efi anafo fam kosi atifi fam.
and you shall say to the forest of Nageb, Hear the word of the Lord; thus says the Lord, [even] the Lord; Behold, I [will] kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour in you every green tree, and every dry tree: the flame that is kindled shall not be quenched, and every face shall be scorched with it from the south to the north.
48 Obiara behu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”
And all flesh shall know that I the Lord have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.
49 Afei mekae se, “Aa, Otumfo Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho se, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi ana?’”
And I said, Not so, O Lord God! they say to me, Is not this that is spoken a parable?
