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.

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2 Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

The LORD’s word 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 Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

4 “Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwade a wɔyɛɛ no si wɔn anim

“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations 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.”

Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, 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 swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

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.”

I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols 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 rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land 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 worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

10 Enti midii wɔn anim fii Misraim, de wɔn baa sare no so.

So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and 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.

I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will 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.

Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies 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.

“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on 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 worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight 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,

Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of 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 my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nanso mihuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ sare no so.

Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full 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.

I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

19 Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn; munni mʼahyɛde so na monhwɛ yiye nni me mmara so.

I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my 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.”

Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall 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 the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho ngu fi wɔ aman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

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,

Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through 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 had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Enti memaa wɔn ahyɛde a enye ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;

Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t 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.’

I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

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 tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass 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.

For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, 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.)

Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to 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 tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute 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.

When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!

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.

“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’

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.

As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.

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 peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.

35 Mede mo bɛba amanaman no sare so, na hɔ na mebu mo atɛn anim ne anim.

I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Sɛnea mibuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim sare so no, saa ara na mebu mo atɛn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD.

37 Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahu mo yiye na mede mo aba apam no nkyehama ase.

“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

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.

I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into Eretz-Israel. Then you will know that I am 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.

“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.

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 in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with 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 as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in 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.

You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into Eretz-Israel, into the country which I swore to give 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.

There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

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.’”

You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”

45 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

The LORD’s word 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 toward the south, and proclaim toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.

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.

Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.

48 Obiara behu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”

All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”

49 Afei mekae se, “Aa, Otumfo Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho se, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi ana?’”

Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”