Hesekiel 34

1 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:

Yahweh gave me another message. He said,

2 “Onipa ba, hyɛ nkɔm tia Israel nguanhwɛfo: hyɛ nkɔm na ka kyerɛ wɔn se: Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Nnome nka Israel nguanhwɛfo a wɔhwɛ wɔn ankasa nko ara so. Ɛnsɛ sɛ nguanhwɛfo hwɛ nguankuw no ana?

“You human, prophesy about [leaders] of Israel. [They should be taking care of my people like] [MET] shepherds [take care of their sheep]. Say to them, ‘This is what Yahweh the Lord says: Terrible things will happen to you leaders [MET] of Israel who only take care of yourselves! You should certainly [RHQ] take care of [your people like] [MET] a shepherd takes care of his flock of sheep!

3 Monom nufusu, mode mmoa no ho nwi fura mo ho na mukum mmoa a wɔadodɔ nanso monhwɛ nguankuw no.

[It is as though] you eat the curds, you slaughter the very good animals and wear clothes made from their wool. But you do not take care of the flock.

4 Monhyɛɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ mmerɛw no den, nsaa ayarefo yare na monkyekyeree apirafo akuru. Momfaa wɔn a wɔabɔ ko mmae, na monhwehwɛɛ wɔn a wɔayera. Mode ɔhyɛ ne atirimɔden na ahwɛ wɔn so.

You have not enabled those who are weak to become strong. You have not healed those who were sick. You have not bandaged those who were wounded/injured. You have not brought back those who went astray. You have not searched for those who became lost. You have ruled your people harshly and cruelly.

5 Ɛno nti wɔbɔ ahwete, efisɛ wonni ɔhwɛfo bi, na wɔbɔ ahwete no, wɔbɛyɛɛ hanam maa wuram mmoa nyinaa.

So they were scattered, because you did not [take care of them like] [MET] a shepherd [takes care of his sheep]. And when they were scattered, [it was as though] wild animals attacked and [killed them and ate] their flesh.

6 Me nguan kyinkyin mmepɔw ne nkoko nyinaa so. Wɔbɔɔ wɔn petee asase so baabiara, na obiara anhwehwɛ wɔn.

My people wandered like sheep all over the high hills and mountains. They were scattered all over the earth, and no one searched for them [DOU].

7 “Enti, mo nguanhwɛfo, muntie Awurade asɛm:

Therefore, you [who should be acting like] shepherds, listen to what I, Yahweh the Lord say:

8 Nokware, sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, esiane sɛ me nguankuw nni ɔhwɛfo nti wɔawiawia wɔn na wɔayɛ hanam ama wuram mmoa, na esiane sɛ nguanhwɛfo no anhwehwɛ me nguan no na mmom wɔhwɛɛ wɔn ankasa ho na wɔtoo me nguan no asaworam

As surely as I am alive, my people [are like a flock of sheep that has] no shepherd, and as a result [it is as though] wild animals have attacked my people and eaten them. You did not search for them; instead, you only wanted to provide food for yourselves.

9 nti, nguanhwɛfo, muntie Awurade asɛm:

Therefore, you [who should be like] [MET] shepherds, listen to what I, Yahweh say:

10 Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Me ne nguanhwɛfo no anya na mɛma wɔabu me nguankuw no ho akontaa. Meremma wɔnhwɛ nguankuw no bio sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wɔrenkum nguan no nnwe; megye me nguankuw afi wɔn anom na wɔrenyɛ wɔn aduan bio.

I am opposed to [you leaders who should be like] [MET] shepherds for my people. I will remove you from taking care of my people, with the result that you will no longer feed yourselves [instead of feeding them]. I will rescue my people from you, with the result that you will longer be able to [butcher them and] eat them.

11 “‘Na sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Me ara mɛhwehwɛ me nguan na mahwɛ wɔn so.

This is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you leaders: I myself will search for my sheep and take care of them.

12 Sɛnea oguanhwɛfo hwɛ ne nguan a wɔahwete bere a ɔwɔ wɔn nkyɛn no, saa ara na mɛhwɛ me nguan so. Meyi wɔn afi mmeae a wɔhwete kɔɔ wɔ omununkum ne sum kabii da no.

Like a shepherd finds his scattered sheep, I will rescue my people from all the places to which they have been scattered, at a time when things were very gloomy and they experienced disasters.

13 Mede wɔn befi amanaman so aba na maboaboa wɔn ano afi nsase so na mede wɔn aba wɔn ankasa asase so. Mɛma wɔadidi wɔ Israel mmepɔw so, subon ne asase no so atenae nyinaa.

I will bring them back from many countries and gather them together again in their own land. [Because my people are like sheep] [MET], [it is as though] I will enable them to find good pastureland on the hills of Israel, and in the ravines, and in the villages of Israel.

14 Mehwɛ wɔn so wɔ adidibea papa, na Israel mmepɔw atenten so bɛyɛ wɔn adidibea. Ɛhɔ na wɔbɛdeda adidibea asase papa so, na hɔ na wɔbɛwe sare frɔmfrɔm wɔ Israel mmepɔw so.

[It is as though] I will allow them to graze in good pastures on the mountaintops. They will lie down in good (grazing areas/grassy fields) there [DOU].

15 Me ara mɛhwɛ me nguan na mama wɔadeda hɔ. Awurade asɛm ni.

I myself will take care of my people and enable them to lie down and rest.

16 Mɛhwehwɛ nea wayera na mede nea wabɔ ko asan aba. Mɛkyekyere nea wapira no akuru, na mahyɛ nea ɔyɛ mmerɛw no den, nanso nea wadɔ ne nea ne ho yɛ den no, mɛsɛe wɔn. Mede trenee bɛhwɛ nguankuw no.

I will search for those who are lost and bring back the ones who have strayed away. I will bandage those who have been injured and strengthen those who are weak. But I will get rid of those who are fat and powerful. I will act fairly toward [the people who are like] [MET] my sheep. That is what I, Yahweh, promise.

17 “‘Na mo, me nguankuw, sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mebu oguan baako ne ɔfoforo ntam atɛn ne mpapo ne adwennini ntam.

And as for you who are like [MET] my sheep, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say: I will judge between each of you; and I will separate [those that are peaceful like] sheep from [those that are always trying to dominate others like] goats.

18 Adidibea papa a mudidi so no, ɛyɛ ade ketewa ma mo ana? Ɛsɛ sɛ mode mo anan tiatia mo adidibea a aka no nso so ana? Ɛnsɔ mo ani sɛ monom nsu a ani yɛ kurunnyenn ana? Ɛsɛ sɛ mode mo anan fono nkae no ana?

It is bad that [RHQ] some of you keep the best pastures for yourselves. It is even worse that [RHQ] you trample the good grass with your feet. You yourselves drink the clear water [RHQ]. But with your feet you cause the other water to become muddy [RHQ].

19 Ɛsɛ sɛ me nguankuw di nea moatiatia so na wɔnom nea mode mo anan afon ana?

[It is as though] you [RHQ] are forcing my flock to eat the grass that you have trampled and to drink the water that you have caused to become muddy!

20 “‘Ɛno nti sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade ka kyerɛ wɔn: Monhwɛ, me ara mebu nguan a wɔadodɔ ne nguan a wɔafonfɔn ntam atɛn.

Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh the Lord, say to you: I myself will judge between [those of you who are like] [MET] the fat sheep and [those of you who are like] the thin sheep.

21 Esiane sɛ, mode mo nkyɛn mu ne mmati puapua nguan a wonni ahoɔden na mode mo mmɛn pempem wɔn kosi sɛ mobɛpam wɔn akɔ akyirikyiri nti,

[who are like] strong sheep, [it is as though] with your shoulders and buttocks you have shoved away [those who are like] thin sheep, and you have butted them with your horns, until you have chased them all away [from the good pastureland].

22 megye me nguankuw na wɔremfom wɔn bio. Mebu oguan baako ne ɔfoforo ntam atɛn.

But I will rescue my people, and they no longer will be (harassed/treated cruelly). I will judge between one person and another.

23 Mɛma oguanhwɛfo baako, me somfo Dawid, ahwɛ wɔn so, na ɔbɛyɛn wɔn na wayɛ wɔn hwɛfo.

And I will appoint one leader [MET] for them, [someone who will be like] King David, who served me [very well]. That leader will take care of them and be like their shepherd.

24 Na me, Awurade, mɛyɛ wɔn Nyankopɔn na me somfo Dawid ayɛ wɔn mu obirɛmpɔn. Me Awurade na maka.

I, Yahweh, will be their God, and [the one who is like] [MET] King David will be their king. [That will surely happen because] I, Yahweh, have said it.

25 “‘Me ne wɔn bɛyɛ asomdwoe apam na matɔre nkekaboa ase wɔ asase no so sɛnea wobetumi atena sare so na wɔadeda kwae mu asomdwoe mu.

I will make a peace agreement with the people of Israel. In this agreement I will promise to get rid of all the wild animals in Israel, in order that my people may live safely, even in the desert and in the forests.

26 Mehyira wɔn ne mmeae a atwa me pampa ho ahyia. Mɛtɔ obosu wɔ ne bere mu, na ɛbɛyɛ nhyira bosu.

I will bless them, and I will bless the places close to my sacred hill. I will bless them by sending them rain showers at the right season; they will be showers to bless them.

27 Mfuw so nnua bɛsow wɔn aba na asase no nso abɔ nʼaduan. Nnipa no bɛtena wɔn asase so dwoodwoo. Mibubu wɔn konnua na migye wɔn fi wɔn a wɔde wɔn yɛɛ nkoa nsam a wobehu sɛ mene Awurade no.

The fruit trees will produce fruit and the ground will produce crops. And my people will live safely in their land. When I rescue them from people who caused them to be slaves [MET, DOU], they will know that I, Yahweh, [have the power to do what I say that I will do].

28 Amanaman no remfow wɔn bio, na wuram mmoa nso renkyere wɔn nnwe. Wɔbɛtena asomdwoe mu na obiara renhunahuna wɔn.

[Soldiers from] other nations will no longer take away their valuable possessions, and wild animals will no longer attack them. They will live safely, and no one will cause them to be afraid.

29 Na mɛma wɔn asase a ɛsow nnɔbae ama agye din, na aduankɔm renne wɔn wɔ asase no so na wɔrenyɛ ahohora mma amanaman no.

I will cause their land to be famous/well-known for its good crops. There will no longer be famines in the land, and people in other nations will no longer ridicule them.

30 Afei wobehu sɛ me Awurade, wɔn Nyankopɔn ne wɔn wɔ hɔ, na wɔn, Israelfi, yɛ me nkurɔfo; Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.

Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am helping them, and they will know that they, the Israeli people, are my people.

31 Mo, me nguan, mʼadidibea nguan yɛ me nkurɔfo, na mene mo Nyankopɔn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”

[It will be as though] [MET] my people are my sheep whom I will take care of, and I will be their God. That is what I, Yahweh the Lord, declare.’”