< Habakuk 2 >

1 Megyina mʼahwɛe na mawɛn. Mɛbɔ nsra na mahwɛ nea ɔbɛka akyerɛ me, ne mʼanoyi a mede bɛma nkurobɔ yi.
I will stand firm during my watch, and fix my position over the fortification. And I will observe carefully, to see what might be said to me and what I might respond to my opponent.
2 Afei, Awurade buae se, “Kyerɛw adiyi yi wɔ ɔbopon so ma mu nna hɔ pefee na ama ɔkenkanfo ate ase.
And the Lord responded to me and said: Write the vision and explain it on tablets, so that he who reads it may run through it.
3 Adiyisɛm no retwɛn nkrabea bi; ɛka awiei ho asɛm na ɛbɛba mu. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɛrekyɛ de, nanso twɛn, ɛrenkyɛ, ɛbɛba mu.
For as yet the vision is far off, and it will appear in the end, and it will not lie. If it expresses any delay, wait for it. For it is arriving and it will arrive, and it will not be hindered.
4 “Hwɛ, ɔtamfo no ama ne ho so; nʼapɛde nteɛ, nanso ɔtreneeni fi gyidi mu benya nkwa.
Behold, he who is unbelieving, his soul will not be right within himself; but he who is just shall live in his faith.
5 Nokware, nsa yi no ma wayɛ ahantan na onni ahotɔ. Esiane sɛ ɔyɛ adifudepɛ sɛ ɔda na ɔte sɛ owu a hwee mmee no nti ɔfom aman no nyinaa na ɔfa nnipa no nyinaa nnommum. (Sheol h7585)
And in the manner that wine deceives the heavy drinker, so will the arrogant man be deceived, and he will not be honored. He has enlarged his life like hellfire, and himself like death, and he is never fulfilled. And he will gather to himself all nations, and he will amass for himself all peoples. (Sheol h7585)
6 “Nnommumfo yi nyinaa bedi ne ho fɛw aserew no aka se, “‘Nnome nka nea ɔboaboa akorɔnne ano, na ɔnam apoobɔ so nya ne ho! Eyi nkɔ so nkosi da bɛn?’
Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and an enigmatic utterance about him? And it will be said, “Woe to him who increases what is not his own.” How long, then, will he lay down dense clay against himself?
7 So wɔn a wode wɔn ka no rensɔre mpofirim ana? Wɔbɛsɔre ama wo ho apopo, na wobetwiw afa wo so.
Shall they not suddenly rise up, who would bite you, and be stirred up, who would tear you, so that you will be a prey for them?
8 Esiane sɛ woafow aman bebree nti, wɔn a wɔaka no bɛfow wo bi. Efisɛ woahwie nnipa mogya agu; woasɛe nsase, nkuropɔn ne wɔn a wɔtete mu.
Because you have despoiled many peoples, all those who are left of the people shall despoil you, because of the blood of men, and the iniquity of the earth, of the city and all who dwell therein.
9 “Nnome nka nea ɔde akorɔnne kyekyere ne man, a ɔyɛ ne berebuw wɔ sorɔnsorɔmmea, sɛnea obeyi ne ho afi ɔsɛe mu.
Woe to him who gathers together an evil greed for his house, so that his nest may be exalted, and thinking that he might free himself from the hand of evil.
10 Woatu nnipa bebree sɛe ho agyina, de agu wankasa fi anim ase, de wo nkwa atwa so.
You have devised confusion for your house, you have cut to pieces many peoples, and your soul has sinned.
11 Abo a ɛhyehyɛ afi afasu mu no bɛteɛ mu, na ebegyigye wɔ mpuran a wɔahyehyɛ no mu.
For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the wood that is between the joints of the building will respond.
12 “Nnome nka nea ɔnam mogyahwiegu so kyekyere kuropɔn na ɔnam awudi so kyekyere kurow.
Woe to him who builds a town with blood and prepares a city by iniquity.
13 Asafo Awurade ahyɛ sɛ, nnipa no adwumayɛ bɛyɛ ogya a wɔhyew. Aman no brɛ gu kwa.
Are not these things before the Lord of hosts? For the people will labor amid a great fire, and the nations will labor in emptiness, and they will fail.
14 Na Awurade anuonyam ho nimdeɛ bɛhyɛ asase nyinaa ma, sɛnea nsu hyɛ po ma no.
For the earth shall be filled, that they might know the glory of the Lord, like the waters spreading over the sea.
15 “Due! Wo a woma wo mfɛfo nsa, Wuhwie ma wɔnom kosi sɛ wɔbɛbow, na afei woahwɛ wɔn adagyaw.
Woe to anyone who gives a drink to a friend, releasing a drug and inebriating, so as to look upon their nakedness.
16 Worennya anuonyam biara, wʼani bewu. Afei adu wo so! Nom na wʼadagyaw mu nna hɔ. Kuruwa a efi Awurade nsa nifa reba wo so, na aniwu bɛkata wʼanuonyam so.
You are filled with disgrace in place of glory. So then, drink and fall fast asleep, for the cup of the right hand of the Lord will surround you, and a disgraceful vomit will cover your glory.
17 Awurukasɛm a wode adi Lebanon no bɛmene wo, ɔsɛe a wosɛe mmoa nso bɛbɔ wo hu. Woaka nnipa mogya agu; woasɛe nsase, nkuropɔn ne nnipa a wɔwɔ mu.
For the iniquity of Lebanon will cover you, and the devastation of animals which will deter them from the blood of men, and the iniquity of the earth and the city, and of all who dwell therein.
18 “Mfaso bɛn na munya fi ahoni a nipa ayɛ mu? Anaa nsɛsode a ɛkyerɛkyerɛ atoro? Nea ɔyɛ ohoni no de ne ho to ɔno ankasa nsa ano adwuma so; na ɔyɛ anyame a wontumi nkasa.
Of what benefit is the graven image? For its maker has formed it, a molten and imaginary deception. For its maker has hoped in a figment of his own creation, so as to make a dumb likeness.
19 Nnome nka nea ɔka kyerɛ dua se, ‘Nya nkwa!’ Anaa ɔka kyerɛ ɔbo a enni nkwa se, ‘Nyan!’ Ebetumi ama akwankyerɛ? Wɔde sika kɔkɔɔ ne dwetɛ adura ho; nanso ɔhome nni mu.”
Woe to him who says to wood, “Awaken,” to the silent stone, “Arise.” Is it able to teach? Behold, it has been entirely covered with gold and silver; and there is no spirit at all in its inner workings.
20 Nanso Awurade wɔ nʼasɔrefi kronkron mu. Momma asase nyinaa nyɛ komm wɔ nʼanim.
But the Lord is in his holy temple. May all the earth be silent before his face.

< Habakuk 2 >