Habakuk 2
1 Megyina mʼahwɛe na mawɛn. Mɛbɔ nsra na mahwɛ nea ɔbɛka akyerɛ me, ne mʼanoyi a mede bɛma nkurobɔ yi.
I will take my stand on my watch-tower, and station myself on a turret. I will watch to see what the Lord will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaint.
2 Afei, Awurade buae se, “Kyerɛw adiyi yi wɔ ɔbopon so ma mu nna hɔ pefee na ama ɔkenkanfo ate ase.
Then the Lord answered me and said: Inscribe the vision plainly on tablets, so that even someone running by could read it.
3 Adiyisɛm no retwɛn nkrabea bi; ɛka awiei ho asɛm na ɛbɛba mu. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ ɛrekyɛ de, nanso twɛn, ɛrenkyɛ, ɛbɛba mu.
Though the vision waits for the time set, it hastens to fulfilment and will not fail; Though it linger long, wait for it. For it surely will come and will not be delayed.
4 “Hwɛ, ɔtamfo no ama ne ho so; nʼapɛde nteɛ, nanso ɔtreneeni fi gyidi mu benya nkwa.
The strength of the proud fails, but the upright lives by their faithfulness.
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)
Wealth is treacherous, the arrogant never have enough. They make their desire as wide as Sheol, are like death, unsatisfied, For they gather to themselves all the nations, bring together to themselves 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?’
Shouldn’t everyone mock them? sing a taunt-song against them, and say: Woe to the person who amasses what is not theirs, and loads them self down with goods taken in pledge!
7 So wɔn a wode wɔn ka no rensɔre mpofirim ana? Wɔbɛsɔre ama wo ho apopo, na wobetwiw afa wo so.
Won’t your creditors suddenly rise, and those who will overthrow you awake, and you become their prey?
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.
For as you have plundered many peoples, the survivors will prey upon you. You have shed blood and committed violence to the earth, peoples and their cities.
9 “Nnome nka nea ɔde akorɔnne kyekyere ne man, a ɔyɛ ne berebuw wɔ sorɔnsorɔmmea, sɛnea obeyi ne ho afi ɔsɛe mu.
Woe to you who seeks unjust gain for your dynasty, who sets your nest on high to be safe from the reach of misfortune!
10 Woatu nnipa bebree sɛe ho agyina, de agu wankasa fi anim ase, de wo nkwa atwa so.
You have planned only shame for your dynasty. You have destroyed many peoples, and brought guilt upon yourself;
11 Abo a ɛhyehyɛ afi afasu mu no bɛteɛ mu, na ebegyigye wɔ mpuran a wɔahyehyɛ no mu.
the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timber will answer it.
12 “Nnome nka nea ɔnam mogyahwiegu so kyekyere kuropɔn na ɔnam awudi so kyekyere kurow.
Woe to the person who builds a city by bloodshed, and founds a town by crime
13 Asafo Awurade ahyɛ sɛ, nnipa no adwumayɛ bɛyɛ ogya a wɔhyew. Aman no brɛ gu kwa.
while the peoples toil for what fires will consume, and the nations weary themselves for nothing! This the Lord of hosts has said,
14 Na Awurade anuonyam ho nimdeɛ bɛhyɛ asase nyinaa ma, sɛnea nsu hyɛ po ma no.
and the earth will be as full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the seas are full of water.
15 “Due! Wo a woma wo mfɛfo nsa, Wuhwie ma wɔnom kosi sɛ wɔbɛbow, na afei woahwɛ wɔn adagyaw.
Woe to him who in fury gives drink to his neighbor to make him drunk, and see him naked.
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 shame, not glory; drink yourself and be uncovered. The cup from the Lord’s hand will pass in turn to you, and shame 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 violence done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, the destruction of animals will terrify you, because you shed people’s blood on the earth, destroyed people and their cities.
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.
What use is an idol? A human made it, a metal image. It cannot speak, it cannot teach truth, Why does its maker trust it?
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 the person who says to a block, awake! to a dumb stone, arise! What can it teach? It may be set with gold and silver, but there is no breath at all within it.
20 Nanso Awurade wɔ nʼasɔrefi kronkron mu. Momma asase nyinaa nyɛ komm wɔ nʼanim.
The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before him!
