Yeremia 23
1 “Nnome nka nguanhwɛfo a wɔsɛe na wɔhwete me nguankuw no!” Awurade na ose.
A curse is on the keepers who are causing the destruction and loss of the sheep of my field, says the Lord.
2 Ɛno nti sɛɛ na Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, ka kyerɛ ahwɛfo a wɔhwɛ me nkurɔfo so ni: “Esiane sɛ moabɔ me nguankuw ahwete, na moapam wɔn na moanhwɛ wɔn so yiye no nti, mede asotwe bɛbrɛ mo, mo bɔne a moayɛ no nti,” nea Awurade se ni.
So this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said against the keepers who have the care of my people: You have let my flock be broken up, driving them away and not caring for them; see, I will send on you the punishment for the evil of your doings, says the Lord.
3 “Mʼankasa mɛboaboa me nguan nkae no afi aman a mapam wɔn akɔ hɔ nyinaa no so na mede wɔn bɛsan aba wɔn adidibea bio, baabi wɔbɛwowo na wɔn ase atrɛw.
And I will get the rest of my flock together from all the countries where I have sent them, and will make them come back again to their resting-place; and they will have offspring and be increased.
4 Na meyi nguanhwɛfo a wɔbɛhwɛ wɔn so, na wɔrensuro na wɔremmɔ hu bio na wɔn mu baako mpo renyera.” Awurade na ose.
And I will put over them keepers who will take care of them: never again will they be overcome with fear or be troubled, and there will not be the loss of one of them, says the Lord.
5 “Nna bi reba,” Awurade na ose, “sɛ mɛma trenee dubaa bi so ama Dawid ɔhene bi a obedi ade nyansa mu na wayɛ nea ɛteɛ ne nea eye wɔ asase yi so.
See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will give to David a true Branch, and he will be ruling as king, acting wisely, doing what is right, and judging uprightly in the land.
6 Ne mmere so, wobegye Yuda nkwa na Israel bɛtena ase wɔ asomdwoe mu. Eyi ne din a wɔde bɛfrɛ no: Awurade Yɛn Trenee.
In his days Judah will have salvation and Israel will be living without fear: and this is the name by which he will be named, The Lord is our righteousness.
7 Na afei nna bi reba,” Awurade na ose, “a nnipa renka bio se, ‘Nokware sɛ Awurade te ase yi, nea oyii Israelfo fii Misraim,’
And so, truly, the days are coming when they will say no longer, By the living Lord, who took the children of Israel up out of the land of Egypt;
8 na mmom, wɔbɛka se, ‘Nokware sɛ Awurade te ase yi, nea oyii Israel asefo fii atifi asase so ne aman nyinaa a ɔpam wɔn kɔɔ hɔ no so no.’ Na afei wɔbɛtena wɔn ankasa asase so.”
But, By the living Lord, who took up the seed of Israel, and made them come out of the north country, and from all the countries where I had sent them; and they will be living in the land which is theirs.
9 Nea ɛfa adiyifo no ho no: Me koma abubu wɔ me mu; me nnompe nyinaa wosow. Mete sɛ ɔsabowfo, mete sɛ obi a nsa abow no, esiane Awurade ne ne nsɛm kronkron no nti.
About the prophets. My heart is broken in me, all my bones are shaking; I am like a man full of strong drink, like a man overcome by wine; because of the Lord, and because of his holy words.
10 Aguamammɔfo ahyɛ asase no so ma; nnome no nti asase no awo wosee, adidibea a ɛwɔ nweatam no so ahyew. Adiyifo no nam ɔkwan bɔne so de wɔn tumi yɛ nea ɛnteɛ.
For the land is full of men who are untrue to their wives; because of the curse the land is full of grief; the green fields of the waste land have become dry; and they are quick to do evil, their strength is for what is not right.
11 “Odiyifo ne ɔsɔfo nyinaa nsuro Nyankopɔn; mʼasɔredan mu mpo mihu wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm,” Awurade na ose.
For the prophet as well as the priest is unclean; even in my house I have seen their evil-doing, says the Lord.
12 “Ɛno nti, wɔn kwan so bɛyɛ torotorootoro; wɔbɛpam wɔn akɔ sum mu na hɔ na wɔbɛhwehwe ase. Mede amanehunu bɛba wɔn so wɔ afe a wɔbɛtwe wɔn aso mu no,” Awurade na ose.
For this cause their steps will be slipping on their way: they will be forced on into the dark and have a fall there: for I will send evil on them in the year of their punishment, says the Lord.
13 “Samaria adiyifo mu no mihuu saa atantanne yi: Wɔde Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm nam so maa me nkurɔfo Israelfo fom kwan.
And I have seen ways without sense in the prophets of Samaria; they became prophets of the Baal, causing my people Israel to go wrong.
14 Na Yerusalem adiyifo mu no mahu ade a ɛyɛ hu: Wɔsɛe aware na wodi atoro. Wɔhyɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no mpamuden, enti obiara ntwe ne ho mfi nʼamumɔyɛsɛm ho. Wɔn nyinaa te sɛ Sodom ma me; na Yerusalemfo te sɛ Gomora.”
And in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a shocking thing; they are untrue to their wives, walking in deceit, and they make strong the hands of evil-doers, so that a man may not be turned back from his evil-doing: they have all become like Sodom to me, and its people like Gomorrah.
15 Ɛno nti sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade, se fa adiyifo no ho: “Mɛma wɔadi aduan a ɛyɛ nwen na wɔanom nsu a awuduru wɔ mu, efisɛ Yerusalem adiyifo nti, bɔneyɛ ahyɛ asase yi so ma.”
So this is what the Lord of armies has said about the prophets: See, I will give them a bitter plant for their food, and bitter water for their drink: for from the prophets of Jerusalem unclean behaviour has gone out into all the land.
16 Sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade se: “Munntie nkɔm a adiyifo no hyɛ kyerɛ mo; wɔma mo nya anidaso a enni nnyinaso. Wɔbɔ wɔn tirim ka anisoadehu, a emfi Awurade anom.
This is what the Lord of armies has said: Do not give ear to the words which the prophets say to you: they give you teaching of no value: it is from themselves that their vision comes, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.
17 Wɔkɔ so ka kyerɛ wɔn a wobu me animtiaa no se, ‘Awurade se: Mubenya asomdwoe.’ Na wɔn a wodi wɔn komaden akyi no nyinaa, wɔka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Ɔhaw biara remma mo so.’
They keep on saying to those who have no respect for the word of the Lord, You will have peace; and to everyone who goes on his way in the pride of his heart, they say, No evil will come to you.
18 Na wɔn mu hena na wasɔre wɔ Awurade agyinatufo mu sɛ ɔbɛhwɛ anaa obetie nʼasɛm? Hena na wayɛ aso ate nʼasɛm?
For which of them has knowledge of the secret of the Lord, and has seen him, and given ear to his word? which of them has taken note of his word and given attention to it?
19 Hwɛ, Awurade ahum betu abufuwhyew mu, mfɛtɛ bedi kyinhyia wɔ amumɔyɛfo mpampam.
See, the storm-wind of the Lord, even the heat of his wrath, has gone out, a rolling storm, bursting on the heads of the evil-doers.
20 Awurade abufuw rensan kosi sɛ obewie ne koma mu nhyehyɛe nyinaa. Nna a ɛreba no mu no mobɛte ase yiye.
The wrath of the Lord will not be turned back till he has done, till he has put into effect, the purposes of his heart: in days to come you will have full knowledge of this.
21 Mansoma saa adiyifo yi, nanso wɔde wɔn asɛm akyinkyin; mamma wɔn nkra biara, nanso wɔahyɛ nkɔm.
I did not send these prophets, but they went running: I said nothing to them, but they gave out the prophet's word.
22 Sɛ wɔkaa mʼagyinatufo ho a, anka wɔbɛpae mu aka mʼasɛm akyerɛ me nkurɔfo na ama wɔatwe wɔn ho afi wɔn akwammɔne ne wɔn nneyɛe bɔne ho.
But if they had been in my secret, then they would have made my people give ear to my words, turning them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
23 “Meyɛ Onyankopɔn a mebɛn nko ara anaa,” Awurade na ose, “na menyɛ Onyankopɔn a mewɔ akyirikyiri nso?
Am I only a God who is near, says the Lord, and not a God at a distance?
24 Obi betumi de ne ho asie baabi a merentumi nhu no ana?” Awurade na ose. “Menyɛɛ ɔsoro ne asase so ma ana?” Awurade na ose.
In what secret place may a man take cover without my seeing him? says the Lord. Is there any place in heaven or earth where I am not? says the Lord.
25 “Mate nea adiyifo a wɔde me din hyɛ atoro nkɔm no keka. Wɔkeka se, ‘Mesoo dae! Mesoo dae!’
My ears have been open to what the prophets have said, who say false words in my name, saying, I have had a dream, I have had a dream, I have had a dream,
26 Eyi bɛkɔ so akosi da bɛn wɔ atoro adiyifo yi koma mu? Wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn tirim hyɛ nnaadaa nkɔm?
Is (my word) in the hearts of the prophets who give out false words, even the prophets of the deceit of their hearts?
27 Wodwen sɛ dae a wɔkeka kyerɛkyerɛ wɔn ho no bɛma me nkurɔfo werɛ afi me din, sɛnea Baal som nti wɔn agyanom werɛ fii me din no.
Whose purpose is to take away the memory of my name from my people by their dreams, of which every man is talking to his neighbour, as their fathers gave up the memory of my name for the Baal.
28 Ma odiyifo a waso dae no nka nʼadaeso, na ma nea ɔwɔ mʼasɛm no nka no nokware mu. Na dɛn na ntɛtɛ ne awi wɔ yɛ?” Awurade na ose.
If a prophet has a dream, let him give out his dream; and he who has my word, let him give out my word in good faith. What has the dry stem to do with the grain? says the Lord.
29 “Na mʼasɛm nte sɛ ogya,” Awurade na ose, “ɛnte sɛ asae a ɛpaapae ɔbotan mu nketenkete ana?
Is not my word like fire? says the Lord; and like a hammer, smashing the rock to bits?
30 “Ɛno nti,” Awurade na ose, “mikyi adiyifo a wɔfa nsɛm a efi wɔn yɔnkonom nkyɛn, na wɔpae mu ka no sɛnea efi me nkyɛn no.
For this cause I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who take my words, every one from his neighbour.
31 Yiw,” Awurade asɛm ni, “mikyi saa adiyifo a wɔde wɔn ankasa tɛkrɛmawo ka se, ‘Awurade na ose.’
See, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who let their tongues say, He has said.
32 Nokware, mikyi wɔn a wɔhyɛ adaeso ho atoro nkɔm,” Awurade na ose. “Wɔka kyerɛ wɔn na wɔde atoro nsɛm daadaa me nkurɔfo ma wɔfom kwan, nso mensomaa wɔn na minnyii wɔn. Wɔn so nni mfaso mma saa nnipa yi koraa,” Awurade na ose.
See, I am against the prophets of false dreams, says the Lord, who give them out and make my people go out of the way by their deceit and their uncontrolled words: but I did not send them or give them orders; and they will be of no profit to this people, says the Lord.
33 “Sɛ saa nnipa yi, anaa odiyifo anaa ɔsɔfo bisa mo se, ‘Dɛn ne Awurade adiyisɛm no a?’ Monka nkyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Adiyisɛm bɛn? Mɛpo mo, Awurade na ose.’
And if this people, or the prophet, or a priest, questioning you, says, What word of weight is there from the Lord? then you are to say to them, You are the word, for I will not be troubled with you any more, says the Lord.
34 Sɛ odiyifo bi, ɔsɔfo bi anaa obi foforo si so dua se, ‘Awurade adiyisɛm ni’ a, mɛtwe saa ɔbarima no ne ne fifo aso.
And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, A word of weight from the Lord! I will send punishment on that man and on his house.
35 Eyi ne nea mo mu biara kɔ so ka kyerɛ ne yɔnko anaa ne busuani: ‘Awurade mmuae ne dɛn?’ Anaa ‘Dɛn na Awurade aka?’
But this is what you are to say, every man to his neighbour and every man to his brother, What answer has the Lord given? and, What has the Lord said?
36 Nanso ɛnsɛ sɛ mobɔ ‘Awurade adiyisɛm’ so bio; efisɛ obiara asɛm bɛyɛ nʼadiyisɛm, ne saa nti modannan nsɛm a efi Onyankopɔn, Ɔteasefo, Asafo Awurade yɛn Nyankopɔn nkyɛn no mu.
And you will no longer put people in mind of the word of weight of the Lord: for every man's word will be a weight on himself; for the words of the living God, of the Lord of armies, our God, have been twisted by you.
37 Eyi ne nea mokɔ so ka kyerɛ odiyifo: ‘Mmuae bɛn na Awurade de ama mo?’ Anaa ‘Asɛm bɛn na Awurade aka?’
This is what you are to say to the prophet, What answer has the Lord given to you? and, What has the Lord said?
38 Ɛwɔ mu, musi so dua se, ‘Eyi ne Awurade adiyisɛm’ nanso sɛɛ na Awurade ka: Mokae se, ‘Eyi yɛ Awurade adiyisɛm,’ wɔ bere a maka akyerɛ mo se monnka saa nsɛm yi bio.
But if you say, The word of weight of the Lord; this is what the Lord has said: Because you say, The weight of the Lord, and I have sent to you, saying, You are not to say, The weight of the Lord;
39 Afei, nokware, me werɛ befi mo, na mapam mo ne kuropɔn a mede maa mo ne mo agyanom afi mʼani so.
For this reason, truly, I will put you completely out of my memory, and I will put you, and the town which I gave to you and to your fathers, away from before my face:
40 Na mede daa animguase, ne daa ahohora a werɛ remfi da bɛba mo so.”
And I will give you a name without honour for ever, and unending shame which will never go from the memory of men.
