Yeremia 23

1 “Nnome nka nguanhwɛfo a wɔsɛe na wɔhwete me nguankuw no!” Awurade na ose.

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration.”

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.

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the evil you have done—this is Yahweh's declaration.

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.

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase.

4 Na meyi nguanhwɛfo a wɔbɛhwɛ wɔn so, na wɔrensuro na wɔremmɔ hu bio na wɔn mu baako mpo renyera.” Awurade na ose.

Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be shattered. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.

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—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch. He will reign as king; he will act wisely and cause justice and righteousness 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 be rescued, and Israel will live in security. Then this is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh 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,’

Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from 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.”

Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where they had been driven.' Then they will live in their own land.”

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.

Regarding the prophets, my heart is broken in me, and all of my bones tremble. I have become like a drunk man, like a man whom wine has overpowered, because of Yahweh and 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 adulterers. Because of these the land is dried up. The meadows in the wilderness dry up. These prophets' paths are wicked; their power is not used in a right manner.

11 “Odiyifo ne ɔsɔfo nyinaa nsuro Nyankopɔn; mʼasɔredan mu mpo mihu wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm,” Awurade na ose.

“For both the prophets and the priests are polluted. I even found their wickedness in my house!—this is Yahweh's declaration—

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.

therefore their way will be like a slippery place in the darkness. They will be pushed down. They will fall in it. For I will send disaster against them in the year of their punishment—this is Yahweh's declaration.

13 “Samaria adiyifo mu no mihuu saa atantanne yi: Wɔde Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm nam so maa me nkurɔfo Israelfo fom kwan.

For I have seen the prophets in Samaria doing what is repulsive: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

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.”

Among the prophets in Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: They commit adultery and walk in deceit. They strengthen the hands of evildoers; no one turns back from his evildoing. All of them have become like Sodom to me and its inhabitants 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.”

Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets, “Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisonous water, for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem to 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.

Yahweh of hosts says this, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They have deluded you! They are announcing visions from their own minds, not from Yahweh's mouth.

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 are constantly saying to those who dishonor me, 'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.' For everyone walking in the stubbornness of his own heart says, 'Disaster will not come upon you.'

18 Na wɔn mu hena na wasɔre wɔ Awurade agyinatufo mu sɛ ɔbɛhwɛ anaa obetie nʼasɛm? Hena na wayɛ aso ate nʼasɛm?

Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting? Who sees and hears his word? Who pays attention to his word and listens?

19 Hwɛ, Awurade ahum betu abufuwhyew mu, mfɛtɛ bedi kyinhyia wɔ amumɔyɛfo mpampam.

See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh! His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about. It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.

20 Awurade abufuw rensan kosi sɛ obewie ne koma mu nhyehyɛe nyinaa. Nna a ɛreba no mu no mobɛte ase yiye.

Yahweh's wrath will not return until it has carried out and brought into being his heart's intentions. In the final days, you will understand it.

21 Mansoma saa adiyifo yi, nanso wɔde wɔn asɛm akyinkyin; mamma wɔn nkra biara, nanso wɔahyɛ nkɔm.

I did not send out these prophets. They just appeared. I did not proclaim anything to them, but they have still prophesied.

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.

For if they had stood in my council meeting, they would have caused my people to hear my word; they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words and corrupt practices.

23 “Meyɛ Onyankopɔn a mebɛn nko ara anaa,” Awurade na ose, “na menyɛ Onyankopɔn a mewɔ akyirikyiri nso?

Am I only a God nearby—this is Yahweh's declaration—and not also a God far away?

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.

Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?—this is Yahweh's declaration— and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?—this is Yahweh's declaration.

25 “Mate nea adiyifo a wɔde me din hyɛ atoro nkɔm no keka. Wɔkeka se, ‘Mesoo dae! Mesoo dae!’

I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'

26 Eyi bɛkɔ so akosi da bɛn wɔ atoro adiyifo yi koma mu? Wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn tirim hyɛ nnaadaa nkɔm?

How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in 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.

They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.

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.

The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration—

29 “Na mʼasɛm nte sɛ ogya,” Awurade na ose, “ɛnte sɛ asae a ɛpaapae ɔbotan mu nketenkete ana?

Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?

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.

So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.

31 Yiw,” Awurade asɛm ni, “mikyi saa adiyifo a wɔde wɔn ankasa tɛkrɛmawo ka se, ‘Awurade na ose.’

See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations.

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 who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.

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.’

When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration.

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.

As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and 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?’

You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?'

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.

But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

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 will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you? or 'What did Yahweh say?'

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 burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, “The burden of Yahweh,”'

39 Afei, nokware, me werɛ befi mo, na mapam mo ne kuropɔn a mede maa mo ne mo agyanom afi mʼani so.

therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors.

40 Na mede daa animguase, ne daa ahohora a werɛ remfi da bɛba mo so.”

Then I will put everlasting shame and insult on you that will not be forgotten.'”