Yeremia 23

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

Woe to shepherds destroying, And scattering the flock of My pasture, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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, thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, Against the shepherds who feed My people, Ye have scattered My flock, and drive them away, And have not inspected them, Lo, I am charging on you the evil of your doings, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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 do gather the remnant of My flock Out of all the lands whither I drove them, And have brought them back unto their fold, And they have been fruitful, and multiplied.

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 have raised for them shepherds, And they have fed them, And they fear no more, nor are affrighted, Nor are they lacking — an affirmation of Jehovah.

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.

Lo, days are coming — an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have raised to David a righteous shoot, And a king hath reigned and acted wisely, And done judgment and righteousness in the earth.

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 is Judah saved, and Israel dwelleth confidently, And this his name that Jehovah proclaimeth him, '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, lo, days are coming, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they do not say any more, Jehovah liveth who brought up The sons of Israel 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 — Jehovah liveth, who brought up, And who brought in, the seed of the house of Israel, From the land of the north, And from all the lands whither I drove them, And they have dwelt on their own ground!

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.

In reference to the prophets: Broken hath been my heart in my midst, Fluttered have all my bones, I have been as a man — a drunkard, And as a man — wine hath passed over him, Because of Jehovah, and 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 of adulterers hath the land been full, For because of these hath the land mourned, Dried up hath been the pleasant places of the wilderness, And their course is evil, and their might — not right.

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

For both prophet and priest have been profane, Yea, in My house I found their wickedness, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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 is their way to them as slippery places, Into thick darkness they are driven, And they have fallen in it, For I bring in against them evil, The year of their inspection, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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

And in prophets of Samaria I have seen folly, They have prophesied by Baal, And cause my people — Israel — to err.

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 prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing, Committing adultery, and walking falsely, Yea, they strengthened the hands of evil doers, So that they have not turned back Each from his wickedness, They have been to me — all of them — as Sodom, And its inhabitants as 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, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, concerning the prophets: Lo, I am causing them to eat wormwood, And have caused them to drink water of gall, For, from prophets of Jerusalem Hath profanity gone forth 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.

Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Ye do not hearken unto the words Of the prophets who are prophesying to you, They are making you vain things, A vision of their own heart they speak, Not from the mouth of Jehovah.

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.’

Saying diligently to those despising The word of Jehovah: Peace is for you, And [to] every one walking in the stubbornness of his heart they have said: Evil doth not come in unto you.

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

For who hath stood in the counsel of Jehovah, And seeth and heareth His word? Who hath regarded My word, and hearkeneth?

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

Lo, a whirlwind of Jehovah — Fury hath gone out, even a piercing whirlwind, On the head of the wicked it stayeth.

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

The anger of Jehovah doth not turn back Till His doing, and till His establishing, The thoughts of His heart, In the latter end of the days ye attend to it With understanding.

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

I have not sent the prophets, and they have run, I have not spoken unto them, and they have 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.

But — if they stood in My counsel, Then they cause My people to hear My words, And they turn them back 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?

A God near [am] I — an affirmation of Jehovah, And not a God afar off?

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.

Is any one hidden in secret places, And I see him not? an affirmation of Jehovah, Do not I fill the heavens and the earth? An affirmation of Jehovah.

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

I have heard that which the prophets said, Who prophesy in My name falsehood, saying, 'I have dreamed, I have dreamed.'

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

Till when is it in the heart of the prophets? The prophets of falsehood, Yea, prophets of the deceit of their heart,

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.

Who are devising to cause My people To forget My name by their dreams, That they recount each to his neighbour, As their fathers forgot my name for 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.

The prophet with whom [is] a dream, Let him recount the dream, And he with whom [is] My word, Let him truly speak My word. What — to the straw with the corn? An affirmation of Jehovah.

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

Is it not thus? My word [is] as a fire, An affirmation of Jehovah. And as a hammer — it breaketh in pieces a rock.

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.

Therefore, lo, I [am] against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Stealing My words each from his neighbour.

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

Lo, I [am] against the prophets, An affirmation of Jehovah, Who are making smooth their tongue, And they affirm — an affirmation.

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.

Lo, I [am] against the prophets of false dreams, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they recount them, and cause my people to err, By their falsehoods, and by their instability, And I — I have not sent them, Nor have I commanded them, And they are not at all profitable to this people, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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 when this people, or the prophet, Or a priest, doth ask thee, saying, What [is] the burden of Jehovah? Then thou hast said unto them: Ye [are] the burden, and I have left you, An affirmation of Jehovah.

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 the prophet, and the priest, and the people, That saith, The burden of Jehovah, I have seen after that man, and after 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?’

Thus do ye say each unto his neighbour, And each unto his brother: What hath Jehovah answered? And what hath Jehovah spoken?

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 the burden of Jehovah ye do not mention any more, For the burden to each is — His word, And ye have overturned the words of the living God, Jehovah 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?’

Thus dost thou say unto the prophet What hath Jehovah answered thee? And what hath Jehovah spoken?

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.

And if the burden of Jehovah ye say, Therefore thus said Jehovah: Because of your saying this word, The burden of Jehovah, And I do send unto you, saying, Ye do not say, The burden of Jehovah.

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

Therefore, lo, I — I have taken you utterly away, And I have sent you out, And the city that I gave to you, And to your fathers, from before My face,

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

And I have put on you reproach age-during, And shame age-during that is not forgotten!