< Atemmufo 6 >

1 Israelfo no yɛɛ nea ɛyɛ Awurade ani so bɔne bio. Ɛno nti, Awurade de wɔn hyɛɛ Midianfo nsa mfe ason.
And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
2 Esiane sɛ na Midianfo no yɛ atirimɔdenfo nti, Israelfo no guan kɔɔ mmepɔw so kɔpɛɛ hintabea wɔ abodan ne atu mu.
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel; and because of Midian the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and the caves, and the strongholds.
3 Bere biara a Israelfo duaa wɔn nnɔbae no, Midianfo, Amalekfo ne nnipa a wɔte apuei fam no kɔtow hyɛ wɔn so.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east; they came up against them;
4 Wɔbɛyɛɛ atenae wɔ wɔn asase no so sɛe nnɔbae no fi Gasa a wɔannyaw Israelfo aduan biara. Wɔfaa nguan, anantwi ne mfurum.
and they encamped against them, and destroyed the produce of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance in Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
5 Na atamfo dɔm yi de wɔn nyɛmmoa ne wɔn ntamadan foro ba te sɛ mmoadabi. Wɔtete yoma a wontumi nkan wɔn dodow so na wɔba. Na wɔtena asase no so kosi sɛ so nneɛma nyinaa bɛsa.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came in as locusts for multitude; both they and their camels were without number; and they came into the land to destroy it.
6 Enti Midianfo no maa ɔkɔm baa Israel. Afei Israelfo no su frɛɛ Awurade pɛɛ mmoa.
And Israel was brought very low because of Midian; and the children of Israel cried unto the LORD.
7 Bere a Midianfo no nti, Israelfo su frɛɛ Awurade no,
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD because of Midian,
8 Awurade somaa odiyifo kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn. Ɔkae se, “Asɛm a Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, ka ni: Miyii mo fii Misraim nkoasom mu.
that the LORD sent a prophet unto the children of Israel; and he said unto them: 'Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
9 Miyii mo fii Misraim tumi ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ mo so nyinaa ase. Mepam mo atamfo de wɔn asase maa mo.
and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drove them out from before you, and gave you their land.
10 Meka kyerɛɛ mo se, ‘Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn. Monnsom Amorifo a mote wɔn asase so no anyame.’ Nanso moantie me.”
And I said unto you: I am the LORD your God; ye shall not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but ye have not hearkened unto My voice.'
11 Na Awurade bɔfo bɛtenaa odupɔn a esi Ofra a ɛyɛ Yoas a ofi Abieser abusua mu de no ase. Na Yoas babarima Gideon reporow awi wɔ nsakyiamoa ase sɛ ɔde resie Midianfo no.
And the angel of the LORD came, and sat under the terebinth which was in Ophrah, that belonged unto Joash the Abiezrite; and his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
12 Awurade bɔfo yii ne ho adi kyerɛɛ Gideon, kae se, “Dɔmmarima, Awurade ka wo ho.”
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him: 'The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.'
13 Gideon buae se, “Owura, sɛ Awurade ka yɛn ho a, adɛn nti na saa nsɛm yi nyinaa aba yɛn so? Na anwonwade a yɛn agyanom kaa ho asɛm kyerɛɛ yɛn no nso wɔ he? Wɔanka se, ‘Awurade yii yɛn fii Misraim ana?’ Nanso mprempren de, Awurade agyaa yɛn de yɛn ahyɛ Midianfo nsam.”
And Gideon said unto him: 'Oh, my lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where are all His wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying: Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian.'
14 Na Awurade dan ne ho ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa ahoɔden a wowɔ no kɔ na kogye Israelfo fi Midianfo no nsam. Me na meresoma wo.”
And the LORD turned towards him, and said: 'Go in this thy might, and save Israel from the hand of Midian; have not I sent thee?'
15 Gideon buae se, “Na Awurade, mɛyɛ dɛn agye Israelfo? Mʼabusua na ɛyɛ mmerɛw koraa wɔ Manase abusuakuw mu na me na misua koraa wɔ me fifo nyinaa mu.”
And he said unto him: 'Oh, my lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is the poorest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.'
16 Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mɛka wo ho. Wobɛsɛe Midianfo no sɛnea woresɛe onipa baako.”
And the LORD said unto him: 'Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.'
17 Gideon buae se, “Sɛ wobɛboa me ampa ara de a, yɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne bi ma minhu sɛ, nokware, ɛyɛ wo Awurade na worekasa kyerɛ me yi.
And he said unto him: 'If now I have found favour in thy sight, then show me a sign that it is thou that talkest with me.
18 Nkɔ, kosi sɛ mɛsan mʼakyi aba de mʼafɔrebɔde abrɛ wo.” Awurade buae se, “Mɛtena ha atwɛn kosi sɛ wobɛba.”
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and lay it before thee.' And he said: 'I will tarry until thou come back.'
19 Gideon yɛɛ ntɛm kɔɔ fie. Okosiesie abirekyi ba, too brodo asikresiam lita aduonu mmienu a mmɔkaw nni mu. Afei, ɔsoaa nam no wɔ kɛntɛn mu a nkwan no nso wɔ ɛsɛn bi mu de bae. Ɔde brɛɛ ɔbɔfo no wɔ odupɔn no ase.
And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of meal; the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the terebinth, and presented it.
20 Awurade bɔfo no ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Fa nam no ne brodo a ɛnkae no gu ɔbotan yi so na hwie nkwan no gu so.” Na Gideon yɛɛ nea ɔbɔfo no kyerɛɛ no sɛ ɔnyɛ no.
And the angel of God said unto him: 'Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth.' And he did so.
21 Afei, Awurade bɔfo no de pema a okura no kaa nam ne brodo no, na ogya pue fii ɔbotan no mu hyew nea ɔde bae no nyinaa. Na ɔbɔfo no yerae.
Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there went up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
22 Bere a Gideon huu sɛ ɛyɛ Awurade bɔfo no, ɔteɛɛ mu se, “Asafo Awurade, mahu Awurade bɔfo anim ne anim.”
And Gideon saw that he was the angel of the LORD; and Gideon said: 'Alas, O Lord GOD! forasmuch as I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face.'
23 Awurade buae se, “Nsuro na worenwu.”
And the LORD said unto him: 'Peace be unto thee; fear not; thou shalt not die.'
24 Na Gideon sii afɔremuka wɔ hɔ maa Awurade na ɔtoo no din “Awurade Yɛ Asomdwoe.” Afɔremuka no da so wɔ Ofra a ɛyɛ Abieserfo abusua asase so de besi nnɛ.
Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it 'Adonai-shalom'; unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
25 Anadwo no, Awurade ka kyerɛɛ Gideon se, “Kyere nantwinini a odi mu, ɔto so abien na wadi mfe ason fi wʼagya anantwi mu. Dwiriw wʼagya afɔremuka a osi maa Baal no, na twa Asera dua a esi nkyɛn no.
And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him: 'Take thy father's bullock, and the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the Asherah that is by it;
26 Afei, si afɔremuka wɔ bepɔw yi so ma Awurade, wo Nyankopɔn. Hyehyɛ afɔremuka abo no yiye. Fa nantwinini bɔ ɔhyew afɔre wɔ afɔremuka no so. Fa Asera dua a wutwae no nnyansin yɛ ogya.”
and build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this stronghold, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt-offering with the wood of the Asherah which thou shalt cut down.'
27 Enti Gideon faa nʼasomfo du de wɔn yɛɛ sɛnea Awurade hyɛɛ no no. Nanso ɔyɛɛ no anadwo, efisɛ na osuro nʼagya fifo ne kurow mma no. Na onim nea ebesi, sɛ wohu onipa a ɔyɛɛ saa ade no a.
Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had spoken unto him; and it came to pass, because he feared his father's household and the men of the city, so that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.
28 Ade kyee anɔpahema a kurow no mu nnipa fitii ase nyanyanee no, obi huu sɛ wɔadwiriw Baal afɔremuka no agu, na Asera dua a esi ho no nso, wɔatwa akyene na wɔasi afɔremuka foforo asi anan mu. Na wohuu afɔrebɔde bi nkae wɔ so.
And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.
29 Ɔmanfo no bisabisaa wɔn ho wɔn ho se, “Hena na ɔyɛɛ eyi?” Wobisabisae, too wɔn bo ase hwehwɛɛ mu no, wohuu sɛ Yoas babarima Gideon na ɔyɛɛ saa.
And they said one to another: 'Who hath done this thing?' And when they inquired and asked, they said: 'Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.'
30 Ɔmanfo no teɛɛ mu guu Yoas so se, “Fa wo babarima no bra. Sɛe a ɔsɛee Baal afɔremuka ne twa a otwaa Asera dua no nti, ɛsɛ sɛ owu.”
Then the men of the city said unto Joash: 'Bring out thy son, that he may die; because he hath broken down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the Asherah that was by it.'
31 Nanso Yoas teɛɛ mu guu nnipakuw no so se, “Adɛn nti na mugye Baal ti? Mubetumi aka nʼasɛm ama no ana? Obiara a obegye ne ti no, wobekum no ansa na ade akye. Sɛ Baal yɛ onyame bi ampa ara a ɔno ara nni mma ne ho na onkum nea odwiriwii nʼafɔremuka no!”
And Joash said unto all that stood against him: 'Will ye contend for Baal? or will ye save him? he that will contend for him, shall be put to death before morning; if he be a god, let him contend for himself, because one hath broken down his altar.'
32 Efi saa bere no rekɔ no, wɔfrɛɛ Gideon Yerub-Baal a nkyerɛase ne “Baal nni mma ne ho,” efisɛ ɔno ara na odwiriwii Baal afɔremuka no gui.
Therefore on that day he was called Jerubbaal, saying: 'Let Baal contend against him, because he hath broken down his altar.'
33 Afei, Midianfo nyinaa, Amalekfo nyinaa ne nnipa a wofifi apuei fam no kaa wɔn ho bɔɔ mu tia Israel. Wotwaa Yordan, kɔbɔɔ atenae wɔ Yesreel bon mu.
Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east assembled themselves together; and they passed over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.
34 Awurade honhom baa Gideon so na ɔbɔɔ torobɛnto de frɛɛ dɔm. Mmarima a wofi Abieser abusua mu no baa ne nkyɛn.
But the spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon; and he blew a horn; and Abiezer was gathered together after him.
35 Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Manase, Aser, Sebulon ne Naftali nyinaa mu kɔfrɛɛ wɔn asraafo, na wɔn nyinaa penee so.
And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; and they also were gathered together after him; and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.
36 Gideon ka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, “Sɛ wonam me nsa so begye Israel sɛnea woahyɛ bɔ no a,
And Gideon said unto God: 'If Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken,
37 fa saa kwan yi so kyerɛ me, mede oguan nwi bɛkata awiporowbea hɔ anadwo yi. Sɛ obosu fɔw oguan nwi no, na sɛ ɛho amfɔw a, na mahu sɛ ampa ara, wonam me nsa so begye Israel sɛnea woahyɛ ho bɔ no.”
behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing-floor; if there be dew on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the ground, then shall I know that Thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as Thou hast spoken.'
38 Na saa na ɛbae. Gideon sɔree adekyee kyii oguan nwi no, onyaa nsu ade ma.
And it was so; for he rose up early on the morrow, and pressed the fleece together, and wrung dew out of the fleece, a bowlful of water.
39 Afei, Gideon ka kyerɛɛ Onyankopɔn se, “Mma wo bo mfuw me. Ma mimmisa ade baako. Ma memfa oguan nwi no nsɔ biribi nhwɛ. Saa bere yi de, ma oguan nwi no nyɛ wosee na baabi a ɛda hɔ no nyinaa mfɔw.”
And Gideon said unto God: 'Let not Thine anger be kindled against me, and I will speak but this once: let me make trial, I pray Thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.'
40 Anadwo no, Onyankopɔn yɛɛ sɛnea Gideon bisae no. Anɔpa no oguan nwi no yɛɛ wosee a na obosu afɔw fam hɔ nyinaa.
And God did so that night; for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

< Atemmufo 6 >