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 sons of Israel did the thing that was wicked, in the sight of Yahweh, —so Yahweh 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, —because of Midian, did the sons of Israel prepare for themselves the hollows which were 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 used to be, if Israel had sown, then came up Midian and Amalek and the sons of the east, yea 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 encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the land, until thou comest unto Gaza, —neither left they sustenance in Israel, nor 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 with their cattle, used to come up, with their tents—yea they used to come like locusts, for multitude, both they and their cattle, were without number, —so they came into the land, to lay it waste.

6 Enti Midianfo no maa ɔkɔm baa Israel. Afei Israelfo no su frɛɛ Awurade pɛɛ mmoa.

Thus was Israel greatly impoverished, because of Midian, —and the sons of Israel made outcry unto Yahweh.

7 Bere a Midianfo no nti, Israelfo su frɛɛ Awurade no,

And it came to pass, when the sons of Israel cried unto Yahweh, —on account of Midian,

8 Awurade somaa odiyifo kɔɔ wɔn nkyɛn. Ɔkae se, “Asɛm a Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, ka ni: Miyii mo fii Misraim nkoasom mu.

then sent Yahweh a prophet unto the sons of Israel, —who said unto them—Thus, saith Yahweh, God of Israel, I, led you up out of Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of servants;

9 Miyii mo fii Misraim tumi ne wɔn a wɔhyɛ mo so nyinaa ase. Mepam mo atamfo de wɔn asase maa mo.

Yea I rescued you out of the hand of Egypt, and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, —that I might drive them out from before you, and I gave unto you their land;

10 Meka kyerɛɛ mo se, ‘Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn. Monnsom Amorifo a mote wɔn asase so no anyame.’ Nanso moantie me.”

Yea and I said to you, —I, Yahweh, am your God, Ye must not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye are about to 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.

Then came the messenger of Yahweh, and sat down under the oak which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, the Abiezrite; and, Gideon his son, was beating out wheat in the winepress, to escape the notice of the Midianites;

12 Awurade bɔfo yii ne ho adi kyerɛɛ Gideon, kae se, “Dɔmmarima, Awurade ka wo ho.”

so the messenger of Yahweh appeared unto him, —and said unto him, Yahweh, 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—Pardon, my lord! if Yahweh be with us, then wherefore hath all this befallen us? and where are all his wonders, which our fathers have recounted to us—saying, Was it not, out of Egypt, that Yahweh brought us up? But, now, hath Yahweh abandoned us, 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 Yahweh, turned unto him, and said—Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel, out of the hand of Midian, —have I not 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—Pardon, O my Lord! How, shall I save Israel? Lo! my thousand, is the poorest in Manasseh, and, I, am the youngest in the house of my father.

16 Awurade ka kyerɛɛ no se, “Mɛka wo ho. Wobɛsɛe Midianfo no sɛnea woresɛe onipa baako.”

And Yahweh said unto him—I will be with thee, —so shalt thou 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, I beseech thee, I have found favour in thine eyes, then wilt thou work for me a sign, that it is, thou, who art speaking with me.

18 Nkɔ, kosi sɛ mɛsan mʼakyi aba de mʼafɔrebɔde abrɛ wo.” Awurade buae se, “Mɛtena ha atwɛn kosi sɛ wobɛba.”

Do not, I beseech thee, withdraw from hence, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said: I, will tarry until thou return.

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.

So, Gideon, went in, and made ready a kid of the goats, and, of an ephah of meal, unleavened cakes, the flesh, he put in a basket, and, the broth, he put in a pot, —and brought them forth unto him, under the oak, and presented them.

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 messenger of God said unto him—Take the flesh and the cakes, and set them on this crag, and, the broth, do thou pour out. 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 messenger of Yahweh put forth the end of the staff, that was in his hand, and touched the flesh, and the cakes, —and there came up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh, and the cakes, and, the messenger of Yahweh, had 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.”

Then saw Gideon that, the messenger of Yahweh, it was, —so Gideon said—Alas, My Lord Yahweh! forasmuch as I have seen the messenger of Yahweh, face to face!

23 Awurade buae se, “Nsuro na worenwu.”

And Yahweh said unto him—Peace be unto thee! Do not fear, —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.

So Gideon built there an altar unto Yahweh, and called it, Yahweh-shalom. Unto this day, it remaineth, 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, on that night, that Yahweh said unto him—Take the young bullock that belongeth to thy father, even the second bullock of seven years, —and throw thou down the altar of Baal, that belongeth to thy father, and, the sacred stem that is by it, shalt thou cut down.

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.”

Then shalt thou build an altar, unto Yahweh thy God, on the top of this fort, with the pile, —and shalt take the second bullock, and cause it to go up as an ascending-sacrifice, with the wood of the sacred stem 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.

So Gideon took ten men from among his servants, and did as Yahweh had spoken unto him, —and so it was that, as he too much feared the house of his father, and the men of the city, to do it by day, 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 the men of the city rose up early in the morning, and lo! the altar of Baal, had been overthrown, and, the sacred stem that was by it, had been cut down, and the second bullock had been caused to ascend upon the altar that had been 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.

So they said, one to another, Who hath done this thing? And they inquired, and made search, and it was said, Gideon 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.”

So the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring forth thy son, that he may die, —because he hath overthrown the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the sacred stem 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 who stood by him—Will, ye, plead for Baal, or will, ye, save him? Whoso pleadeth for him, let him be put to death while it is yet morning, —if, a god, he be let him plead for himself, because one hath overthrown 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.

So he was called on that day, Jerubbaal, saying, —Let Baal, plead against him. Because he had overthrown 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 sons of the east, were gathered together, —and they crossed over and pitched in the vale 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 Yahweh, clothed Gideon, —so he blew with a horn, and Abiezer was gathered after him.

35 Ɔsomaa abɔfo kɔɔ Manase, Aser, Sebulon ne Naftali nyinaa mu kɔfrɛɛ wɔn asraafo, na wɔn nyinaa penee so.

Messengers also, sent he throughout all Manasseh, and, they also, were gathered after him, —messengers also, sent he throughout Asher, and throughout Zebulun, and throughout 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 art about to bring salvation, by my hand, unto Israel, 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.”

lo! I am placing a woollen fleece, on the threshing-floor, —if, dew, be on the fleece alone and, on all the ground, it be dry, then shall I know that thou wilt bring salvation, by my hand, unto Israel, as thou hast spoken.

38 Na saa na ɛbae. Gideon sɔree adekyee kyii oguan nwi no, onyaa nsu ade ma.

And it was so, and he rose up early, on the morrow, and pressed together the fleece, —and wrung out the dew from the fleece, a small bowl full 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.”

Then said Gideon unto God, Let not thine anger kindle upon me, but let me speak, only this once, —Let me, I pray thee, put to the proof, only this once, with the fleece, I pray thee, let it be dry on the fleece alone, while, on all the ground, 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 on that night, —and it was dry on the fleece alone, while, on all the ground, there was dew.