Sakaria 8
1 Asafo Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn bio.
The word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying,
2 Sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade se: “Metwe Sion ho ninkunu pa ara; metwe ne ho ninkunu anibere so.”
“Yahweh of hosts says this: I am passionate for Zion with great zeal and I am passionate for her with great anger!
3 Nea Awurade se ni, “Mɛsan akɔ Sion na makɔtena Yerusalem. Afei wɔbɛfrɛ Yerusalem Nokware Kuropɔn, na Asafo Awurade bepɔw no, wɔbɛfrɛ no Bepɔw Kronkron.”
Yahweh of hosts says this: I will return to Zion and will live in the midst of Jerusalem, for Jerusalem will be called The City of Truth and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts will be called The Holy Mountain!
4 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Nkwakoraa ne mmerewa bɛtenatena Yerusalem mmɔnten so bio a obiara kura pema, esiane onyin nti.
Yahweh of hosts says this: Old men and old women will once again be in the streets of Jerusalem, and every person will need a staff in his hand because he has grown so old.
5 Na mmarimaa ne mmeawa a wɔredi agoru bɛhyɛ kuropɔn no mmɔnten so ma.”
The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in them.
6 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Nkae no de, ɛbɛyɛ wɔn nwonwa saa bere no, na me nso ɛbɛyɛ me nwonwa ana?”
Yahweh of hosts says this: If something seems impossible in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also seem impossible in my eyes?—this is Yahweh's declaration.
7 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Megye me nkurɔfo afi aman a ɛwɔ apuei ne atɔe no so.
Yahweh of hosts says this: Behold, I am about to rescue my people from the land of the sunrise and from the land of the setting sun!
8 Mede wɔn bɛsan aba abɛtena Yerusalem; wɔbɛyɛ me nkurɔfo, na mayɛ wɔn Nyankopɔn wɔ nokware ne trenee mu.”
For I will bring them back, and they will live in the midst of Jerusalem, so they will again be my people, and I will be their God in truth and in righteousness!
9 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Mo a afei na morete nsɛm a adiyifo no kae no; adiyifo a na wɔwɔ hɔ bere a wɔtoo Asafo Awurade fi fapem no, monhyɛ mo ho den, na moatumi asi asɔredan no.
Yahweh of hosts says this: You who now continue to hear the same words that came from the prophets' mouths when the foundation of my house was laid—this house of mine, Yahweh of hosts: Strengthen your hands so that the temple can be built.
10 Bere no nnya nsoe no, na wontua apaade mma nnipa anaa mmoa. Atamfo nti, na obiara ntumi nkɔ nʼadwuma so asomdwoe mu, efisɛ na mede mpaapaemu aba wɔn mu.
For before those days no crops were gathered in by anyone, there was no profit for either man or beast, and there was no peace from enemies for anyone going or coming. I had set every person each against his neighbor.
11 Nanso afei de, merenyɛ nkae yi sɛnea meyɛɛ kan no,” sɛnea Asafo Awurade se ni.
But now it will not be as in former days, I will be with the remnant of this people —this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
12 “Aba no benyin yiye, bobe bɛsow nʼaba, asase no bɛbɔ nʼaduan na ɔsoro nso bɛtɔ ne bosu. Mede saa nneɛma yi nyinaa bɛma nkae yi sɛ wɔn agyapade.
For seeds of peace will be sown; the climbing vine will give its fruit and the earth will give its produce; the skies will give their dew, for I will make the remnant of this people inherit all these things.
13 Mo, Yuda ne Israel, moayɛ nnome wɔ aman no mu, nanso megye mo na moayɛ nhyira. Munnsuro, na monhyɛ mo ho den.”
You were an example to the other nations of a curse, house of Judah and house of Israel. So I will rescue you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid; let your hands be strong!
14 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Sɛnea meyɛɛ mʼadwene sɛ mede atoyerɛnkyɛm bɛba mo so, na mannya ahummɔbɔ bere a mo agyanom fuw me bo no,
For Yahweh of hosts says this: Just as I planned to do harm to you when your ancestors provoked my anger —says Yahweh of hosts—and did not relent,
15 saa ara na afei mayɛ mʼadwene sɛ mɛyɛ Yerusalem ne Yuda yiye. Munnsuro.
so also I will plan in these days to do good again to Jerusalem and the house of Judah! Do not fear!
16 Nea ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ ni: Munni mo ho mo ho nokware. Mummu atɛntrenee wɔ mo asennii;
These are the things that you must do: Speak truth, every person with his neighbor. Judge with truth, justice, and peace in your gates.
17 mommmɔ pɔw bɔne ntia mo ho mo ho, na monnnɔ ntam hunu. Mikyi saa nneɛma yi nyinaa,” sɛnea Awurade se ni.
Do not plan to do evil within your heart against one another, and do not love false oaths—for these are the things I hate!—this is Yahweh's declaration.”
18 Asafo Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn bio.
Then the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying,
19 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Asram anan, anum, ason ne du mu mmuadadi no bɛyɛ anigye ne ahosɛpɛwmmere, na ɛbɛyɛ anigye afahyɛ ama Yuda. Enti monnɔ nokware ne asomdwoe.”
“Yahweh of hosts says this: The fasts of the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, and the tenth month will become times of joy, gladness, and happy festivals for the house of Judah! Therefore love truth and peace!
20 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni, “Nnipa bebree ne wɔn a wɔtete nkuropɔn bebree so bɛba ara,
Yahweh of hosts says this: People will come again, even those who are living in many different cities.
21 na nnipa a wofi kuropɔn baako so bɛkɔ foforo so akɔka se, ‘Momma yɛnkɔ mprempren ara nkɔsrɛ Awurade na yɛnhwehwɛ Asafo Awurade. Me de, merekɔ.’
The inhabitants of one city will go to another city and say, 'Let us quickly go to beg before the face of Yahweh and to seek Yahweh of hosts! We ourselves are also going.'
22 Na nnipa bebree ne aman akɛse bɛba Yerusalem abɛhwehwɛ Asafo Awurade no, na wɔakotow asrɛ no.”
Many people and mighty nations will come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem and beg for the favor of Yahweh!
23 Nea Asafo Awurade se ni: “Nna no mu, nnipa du a wɔka kasa ahorow na wofi aman ahorow so bɛba abeso Yudani atade mmuano mu, na wɔbɛka se, ‘Wo ne yɛn nkɔ, efisɛ yɛate sɛ Onyankopɔn ka wo ho.’”
Yahweh of hosts says this: In those days ten men from every language and nation will grasp the hem of your robe and say, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you!'”
