< Sefania 3 >

1 Nnome nka nhyɛsofo kuropɔn atuatew kuropɔn a ho agu fi!
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, the oppressing city!
2 Ɔnyɛ osetie mma obiara onnye nteɛso biara nto mu. Ɔmfa ne ho nto Awurade so. Ontwiw mmɛn ne Nyankopɔn.
She didn’t obey the voice. She didn’t receive correction. She didn’t trust in Yahweh. She didn’t draw near to her God.
3 Nʼakannifo yɛ gyata a wɔbobɔ mu, ne sodifo yɛ mpataku a wɔnam anadwo, a wonnya biribiara mma adekyee.
Her princes within her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing until the next day.
4 Ne nkɔmhyɛfo yɛ ahantan; wɔyɛ afatwafo. Nʼasɔfo gu kronkronbea ho fi. Wɔnam mmara no so di nsɛmmɔne.
Her prophets are arrogant and treacherous people. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
5 Awurade a ɔte ne mu no yɛ ɔtreneeni; ɔnyɛ mfomso biara. Adekyee biara, ɔda ne trenee adi, na onni huammɔ da, nanso amumɔyɛfo de, wonnim aniwu.
Yahweh, within her, is righteous. He will do no wrong. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He doesn’t fail, but the unjust know no shame.
6 “Masɛe amanaman; madwiriw wɔn abandennen agu. Wɔn mmorɔn so adeda mpan, a obiara ntwa mu hɔ. Wɔasɛe wɔn nkuropɔn; a obiara renka.
I have cut off nations. Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that no one passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7 Meka kyerɛɛ kuropɔn no se, ‘ampa ara wubesuro me na woagye nteɛso ato mu!’ Na afei ne tenabea rensɛe, na mʼasotwe biara nso remma no so. Nanso wɔn ho peree wɔn sɛ wɔbɛkɔ so ayɛ bɔne, wɔn nneyɛe nyinaa mu.
I said, “Just fear me. Receive correction,” so that her dwelling won’t be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
8 Enti twɛn me,” sɛnea Awurade se ni, “na da no mɛsɔre adi adanse. Mayɛ mʼadwene sɛ mɛboaboa amanaman ne ahenni ano na mahwie mʼabufuw agu wɔn so mʼabufuwhyew nyinaa. Me ninkutwe abufuw gya mu no, asase nyinaa bɛhyew.
“Therefore wait for me”, says Yahweh, “until the day that I rise up to the prey, for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour on them my indignation, even all my fierce anger, for all the earth will be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 “Afei medwira nnipa no ano, na wɔn nyinaa abɔ Awurade din na wɔaka abɔ mu asom no.
For then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that they may all call on Yahweh’s name, to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 Mʼasomfo, me nkurɔfo a wɔabɔ ahwete no befi nsubɔnten a ɛwɔ Kus nohɔ de wɔn afɔrebɔde abrɛ me.
From beyond the rivers of Cush, my worshipers, even the daughter of my dispersed people, will bring my offering.
11 Saa da no, wo Yerusalem, wɔrengu wʼanim ase wɔ nneyɛe bɔne a woayɛ atia me ho, efisɛ meyi afi saa kuropɔn yi mu, wɔn a wodi ahantan mu ahurusi, na worenyɛ ahantan bio wɔ me bepɔw kronkron no so.
In that day you will not be disappointed for all your doings in which you have transgressed against me; for then I will take away out from among you your proudly exulting ones, and you will no more be arrogant in my holy mountain.
12 Nanso megyaw wɔ wo mu wɔn a wodwo na wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase, na wɔde wɔn ho to Awurade so no.
But I will leave among you an afflicted and poor people, and they will take refuge in Yahweh’s name.
13 Wɔrenyɛ bɔne biara; wɔrenka nkontomposɛm, na wɔn ano renka nnaadaasɛm wobedidi na wɔada, na obiara renyi wɔn hu.”
The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity nor speak lies, neither will a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth, for they will feed and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”
14 To dwom, Ɔbabea Sion; teɛ mu dennen, Israel! Ma wʼani nnye, na di ahurusi wɔ wo koma nyinaa mu, Ɔbabea Yerusalem!
Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.
15 Efisɛ Awurade ayi wʼasotwe afi wo so, wama wo tamfo asan nʼakyi. Awurade, Israelhene ka wo ho; worensuro ɔhaw biara bio.
Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil any more.
16 Saa da no, wɔbɛka akyerɛ Yerusalem se, “Nsuro, Sion! Mma wo nsa mu ngow.
In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”
17 Awurade wo Nyankopɔn ne wo wɔ hɔ, Ɔyɛ ogyefo ɔhoɔdenfo. Nʼani begye wo ho ne dɔ mu, ɔrenka wʼanim bio, ɔde nnwonto bedi wo ho anigye.”
Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
18 “Meyi wɔn a wodi awerɛhow wɔ wʼafahyɛnna ahorow a woahwere; a ayɛ adesoa ne animguase ama wo no ho.
I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you. They are a burden and a reproach to you.
19 Saa bere no me ne wɔn a wɔhyɛɛ wo so nyinaa bedi. Megye mmerɛwyɛfo na mɛboaboa wɔn a wɔabɔ wɔn ahwete no ano. Mɛkamfo wɔn ahyɛ wɔn anuonyam asase biara a woguu wɔn anim ase wɔ so no so.
Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict you; and I will save those who are lame and gather those who were driven away. I will give them praise and honor, whose shame has been in all the earth.
20 Saa bere no, mɛboaboa mo ano; saa bere no, mede mo bɛba fie. Mɛhyɛ wo anuonyam na makamfo mo wɔ asase so nnipa nyinaa mu bere a mede mo ahonyade bɛsan ama wo na mode mo ani behu no,” sɛnea Awurade se ni.
At that time I will bring you in, and at that time I will gather you; for I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says Yahweh.

< Sefania 3 >