Hesekiel 20

1 Afe a ɛtɔ so nson no bosome enum no ɛda a ɛtɔ so edu no, Israel mpanimfoɔ no mu bi bɛbisaa Awurade hɔ adeɛ, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2 Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn sɛ:

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

3 “Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanimfoɔ no sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Moaba sɛ morebɛbisa me nkyɛn adeɛ anaa? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo ɛkwan mma mommisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfoɔ Awurade na ɔseɛ.’

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

4 “Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwadeɛ a wɔyɛeɛ no si wɔn anim

“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.

5 na ka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Ɛda a meyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakob efie asefoɔ na meyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn.”

Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’

6 Saa ɛda no, mekaa wɔn ntam sɛ mɛyi wɔn afiri Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwoɔ ne nufosuo sene wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu deɛ ɛyɛ papa paa.

in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

7 Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mo mu biara nto nsɛsodeɛ tantan a mode mo ani asi soɔ no ntwene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn.”

I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

8 “‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantoto nsɛsodeɛ tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi soɔ no angu, na wɔannyae ahoni a ɛfiri Misraim no akyiri die. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuo wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.

“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.

9 Nanso me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ ɛmma wɔngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a meyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfoɔ wɔ mu, de yii wɔn firii Misraim no.

But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

10 Enti medii wɔn anim firii Misraim, de wɔn baa ɛserɛ no so.

So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

11 Mede me nhyehyɛeɛ maa wɔn na me ma wɔhunuu me mmara, ɛfiri sɛ obiara a ɔdi soɔ no nam so bɛnya nkwa.

I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.

12 Na mede me home nna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛdeɛ wɔbɛhunu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron.

Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

13 “‘Nanso, Israelfoɔ tee mʼanim atua wɔ ɛserɛ no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛeɛ so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a ɔbɛdi soɔ no bɛnya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na wɔguu me home nna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 Nanso, me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ ɛmma ho ɛkwan ma wɔnngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a meyii wɔn firii so no ani so.

But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwoɔ ne nufosuo sene soɔ, nsase nyinaa mu deɛ ɛyɛ pa ara no,

Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,

16 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛdeɛ so na wɔguu me home nna ho fi, ɛsiane sɛ na wɔn akoma da wɔn ahoni no so.

because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nanso mehunuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn, na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.

18 Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ, “Monnni mo agyanom ahyɛdeɛ ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.

I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

19 Mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn; monni mʼahyɛdeɛ so na monhwɛ yie nni me mmara so.

I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.

20 Monyɛ me home nna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn no.”

Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

21 “‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛdeɛ so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so, deɛ onipa di so a ɔbɛnya nkwa no. Wɔguu me home nna ho fi. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuo a ɛtia wɔn wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ amma ɛho ngu fi wɔ aman a meyii wɔn firii so no ani so.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

23 Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,

Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,

24 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛdeɛ guu me home nna ho fi, na wɔn ani kɔdii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.

because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Bio, mede wɔn hyɛɛ nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛnyɛ, ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;

Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.

26 memaa ho ɛkwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔdeɛ de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛdeɛ mede ahodwirie bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahunu sɛ me ne Awurade.’

I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

27 “Enti, onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfoɔ, ka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ nie: Na yei mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:

“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ, yɛɛ afɔrebɔdeɛ maa kokoɔ biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhahan de hyɛɛ me abufuo; wɔde nnuhwam maeɛ na wɔhwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.

For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

29 Na mebisaa wɔn sɛ: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.)

Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’

30 “Enti ka kyerɛ Israel efie sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Mobɛgu mo ho fi sɛdeɛ mo agyanom yɛeɛ na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni tantan no anaa?

“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?

31 Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛyɛ mo mmammarima bɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, ɛnneɛ mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi bɛsi ɛnnɛ. Memma mommɛbisa me hɔ adeɛ anaa, Ao Israel efie? Ampa ara, sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie, meremma mommmisa me hɔ adeɛ.

When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!

32 “‘Moka sɛ, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ ewiasefoɔ a wɔsom nnua ne aboɔ no.” Nanso deɛ ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.

“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’

33 Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie, mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔatene mu ne abufuhyeɛ a wɔahwie agu bɛdi mo so.

As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.

34 Mede mo bɛfiri amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afiri nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔatene mu ne abufuhyeɛ a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.

I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.

35 Mede mo bɛba amanaman no ɛserɛ so, na ɛhɔ na mɛbu mo atɛn animu ne animu.

I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Sɛdeɛ mebuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim ɛserɛ soɔ no, saa ara na mɛbu mo atɛn, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie.

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD.

37 Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahunu mo yie na mede mo aba apam no nkyehoma ase.

“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

38 Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwom sɛ mɛyi wɔn afiri aman a wɔte soɔ no mu, nanso wɔn nan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade no.

I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into Eretz-Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

39 “‘Na mo deɛ, Ao Israel efie, yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso, akyiri no, mobɛtie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛdeɛ ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.

“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.

40 Ɛfiri sɛ, me bɛpɔ kronkron no so, Israel bepɔ a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfoɔ Awurade na ɔseɛ, ɛhɔ, wɔ asase no so na Israel efie nyinaa bɛsom me, na ɛhɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mɛhia mo afɔrebɔdeɛ ne mo ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛdi mu no aka mo afɔdeɛ kronkron no nyinaa ho.

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

41 Sɛ meyi mo firi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano firi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ krobo a ɛyi hwa, afei mɛda me kronnyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahunu.

I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

42 Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom so a, na mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade.

You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into Eretz-Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

43 Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛɛ nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwunu ɛsiane amumuyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa enti.

There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

44 Israel, ɛfata sɛ wɔtwe wʼaso. Nanso mene wo bɛdi no wɔ ɛkwan a ɛbɛhyɛ me din animuonyam so. Wobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade no, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie.’”

You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”

45 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn sɛ:

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

46 “Onipa ba, fa wʼani kyerɛ anafoɔ fam, ka asɛm tia anafoɔ fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwaeɛ a ɛwɔ anafoɔ fam asase soɔ.

“Son of man, set your face toward the south, and proclaim toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.

47 Ka kyerɛ anafoɔ fam kwaeɛ no sɛ: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Merebɛto wo mu ogya, na ɛbɛhye nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Deɛ ɛyɛ mono ne deɛ awoɔ. Wɔrennum ogyadɛreɛ no na ɛbɛhye asase no ani nyinaa; ɛfiri anafoɔ fam kɔsi atifi fam.

Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.

48 Obiara bɛhunu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”

All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”

49 Afei mekaa sɛ, “Aa Otumfoɔ Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho sɛ, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi anaa?’”

Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”