Ɛsra 9
1 Na Yudafoɔ ntuanofoɔ no baa me nkyɛn bɛkaa sɛ, “Israelfoɔ bebree, na mpo, asɔfoɔ ne Lewifoɔ ntwee wɔn ho mfirii nnipa afoforɔ bi a wɔte asase no so no ho. Wɔdi akyiwadeɛ a na Kanaanfoɔ, Hetifoɔ, Perisifoɔ, Yebusifoɔ, Amonfoɔ, Moabfoɔ, Misraimfoɔ ne Amorifoɔ yɛ no akyi.
Now when these things were completed, the leaders approached me and said, "The people of Israel, and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Canaanites, the Hethites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2 Na Israelfoɔ mmarima ware firi saa nnipa no mu, na wɔpɛ yerenom firi wɔn mu, ma wɔn mmammarima. Enti, mfrafrawadeɛ no ama nnipa kronkron no ho agu fi. Deɛ ɛsɛe asɛm no koraa ne sɛ, mpanimfoɔ ne ntuanofoɔ no koraa na wɔdi ho fɔ kɛseɛ.”
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Indeed, the hand of the officials and leaders has been foremost in this trespass."
3 Metee saa asɛm yi no, mesunsuanee me ntadeɛ mu, tutuu me tirinwi firii me tiri so, tutuu mʼabɔgyesɛ nso, te tenaa fam ahodwirie so.
When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded.
4 Na wɔn a wɔnyaa ayamhyehyeɛ wɔ Israel Onyankopɔn asɛm ho no bɛtenaa me nkyɛn wɔ ne nkurɔfoɔ nokorɛ a wɔanni no ho. Metenaa ase ahodwirie so, kɔsii anwummerɛ afɔrebɔberɛ.
Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering.
5 Ɛduruu afɔrebɔberɛ no, mesɔre gyinaa baabi a na mete hɔ awerɛhoɔ mu a masunsuane mʼatadeɛ mu, na mebuu nkotodwe, pagyaa me nsa kyerɛɛ Awurade, me Onyankopɔn.
At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to the LORD my God;
6 Mebɔɔ mpaeɛ sɛ: “Ao me Onyankopɔn, mʼani awu yie, na mafɛre sɛ merepagya mʼani akyerɛ wo. Na yɛn bɔne asoa kɔ soro sene yɛn enti na yɛn afɔdie aduru ɔsorosoro.
and I said, "My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
7 Yɛn abakɔsɛm nyinaa yɛ bɔne kɛseɛ fua. Ɛno enti na yɛn ne yɛn ahemfo ne yɛn asɔfoɔ de yɛn ho akɔhyɛ abosonsomfoɔ ahemfo a wɔwɔ asase no so ase no. Wɔakunkum yɛn, wɔakyere yɛn nnommum, wɔabɔ yɛn korɔno, agu yɛn anim ase sɛdeɛ yɛte ɛnnɛ yi ara.
Since the days of our fathers we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.
8 “Nanso, seesei, wɔahunu yɛn mmɔbɔ kakra, ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn, ama yɛn mu kakra atena nkwa mu sɛ nkaaseɛ. Wabɔ yɛn ho ban wɔ beaeɛ kronkron ha. Yɛn Onyankopɔn abue yɛn ani, ama yɛn ahomegyeɛ bi afiri yɛn nkoasom mu.
Now for a little moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9 Ɛfiri sɛ, na yɛyɛ nkoa nanso, ne dɔ a ɔde dɔ yɛn daa no enti, Onyankopɔn annyaa yɛn wɔ yɛn nkoasom mu. Mmom, ɔmaa Persiahene hwɛɛ yɛn yie. Ɔkanyanee yɛn, sɛdeɛ yɛbɛtumi asane asi yɛn Onyankopɔn asɔredan no, asiesie nʼamamfoɔ no. Wama yɛn banbɔ afasuo wɔ Yuda ne Yerusalem.
For we are bondservants; yet our God has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended loving kindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10 “Na seesei Ao, yɛn Onyankopɔn, yeinom nyinaa akyi asɛm bɛn na yɛwɔ ka? Ɛfiri sɛ, yɛapo wo mmaransɛm bio.
"Now, our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments,
11 Wʼasomfoɔ adiyifoɔ no bɔɔ yɛn kɔkɔ sɛ, asase a yɛbɛfa no, nnipa a wɔte so no nam wɔn nneyɛɛ bɔne so agu ho fi koraa. Porɔeɛ ahyɛ asase no so ma, firi tire kɔsi tire.
which you have commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, 'The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness.
12 Woka kyerɛɛ yɛn sɛ, yɛmmma yɛn mmammaa nnware wɔn mmammarima, na yɛn mmammarima nso nnware wɔn mmammaa, na ɛnsɛ sɛ yɛboa saa aman no kwan biara so. Wohyɛɛ bɔ sɛ, sɛ yɛgyae saa nneɛma yi yɛ a, yɛbɛyɛ ɔman kɛseɛ. Wohyɛɛ bɔ sɛ, yɛbɛdi asase no so nnepa, na yɛagya ama yɛn mma sɛ daapem agyapadeɛ.
Now therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.'
13 “Wɔretwe yɛn aso seesei wɔ yɛn amumuyɛsɛm ne yɛn afɔdie ho. Nanso, asotwe a wode ama yɛn no sua koraa sene sɛdeɛ ɛfata yɛn, ɛfiri sɛ, wo Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn ama yɛn mu bi atena sɛ nkaeɛfoɔ.
"After all that has come on us for our evil deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant,
14 Nanso, seesei, yɛresane abu wo mmaransɛm so, na yɛne wɔn a wɔyɛ saa akyiwadeɛ no redi awadeɛ. Nokorɛm, wʼabufuo bɛsɛe yɛn ara akɔsi sɛ, nkaeɛfoɔ kakra no ase bɛtɔre.
shall we again break your commandments, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn't you be angry with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape?
15 Ao Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn woyɛ teneneeni. Yɛnka hwee sɛ nkaeɛfoɔ a wɔafiri nkoasom mu. Yɛde yɛn afɔdie gyina wʼanim a anka saa tebea yi mu, yɛn mu biara rentumi nnyina wʼanim.”
The LORD, the God of Israel, you are righteous; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Look, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this."
