Yeremia 23

1 “Nnome nka nnwanhwɛfoɔ a wɔsɛe na wɔhwete me nnwankuo no” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration.”

2 Ɛno enti yei ne deɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, ka kyerɛ ahwɛfoɔ a wɔhwɛ me nkurɔfoɔ so nie: “Esiane sɛ, moabɔ me nnwankuo ahweteɛ, na moapam wɔn na moanhwɛ wɔn so yie no enti, mede asotwe bɛbrɛ mo wɔ mo bɔne a moayɛ no nti,” deɛ Awurade seɛ nie.

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the evil you have done—this is Yahweh's declaration.

3 “Me ara ankasa mɛboaboa me nnwan nkaeɛ no afifiri aman a mapam wɔn akɔ hɔ nyinaa no so na mede wɔn bɛsane aba wɔn adidibea bio, baabi wɔbɛwowo na wɔn ase atrɛ.

I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase.

4 Na mɛyi nnwanhwɛfoɔ a wɔbɛhwɛ wɔn so, na wɔrensuro na wɔremmɔ hu bio na wɔn mu baako mpo renyera.” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be shattered. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.

5 “Nna bi reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “Mɛma tenenee dubaa bi so ama Dawid, ɔhene bi a ɔbɛdi adeɛ nyansa mu na wayɛ deɛ ɛtene ne deɛ ɛyɛ wɔ asase yi so.

See, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch. He will reign as king; he will act wisely and cause justice and righteousness in the land.

6 Ne mmerɛ so, wɔbɛgye Yuda nkwa na Israel bɛtena ase wɔ asomdwoeɛ mu. Yei ne edin a wɔde bɛfrɛ no: Awurade Yɛn Tenenee.

In his days Judah will be rescued, and Israel will live in security. Then this is the name by which he will be called: Yahweh is our righteousness.

7 Na afei nna bi reba,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “a nnipa renka bio sɛ, ‘Nokorɛm sɛ Awurade te ase yi, deɛ ɔyii Israelfoɔ firii Misraim,’

Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from the land of Egypt.'

8 na mmom, wɔbɛka sɛ, ‘Nokorɛm sɛ Awurade te ase yi, deɛ ɔyii Israel asefoɔ firii atifi asase so ne aman nyinaa a ɔpamoo wɔn kɔɔ hɔ no so.’ Na afei wɔbɛtena wɔn ankasa asase so.”

Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where they had been driven.' Then they will live in their own land.”

9 Ɛfa adiyifoɔ no ho no: Mʼakoma abubu wɔ me mu; me nnompe nyinaa woso. Mete sɛ ɔsabofoɔ, mete sɛ obi a nsã aboro noɔ, ɛsiane Awurade ne ne nsɛm kronkron no enti.

Regarding the prophets, my heart is broken in me, and all of my bones tremble. I have become like a drunk man, like a man whom wine has overpowered, because of Yahweh and his holy words.

10 Awaresɛefoɔ ahyɛ asase no so ma; nnome no enti asase no awo wesee adidibea a ɛwɔ anweatam no so ahye. Adiyifoɔ no nam ɛkwan bɔne so de wɔn tumi yɛ deɛ ɛntene.

For the land is full of adulterers. Because of these the land is dried up. The meadows in the wilderness dry up. These prophets' paths are wicked; their power is not used in a right manner.

11 “Odiyifoɔ ne ɔsɔfoɔ nyinaa nsuro Onyankopɔn; mʼasɔredan mu mpo mehunu wɔn amumuyɛsɛm,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

“For both the prophets and the priests are polluted. I even found their wickedness in my house!—this is Yahweh's declaration—

12 “Ɛno enti, wɔn ɛkwan so bɛyɛ torotorotoro; wɔbɛpam wɔn akɔ esum mu na ɛhɔ na wɔbɛhwehwe ase. Mede amanehunu bɛba wɔn so wɔ afe a wɔbɛtwe wɔn aso mu no,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

therefore their way will be like a slippery place in the darkness. They will be pushed down. They will fall in it. For I will send disaster against them in the year of their punishment—this is Yahweh's declaration.

13 “Samaria adiyifoɔ mu no mehunuu saa atantanneɛ yi: Wɔde Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm nam so maa me nkurɔfoɔ Israelfoɔ fom ɛkwan.

For I have seen the prophets in Samaria doing what is repulsive: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.

14 Na Yerusalem adiyifoɔ mu no mahunu adeɛ a ɛyɛ hu: Wɔsɛe awadeɛ na wɔdi atorɔ. Wɔhyɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no mpamuden, enti obiara nntwe ne ho mfiri nʼamumuyɛsɛm ho. Wɔn nyinaa te sɛ Sodom ma me; na Yerusalemfoɔ te sɛ Gomora.”

Among the prophets in Jerusalem I have seen horrible things: They commit adultery and walk in deceit. They strengthen the hands of evildoers; no one turns back from his evildoing. All of them have become like Sodom to me and its inhabitants like Gomorrah!”

15 Ɛno enti, yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ fa adiyifoɔ no ho: “Mema wɔadi aduane a ɛyɛ nwono na wɔanom nsuo a awuduro wɔ mu, ɛfiri sɛ Yerusalem adiyifoɔ enti, abɔnefosɛm ahyɛ asase yi so ma.”

Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets, “Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood and drink poisonous water, for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem to all the land.”

16 Yei ne deɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ: “Monntie nkɔm a adiyifoɔ no hyɛ kyerɛ mo; wɔma mo nya anidasoɔ a ɛnni nnyinasoɔ. Wɔbɔ wɔn tirim ka anisoadehunu, a ɛmfiri Awurade anom.

Yahweh of hosts says this, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They have deluded you! They are announcing visions from their own minds, not from Yahweh's mouth.

17 Wɔkɔ so ka kyerɛ wɔn a wɔbu me animtia sɛ, ‘Awurade se: Mobɛnya asomdwoeɛ.’ Na wɔn a wɔdi wɔn akomadenyɛ akyi no nyinaa, wɔka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Ɔhaw biara remma mo so.’

They are constantly saying to those who dishonor me, 'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.' For everyone walking in the stubbornness of his own heart says, 'Disaster will not come upon you.'

18 Na wɔn mu hwan na waka Awurade agyinatufoɔ ho sɛ ɔbɛhwɛ anaa ɔbɛtie nʼasɛm? Hwan na wayɛ aso ate nʼasɛm?

Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting? Who sees and hears his word? Who pays attention to his word and listens?

19 Hwɛ, Awurade ahum bɛtu abufuhyeɛ mu, ntwahoframa bɛdi kyinhyia wɔ amumuyɛfoɔ mpampam.

See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh! His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about. It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.

20 Awurade abufuo rennwo kɔsi sɛ ɔbɛwie nʼakoma mu nhyehyɛeɛ nyinaa. Nna a ɛreba no mu no mobɛte aseɛ yie.

Yahweh's wrath will not return until it has carried out and brought into being his heart's intentions. In the final days, you will understand it.

21 Mansoma saa adiyifoɔ yi, nanso wɔde wɔn asɛm akyinkyini; manto wɔn nkra biara, nanso wɔahyɛ nkɔm.

I did not send out these prophets. They just appeared. I did not proclaim anything to them, but they have still prophesied.

22 Sɛ wɔkaa mʼagyinatufoɔ ho a, anka wɔbɛpae mu aka mʼasɛm akyerɛ me nkurɔfoɔ na ama wɔatwe wɔn ho afiri wɔn akwammɔne ne wɔn nneyɛɛ bɔne ho.

For if they had stood in my council meeting, they would have caused my people to hear my word; they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words and corrupt practices.

23 “Meyɛ Onyankopɔn a mebɛn nko ara anaa,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “na mennyɛ Onyankopɔn a mewɔ akyirikyiri nso?

Am I only a God nearby—this is Yahweh's declaration—and not also a God far away?

24 Obi bɛtumi de ne ho asie baabi a merentumi nhunu no anaa?” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Menyɛɛ ɔsoro ne asase so ma anaa?” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?—this is Yahweh's declaration— and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?—this is Yahweh's declaration.

25 “Mate deɛ adiyifoɔ a wɔde medin hyɛ nkɔmtorɔ no keka. Wɔkeka sɛ, ‘Mesoo daeɛ! Mesoo daeɛ!’

I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!'

26 Yei bɛkɔ so akɔsi da bɛn wɔ atorɔ adiyifoɔ yi akoma mu? Wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn tirim hyɛ nnaadaa nkɔm?

How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in their hearts?

27 Wɔdwene sɛ daeɛ a wɔkeka kyerɛkyerɛ wɔn ho no bɛma me nkurɔfoɔ werɛ afiri me din, sɛdeɛ Baalsom enti wɔn agyanom werɛ firii me din no.

They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.

28 Ma odiyifoɔ a waso daeɛ no nka nʼadaeso, na ma deɛ ɔwɔ mʼasɛm no nka no nokorɛm. Na ɛdeɛn na ntɛtɛ ne ayuo wɔ yɛ?” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration—

29 “Na mʼasɛm nte sɛ ogya?” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “Ɛnte sɛ asaeɛ a ɛpaapae ɔbotan mu nketenkete anaa?

Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?

30 “Ɛno nti,” Awurade na ɔseɛ, “mekyi adiyifoɔ a wɔfa nsɛm a ɛfiri wɔn yɔnkonom nkyɛn, na wɔpae mu ka no sɛdeɛ ɛfiri me nkyɛn no.

So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.

31 Aane,” Awurade asɛm nie, “mekyi saa adiyifoɔ a wɔde wɔn ankasa tɛkrɛmawoɔ ka sɛ, ‘Awurade na ɔseɛ.’

See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations.

32 Nokorɛm, mekyi wɔn a wɔhyɛ adaeɛso ho nkɔmtorɔ,” Awurade na ɔseɛ. “Wɔka kyerɛ wɔn na wɔde atorɔ nsɛm daadaa me nkurɔfoɔ ma wɔfom ɛkwan, nso mensomaa wɔn na mennyii wɔn. Wɔn ho nni mfasoɔ mma saa nnipa yi koraa,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

See, I am against the prophets who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.

33 “Sɛ saa nnipa yi, anaa odiyifoɔ anaa ɔsɔfoɔ bisa mo sɛ, ‘Ɛdeɛn ne Awurade adiyisɛm no a?’ Monka nkyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Adiyisɛm bɛn? Mɛpo mo, Awurade na ɔseɛ.’

When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration.

34 Sɛ odiyifoɔ bi, ɔsɔfoɔ bi anaa obi foforɔ si so dua sɛ, ‘Awurade adiyisɛm ni’ a, mɛtwe saa ɔbarima no ne ne fiefoɔ aso.

As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and his house.

35 Yei ne deɛ mo mu biara kɔ so ka kyerɛ ne yɔnko anaa ne busuani: ‘Awurade mmuaeɛ ne sɛn?’ Anaa ‘Ɛdeɛn na Awurade aka?’

You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?'

36 Nanso ɛnsɛ sɛ mobɔ ‘Awurade adiyisɛm’ so bio; ɛfiri sɛ, obiara asɛm bɛyɛ nʼadiyisɛm, ne saa enti modanedane nsɛm a ɛfiri Onyankopɔn, Teasefoɔ, Asafo Awurade yɛn Onyankopɔn nkyɛn mu.

But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

37 Yei ne deɛ mokɔ so ka kyerɛ odiyifoɔ: ‘Mmuaeɛ bɛn na Awurade de ama mo?’ Anaa ‘Ɛdeɛn na Awurade aka?’

This is what you will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you? or 'What did Yahweh say?'

38 Ɛwom, mosi so dua sɛ, ‘Yei ne Awurade adiyisɛm’ nanso sei na Awurade ka: Mokaa sɛ, ‘Yei yɛ Awurade adiyisɛm,’ wɔ ɛberɛ a maka akyerɛ mo sɛ monnka saa nsɛm yi bio.

But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, “The burden of Yahweh,”'

39 Afei, nokorɛm, me werɛ bɛfiri mo, na mapam mo ne kuropɔn a mede maa mo ne mo agyanom afiri mʼani so.

therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors.

40 Na mede daa animguaseɛ, ne daa ahohora a werɛ remfi da bɛba mo so.”

Then I will put everlasting shame and insult on you that will not be forgotten.'”