< Sefania 3 >
1 Nnome nka nhyɛsofoɔ kuropɔn atuateɛ kuropɔn a ɛho agu fi!
Woe to the rebellious city! The violent city is defiled.
2 Ɔnnyɛ ɔsetie mma obiara ɔnnye nteɛsoɔ biara nto mu. Ɔmfa ne ho nto Awurade so. Ɔntwi mmɛn ne Onyankopɔn.
She has not listened to the voice of God, nor accepted correction from Yahweh. She does not trust in Yahweh and will not approach her God.
3 Nʼakandifoɔ yɛ agyata a wɔbobɔ mu, ne sodifoɔ yɛ mpataku a wɔnam anadwo, a wɔnnya biribiara mma adekyeɛ.
Her princes are roaring lions in her midst. Her judges are evening wolves who leave nothing to be gnawed upon in the morning.
4 Ne nkɔmhyɛfoɔ yɛ ahantan; wɔyɛ afatwafoɔ. Nʼasɔfoɔ gu kronkronbea ho fi. Wɔnam mmara no so di nsɛmmɔne.
Her prophets are insolent and treasonous men. Her priests have profaned what is holy and have done violence to the law.
5 Awurade a ɔte ne mu no yɛ ɔteneneeni; ɔnnyɛ mfomsoɔ biara. Adekyeeɛ biara ɔda ne tenenee adi, na ɔnni hwammɔ da, nanso amumuyɛfoɔ deɛ wonnim aniwuo.
Yahweh is righteous in her midst. He can do no wrong. Morning by morning he will dispense his justice! It will not be hidden in the light, yet unrighteous people know no shame.
6 “Masɛe amanaman; madwiri wɔn abandenden agu. Wɔn mmorɔno so adeda mpan, a obiara ntwa mu hɔ. Wɔaseɛ wɔn nkuropɔn; a obi biara renka.
“I have destroyed nations; their fortresses are ruined. I have made their streets ruins, so that no one passes over them. Their cities are destroyed so that there is no man inhabiting them.
7 Meka kyerɛɛ kuropɔn no sɛ, ‘ampa ara wobɛsuro me na woagye nteɛsoɔ ato mu!’ Na afei ne tenaberɛ rensɛe, na mʼasotwe biara nso remma ne so. Nanso, wɔn ho peree wɔn sɛ wɔbɛkɔso ayɛ bɔne wɔn nneyɛeɛ nyinaa mu.
I said, 'Surely you will fear me. Accept correction and do not be cut off from your homes by all that I have planned to do to you.' But they were eager to begin each morning by corrupting all their deeds.
8 Enti, twɛn me,” sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie, “na ɛda no mɛsɔre adi adanseɛ. Mayɛ mʼadwene sɛ mɛboaboa amanaman ne ahennie ano na mahwie mʼabufuo agu wɔn so mʼabufuhyeɛ nyinaa. Me ninkuntwe abufuo ogya mu no, asase nyinaa bɛhye.
Therefore wait for me—this is Yahweh's declaration—until the day that I rise up to seize the prey. For my decision is to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms, to pour out on them my anger—all of my burning wrath; for in the fire of my jealousy all the earth will be consumed.
9 “Afei mɛdwira nnipa no ano, na wɔn nyinaa abɔ Awurade din na wɔaka abɔ mu asom no.
But then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call upon the name of Yahweh to serve him shoulder to shoulder.
10 Mʼasomfoɔ, me nkurɔfoɔ a wɔabɔ ahwete no bɛfiri nsubɔntene a ɛwɔ Kus nohoa de wɔn afɔrebɔdeɛ abrɛ me.
From beyond the river of Cush my worshipers—my scattered people—will bring offerings due me.
11 Saa ɛda no, wo Yerusalem, wɔrengu wʼanim ase wɔ nneyɛeɛ bɔne a woayɛ atia me ho, ɛfiri sɛ mɛyi afiri saa kuropɔn yi mu, wɔn a wodi ahantan mu ahurisie na worenyɛ ahantan bio wɔ me bepɔ kronkron no so.
In that day you will not be put to shame for all your deeds that you committed against me, since at that time I will remove from among you those who celebrated your pride, and because you will no longer act arrogantly on my holy mountain.
12 Nanso mɛgya wɔ wo mu wɔn a wɔdwo na wɔbrɛ wɔn ho ase, na wɔde wɔn ho to Awurade so.
But I will leave among you a lowly and poor people, and they will find refuge in the name of Yahweh.
13 Israel nkaeɛfoɔ renyɛ bɔne Wɔrenka nkontonpo nsɛm, na wɔn ano renka nnaadaa nsɛm wɔbɛdidi na wɔada na obiara renyi wɔn hu.”
The remnant of Israel will no longer commit injustice or speak lies, and no deceitful tongue will be found in their mouth; so they will graze and lie down, and no one will make them afraid.”
14 To dwom Ao, Ɔbabaa Sion; team denden Ao, Israel! Ma wʼani nnye, na di ahurisie wɔ wʼakoma nyinaa mu, Ao, Ɔbabaa Yerusalem!
Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel. Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.
15 Ɛfiri sɛ, Awurade ayi wʼasotweɛ afiri wo so, wama wo ɔtamfoɔ asane nʼakyi. Awurade Israelhene ka wo ho; worensuro ɔhaw biara bio.
Yahweh has taken away your punishment; he has driven out your enemies! Yahweh is the king of Israel among you. You will never again fear evil!
16 Saa ɛda no, wɔbɛka akyerɛ Yerusalem sɛ, “Mma nsuro, Ao Sion! Mma wo nsa mu nhodwo.
In that day they will say to Jerusalem, “Do not fear, Zion. Do not let your hands falter.
17 Awurade wo Onyankopɔn ne wo wɔ hɔ, Ɔyɛ ɔgyefoɔ ɔhoɔdenfoɔ. Nʼani bɛgye wo ho ɔfiri ne dɔ mu bɛdwodwo wo, ɔde nnwontoɔ bɛma nʼani agye wo ho.
Yahweh your God is among you, a mighty one to save you. He will celebrate over you with joy; he will be silent over you in his love; he will be glad over you with a shout for joy.
18 “Mo awerɛhoɔ to bɛtwa ɛfiri sɛ mobɛnya ɛkwan adi mo afahyɛ no; mo anim rengu ase bio.
I will gather those who grieve, those who cannot attend the appointed feasts, so you will no longer bear any shame for it.
19 Saa ɛberɛ no me ne wɔn a wɔhyɛɛ wo so nyinaa bɛdi; Mɛgye mmerɛyɛfoɔ na mɛboaboa wɔn a wɔabɔ wɔn ahwete no ano. Mɛkamfo wɔn ahyɛ wɔn animuonyam asase biara a wɔguu wɔn anim ase wɔ so no so.
Behold, I am about to deal with all your oppressors. At that time, I will rescue the lame and gather up the outcast. I will make them as praise, and I will change their shame into renown in all the earth.
20 Saa ɛda no, mɛboaboa wo ano, na mede wo aba fie. Mɛhyɛ wo animuonyam na makamfo wo wɔ asase so nnipa nyinaa mu na mede wʼahonyadeɛ bɛsane ama wo na wode wʼani bɛhunu,” sɛdeɛ Awurade ka nie.
At that time I will lead you; at that time I will gather you together. I will make all the nations of the earth respect and praise you, when you see that I restored you,” says Yahweh.