Yosua 22

1 Afei, Yosua frɛɛ Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw ne Manase abusuakuw fa no nyinaa.

At that time Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

2 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Moayɛ sɛnea Mose, Awurade somfo hyɛɛ mo sɛ monyɛ no na moadi ɔhyɛ asɛm biara a mehyɛ maa mo no so.

He said to them, “You have done everything that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you. You have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ dwumadi no agye bere tenten bi de, nanso moampa mmusuakuw a aka no akyi. Moatɔ mo bo ase adi mmara a Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn hyɛ maa mo no so de abesi nnɛ.

You have not deserted your brothers these many days, down to this present day, and you have fulfilled the duties required by the commandments of Yahweh your God.

4 Na mprempren Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn ama mmusuakuw a aka no ahomegye sɛnea ɔhyɛɛ wɔn bɔ no. Enti monkɔ mo nkyi wɔ asase a Mose, Awurade somfo no de maa mo wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan apuei fam no so.

Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, just as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land you own, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

5 Monhwɛ yiye na munni mmara a Mose hyɛ maa mo no so. Monnɔ Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn. Monnantew nʼakwan nyinaa so, munni nʼahyɛde so, munni no nokware na momfa mo koma nyinaa ne mo kra nyinaa nsom no.”

Just be very careful to observe the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to cling to him and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6 Na Yosua hyiraa wɔn, gyaa wɔn kwan ma wɔkɔɔ fie.

So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went back to their tents.

7 Mose de Basan asase a ɛwɔ Yordan apuei fam no maa Manase abusuakuw fa no. Abusuakuw no fa a aka no nso, wɔde asase no fa a ɛda Yordan atɔe fam no maa wɔn. Yosua regya wɔn kwan no, ohyiraa wɔn,

Now to one-half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given an inheritance in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave an inheritance beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. Joshua sent them away to their tents; he blessed them

8 kae se, “Agyapade bebrebe a moanya afi mo atamfo nkyɛn no, mo ne mo abusuafo a wɔwɔ fie no nkyɛ. Anantwi dodow ne nguan bebrebe no, mo dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ, mo kɔbere mfrafrae, dade ne adurade no nyinaa, mo ne wɔn nkyɛ.”

and said to them, “Return to your tents with much money, and with very much livestock, and with silver and gold, and with bronze and iron, and with very many garments. Divide the plunder from your enemies with your brothers.”

9 Enti Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no gyaw Israelfo nkae no hɔ wɔ Silo a ɛwɔ Kanaan asase so. Wofitii wɔn akwantu ase sɛ wɔresan akɔ wɔn ankasa asase a ɛwɔ Gilead, asase a na ɛyɛ wɔn dea dedaw a Awurade hyɛɛ Mose ma ɔde maa wɔn no so.

So the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh returned home, leaving the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. They left to go to the region of Gilead, to their own land, which they themselves possessed, in obedience to the commandment of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses.

10 Wɔda so wɔ Kanaan no, ansa na wobetwa Asubɔnten Yordan no, Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no sii afɔremuka kɛse bi wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan nkyɛn, wɔ faako a wɔfrɛ hɔ Gelilot no.

When they came to the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar beside the Jordan, a very large and prominent altar.

11 Israelfo a wɔaka no tee sɛ wɔasi afɔremuka wɔ Gelilot wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan atɔe fam, wɔ Kanaan asase so no,

The people of Israel heard about this and said, “Look! The people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the front of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth, in the region near the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel.”

12 wɔn nyinaa boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Silo, siesiee wɔn ho sɛ wɔrekɔko atia wɔn nuanom.

When the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go up to make war against them.

13 Nea edi kan no, wotuu nnipa a ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima Pinehas tua wɔn ano kɔɔ Gilead. Wotwaa asubɔnten no sɛ wɔne Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no rekɔkasa.

Then the people of Israel sent messengers to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead. They also sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest,

14 Nnipa a wotuu wɔn no yɛ mpanyimfo du a obiara gyina hɔ ma Israel mmusuakuw du no mu baako, na ɔsan yɛ ɔkannifo ma Israel mmusua no mu baako.

and with him ten leaders, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, and every one of them was the head of a family among the clan of Israel.

15 Na woduu Gilead asase so no, wɔka kyerɛɛ Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no se,

They came to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke to them:

16 “Awurade asafokuw nyinaa pɛ sɛ wohu nea enti a moredi Israel Nyankopɔn no huammɔ. Adɛn nti na mutumi dan mo ho fi Awurade ho, kosi afɔremuka de tia no?

“The whole assembly of Yahweh says this, 'What is this unfaithfulness that you have committed against the God of Israel, by turning this day from following Yahweh by building yourself an altar this day in rebellion against Yahweh?

17 Bɔne a yɛyɛɛ wɔ Peor no nnɔɔso mmaa yɛn ana? Ɔyaredɔm a ɛbɛtɔɔ Awurade asafokuw no nyinaa so akyi no mpo, yennwiraa yɛn ho mfii ho.

Was our sin at Peor not enough for us? Yet we have not even now cleansed ourselves from it. For that sin there came a plague on the assembly of Yahweh.

18 Nanso nnɛ yi, moretwe mo ho afi Awurade ho, sɛ morenni nʼakyi. “Sɛ mosɔre tia Awurade nnɛ a, ɔkyena ne bo befuw yɛn nyinaa.

Must you also turn away from following Yahweh at this present day? If you also rebel against Yahweh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole assembly of Israel.

19 Sɛ mususuw sɛ efi aka mo asase enti afɔremuka ho hia mo a, ɛno de, mommɛka yɛn ho wɔ asuogya ha wɔ faako a Awurade ne yɛn te wɔ nʼAsɔrefi na yɛne mo bɛkyɛ yɛn asase mu. Na monnsɔre ntia Awurade na mommfa afɔremuka foforo a moasi ama mo ho so ntwe yɛn nkɔ atuatew mu. Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn nokware afɔremuka yɛ baako pɛ.

If the land that you possess is defiled, then you should pass over into the land where Yahweh's tabernacle stands and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves other than the altar of Yahweh our God.

20 Bere a Akan a ofi Serah abusua mu nam korɔn a ɔbɔɔ wɔ nneɛma a wɔayi asi hɔ ama Awurade, nam so yɛɛ bɔne no, Onyankopɔn antwe Israel manfo nyinaa aso? Ɛnyɛ ɔno nko ara na esiane bɔne no nti owui.”

Did not Achan son of Zerah break faith in the matter of those things that had been reserved for God? Did not wrath fall on all the people of Israel? That man did not perish alone for his iniquity.'”

21 Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no buaa mpanyimfo no se,

Then the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh replied in answer to the heads of the clans of Israel:

22 “Awurade nko ara ne Onyankopɔn! Awurade nko ara ne Onyankopɔn! Yɛansi afɔremuka no sɛ yɛde retia Awurade. Sɛ saa na yɛayɛ a, nnɛ, momfa yɛn ho nkyɛ yɛn. Nanso Awurade nim na Israel nyinaa nso nhu sɛ,

“The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! The Mighty One, God, Yahweh!—He knows, and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against Yahweh, do not spare us on this day

23 yensii afɔremuka mmaa yɛn ho sɛ yɛrefi Awurade nkyɛn. Na yɛremmɔ ɔhyew afɔre ne aduan afɔre anaa asomdwoe afɔre wɔ so nso. Sɛ eyi nti na yesii afɔremuka no a, Awurade no ankasa ntwe yɛn aso.

for having built an altar to turn ourselves away from following Yahweh. If we built that altar in order to offer on it burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings, then let Yahweh make us pay for it.

24 “Yɛasi saa afɔremuka yi, efisɛ yesuro sɛ daakye bi mo asefo bebisa yɛn asefo sɛ, ‘Tumi bɛn na mowɔ sɛ mobɛsom Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn?

No! We did it for fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?

25 Awurade de Asubɔnten Yordan ato yɛn nkurɔfo ne ne nkurɔfo ntam hye. Munni kyɛfa wɔ Awurade mu!’ Enti mo asefo bɛma yɛn asefo agyae Awurade som.

For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you. You people of Reuben and people of Gad, you have nothing to do with Yahweh.' So your children might make our children cease to worship Yahweh.

26 “Ɛno nti yɛyɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ yebesi afɔremuka, na ɛnyɛ sɛ yɛbɛbɔ ɔhyew afɔre wɔ so,

So we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for any sacrifices,

27 na mmom sɛ nkaedum. Ɛbɛbɔ yɛn asefo ne mo asefo nkae sɛ, yɛn nso, yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yɛbɛsom Awurade wɔ ne kronkronbea, abɔ yɛn ɔhyew afɔre, aduan afɔre ne asomdwoe afɔre. Na daakye bi no, mo asefo rentumi nka nkyerɛ yɛn asefo no se, ‘Munni kyɛfa wɔ Awurade mu.’

but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we will perform the service of Yahweh before him, with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your children will never say to our children in time to come, “You have no share in Yahweh.”'

28 “Sɛ wɔka sɛɛ a, yɛn asefo betumi aka se, ‘Monhwɛ Awurade afɔremuka sɛso a yɛn agyanom sii. Wɔansi amma ɔhyew afɔrebɔ anaa afɔrebɔ, na mmom, ɛyɛ nkae ade a ɛkyerɛ ayɔnkofa a yɛn nyinaa wɔ wɔ Awurade mu.’

So we said, 'If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we would say, “Look! This is a copy of the altar of Yahweh, which our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.”

29 “Ɛmpare yɛn sɛ yɛbɛsɔre atia Awurade, anaasɛ yɛbɛtwe yɛn ho afi ne ho akosi yɛn ankasa afɔremuka ama ɔhyew afɔre, aduan afɔre anaa afɔrebɔ. Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn afɔremuka a esi nʼAhyiae Ntamadan anim no so na wodi saa dwuma no.”

May it be far from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and today turn away from following him by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering, or for sacrifice, other than the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle.'”

30 Ɔsɔfo Pinehas ne mpanyimfo du no tee nsɛm yi fii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw ne Manase abusuakuw fa hɔ no, wɔn bo tɔɔ wɔn yam.

When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the people, that is, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said, that it was good in their eyes.

31 Ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima Pinehas buaa wɔn se, “Nnɛ yɛahu sɛ Awurade wɔ yɛn ntam, efisɛ monyɛɛ bɔne ntiaa Awurade sɛnea yesusuwii no, mmom moagye Israel nkwa afi ɔsɛe a anka Awurade de reba wɔn so no ho.”

Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against him. Now you have rescued the people of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh.”

32 Afei, Pinehas, ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima ne mpanyimfo du no fii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw no nkyɛn wɔ Gilead san kɔɔ Kanaan asase so kɔbɔɔ Israelfo no amanneɛ.

Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites, out of the land of Gilead, back to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them.

33 Na Israelfo no nyinaa bo tɔɔ wɔn yam, woyii Onyankopɔn ayɛ na wɔanka ɔko a wɔbɛko atia Ruben ne Gad ho asɛm bio.

Their report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. The people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more about making war against the Reubenites and the Gadites, in order to destroy the land where they had settled.

34 Na Rubenfo ne Gadfo too afɔremuka no din sɛ “Ɔdanseni,” ɔyɛ ɔdanseni wɔ yɛne wɔn ntam sɛ Awurade yɛ yɛn nso Nyankopɔn.

The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar “Witness,” for they said, “It is a witness between us that Yahweh is God.”