Jeremiah 2
1 The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
Awurade asɛm baa me so:
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘The LORD says, “I remember for you the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, how you went after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
“Kɔpae mu ka ma Yerusalem nte: “‘Mekae sɛnea wode wo ho maa me wo mmabun bere mu, sɛnea wodɔɔ me wɔ wʼayeforo bere mu na wudii mʼakyi wɔ sare so, asase a wonnuaa hwee wɔ so no.
3 Israel was holiness to the LORD, the first fruits of his increase. All who devour him will be held guilty. Evil will come on them,”’ says the LORD.”
Na Israel yɛ kronkron ma Awurade, ne twabere mu aduankan; wɔn a wodii nʼani no wobuu wɔn fɔ, na amanehunu baa wɔn so,’” sɛnea Awurade, se ni.
4 Hear the LORD’s word, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel!
Muntie Awurade asɛm, mo Yakob asefo, mo Israel mmusuakuw nyinaa.
5 The LORD says, “What unrighteousness have your fathers found in me, that they have gone far from me, and have walked after worthless vanity, and have become worthless?
Eyi ne nea Awurade se: “Mfomso bɛn na mo agyanom huu wɔ me ho a ɛma wɔtwee wɔn ho kɔɔ akyirikyiri sɛɛ? Wodii ahoni a wɔn so nni mfaso akyi, maa wɔn ankasa bɛyɛɛ ahuhufo.
6 They did not say, ‘Where is the LORD who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought and of the shadow of death, through a land that no one passed through, and where no man lived?’
Wɔammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ? Nea oyii yɛn fii Misraim na ɔde yɛn faa sare wosee so, nweatam ne abonabon asase a awo na ayɛ owubon no. Asase a obiara mfa so na obiara nte so no.’
7 I brought you into a plentiful land to eat its fruit and its goodness; but when you entered, you defiled my land, and made my heritage an abomination.
Mede mo beduaa asasebere so sɛ munni so nnuaba ne ɛso nnepa. Nanso mubeguu mʼasase ho fi, na moyɛɛ mʼagyapade akyiwade.
8 The priests did not say, ‘Where is the LORD?’ and those who handle the law did not know me. The rulers also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal and followed things that do not profit.
Asɔfo no ammisa se, ‘Ɛhe na Awurade wɔ?’ Wɔn a wɔde mmara yɛ adwuma no anhwehwɛ me; ntuanofo sɔre tiaa me. Adiyifo no de Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm, na wodii ahoni huhuw akyi.
9 “Therefore I will yet contend with you,” says the LORD, “and I will contend with your children’s children.
“Ɛno nti, merebɔ mo kwaadu bio,” nea Awurade se ni. “Na mɛbɔ mo mma mma kwaadu.
10 For pass over to the islands of Kittim, and see. Send to Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there has been such a thing.
Muntwa nkɔ Kitim mpoano nkɔhwɛ, monsoma nkɔ Kedar nkɔhwehwɛ mu yiye; monhwɛ sɛ biribi a ɛte sɛɛ asi wɔ hɔ:
11 Has a nation changed its gods, which really are no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which does not profit.
Ɔman bi asesa wɔn anyame pɛn ana? Nso wɔnnyɛ anyame mpo. Nanso me nkurɔfo de wɔn anuonyam asesa ahoni huhuw.
12 “Be astonished, you heavens, at this and be horribly afraid. Be very desolate,” says the LORD.
Mo ɔsorosoro, momma mo ho nnwiriw mo wɔ eyi ho, na mo ho nwosow wɔ akomatu mu,” nea Awurade se ni.
13 “For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut out cisterns for themselves: broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
“Me nkurɔfo ayɛ bɔne ahorow abien: Wɔapa me, me a meyɛ nkwa asubura no, na wɔatutu wɔn ankasa mmura amoa, mmura a apaapae a entumi nkora nsu.
14 Is Israel a slave? Is he born into slavery? Why has he become a captive?
Israel yɛ akoa anaa ɔsomfo fi awo mu ana? Adɛn nti na wayɛ asade yi?
15 The young lions have roared at him and raised their voices. They have made his land waste. His cities are burned up, without inhabitant.
Gyata abobɔ mu; wɔaworo so akyerɛ no. Wɔama nʼasase ada mpan; wɔahyehyew ne nkurow ayɛ no amamfo.
16 The children also of Memphis and Tahpanhes have broken the crown of your head.
Afei Memfis ne Tapanhes mmarima ayi wo ti so nwi.
17 “Have not you brought this on yourself, in that you have forsaken the LORD your God, when he led you by the way?
Ɛnyɛ wo na woama eyi aba wo so sɛ wopaa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi, wɔ bere a ɔrekyerɛ wo kwan no?
18 Now what do you gain by going to Egypt, to drink the waters of the Shihor? Or why do you go on the way to Assyria, to drink the waters of the River?
Afei adɛn nti na wokɔ Misraim kɔnom Sihor mu nsu? Na adɛn nti na wokɔ Asiria kɔnom Asubɔnten no mu nsu?
19 “Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backsliding will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that you have forsaken the LORD your God, and that my fear is not in you,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies.
Wo amumɔyɛ bɛtwe wʼaso; wo nsanakyi bɛka wʼanim. Enti dwene ho na hu sɛ, sɛ wopa Awurade wo Nyankopɔn akyi na woannya ne ho suro a, ɛyɛ bɔne ne ɔyaw ma wo.” Awurade, Asafo Awurade na ose.
20 “For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed yourself, playing the prostitute.
“Tete mmere no, wububuu wo konnua mu, na wotetew wo nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn mu; na wokae se, ‘Merensom wo!’ Ampa, wɔ koko biara so ne dua biara a adennan ase na wotena bɔɔ aguaman.
21 Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a pure and faithful seed. How then have you turned into the degenerate branches of a foreign vine to me?
Miduaa wo sɛ bobe ankasa a efi bobe a ase ye pa ara mu. Na ɛyɛɛ dɛn na wodan wʼakyi kyerɛɛ me bɛyɛɛ bobe a anyin asɛe wɔ wura mu yi?
22 For though you wash yourself with lye, and use much soap, yet your iniquity is marked before me,” says the Lord GOD.
Sɛ wode soda ne samina bebree guare mpo a, wʼafɔdi nkekae da so wɔ mʼanim ara,” sɛnea Otumfo Awurade se ni.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled. I have not gone after the Baals’? See your way in the valley. Know what you have done. You are a swift dromedary traversing her ways,
“Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woaka se, ‘Me ho nguu fi ɛ; minnii Baalnom akyi ɛ’? Hwɛ sɛnea woyɛɛ wo ho wɔ obon no mu; dwene nea woayɛ no ho. Woyɛ yomabere hoɔharefo a wutu mmirika kɔ ha ba ha,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that sniffs the wind in her craving. When she is in heat, who can turn her away? All those who seek her will not weary themselves. In her month, they will find her.
wura mu afurum a nweatam so tena akokwaw no, ohuahua bere a ɔpɛ sɛ onini hyia no. Sɛ nʼakɔnnɔ no ano yɛ den a hena na obesianka no? Anini biara a wɔtaa no no nhaw wɔn ho bebree; edu bere a ɛsɛ sɛ wohyia no a wobenya no.
25 “Keep your feet from being bare, and your throat from thirst. But you said, ‘It is in vain. No, for I have loved strangers, and I will go after them.’
Ntu mmirika nkosi sɛ wʼanan ase bɛyɛ kwaterekwa, na wo mene mu bɛyow. Nanso wokae se, ‘So nni mfaso! Mepɛ ananafo anyame, na ɛsɛ sɛ midi wɔn akyi.’
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so the house of Israel is ashamed— they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets,
“Sɛnea wɔkyere ɔkorɔmfo a wogu nʼanim ase no, saa na wɔagu Israelfi anim ase, wɔn ankasa, wɔn ahemfo ne wɔn adwumayɛfo, wɔn asɔfo ne wɔn adiyifo.
27 who tell wood, ‘You are my father,’ and a stone, ‘You have given birth to me,’ for they have turned their back to me, and not their face, but in the time of their trouble they will say, ‘Arise, and save us!’
Wɔka kyerɛ dua se, ‘Woyɛ mʼagya,’ ne ɔbo se, ‘Wo na wowoo me.’ Wɔadan wɔn akyi akyerɛ me na ɛnyɛ wɔn anim; nanso sɛ amanehunu bi ba wɔn so a, wɔka se, ‘Bra begye yɛn!’
28 “But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah.
Anyame a moyɛ maa mo ho no wɔ he? Momma wɔmmra sɛ wobetumi agye mo bere a mowɔ amanehunu mu! Efisɛ mowɔ anyame bebree te sɛ nea mowɔ nkurow bebree no, Yuda.
29 “Why will you contend with me? You all have transgressed against me,” says the LORD.
“Adɛn nti na mobɔ me sobo? Mo nyinaa ayɛ dɔm atia me,” Awurade na ose.
30 “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
“Metwee mo nkurɔfo aso kwa; wɔamfa me nteɛso. Wʼafoa akunkum wʼadiyifo te sɛ gyata a nʼani abere.
31 Generation, consider the LORD’s word. Have I been a wilderness to Israel? Or a land of thick darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We have broken loose. We will come to you no more’?
“Mo nnɛmmafo, munnwen Awurade asɛm ho: “Mayɛ sɛ, nweatam ama Israel ana? Anaasɛ asase a so aduru sum kabii ana? Adɛn nti na me nkurɔfo ka se, ‘Yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yekyinkyin; yɛremma wo nkyɛn bio.’
32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me for days without number.
Ɔbabun werɛ fi ne mpempranne, ayeforo werɛ befi nʼahyehyɛde ana? Nanso me nkurɔfo werɛ afi me nna a wontumi nkan.
33 How well you prepare your way to seek love! Therefore you have even taught the wicked women your ways.
Hwɛ nyansa a mowɔ de pɛ mo adɔfo! Mmea a wɔnsɛ hwee koraa tumi sua mo akwan.
34 Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You did not find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things.
Mo adurade mu wɔ ahiafo a wodi bem mogya, nanso moankyere wɔn sɛ wɔrebubu akɔ mu. Eyinom nyinaa akyi
35 “Yet you said, ‘I am innocent. Surely his anger has turned away from me.’ “Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
woka se, ‘Midi bem; ne bo mfuw me.’ Nanso mebu wo atɛn efisɛ woka se, ‘Menyɛɛ bɔne biara ɛ.’
36 Why do you go about so much to change your ways? You will be ashamed of Egypt also, as you were ashamed of Assyria.
Adɛn nti na wukyinkyin sɛɛ, sesa wʼakwan? Misraim bedi wo huammɔ sɛnea Asiria yɛe no.
37 You will also leave that place with your hands on your head; for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper with them.
Afei wubefi saa beae hɔ a wo nsa gu wo ti so. Efisɛ Awurade apo wɔn a wode wo ho too wɔn so no; wɔremmoa wo.
