< Jeremiah 13 >

1 Thus, said Yahweh unto me, —Go and buy for thyself a linen girdle, and put upon thy loins, —but in water, shalt thou not place it.
Ale Yehowa gblɔ nam be, “Yi nàƒle alidziblanu si wowɔ kple aklala biɖibiɖi, eye nàtsɔe abla wò ali dzi. Ke mègana wòade tsi me o.”
2 So I bought a girdle according to the word of Yahweh, —and put upon my loins.
Ale meƒle alidziblanu la abe ale si Yehowa gblɔ nam ene, eye metsɔe bla nye ali dzi.
3 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me second time saying:
Tete Yehowa ƒe nya va nam zi evelia be,
4 Take the girdle which thou hast bought which is upon thy loins, —and arise go to the Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the cliff.
“Tsɔ alidziblanu si nèƒle tsɔ bla ali dzi la, nàyi ɖe Frat azɔ eye nàɣlae ɖe kpetome le afi ma.”
5 So I went, and hid it, by the Euphrates, as Yahweh had commanded me.
Ale meyi ɖaɣlae ɖe Frat abe ale si Yehowa gblɔ nam ene.
6 And it came to pass, at the end of many days, —that Yahweh said unto me, —Arise go to the Euphrates, and take from thence the girdle, which I commanded thee to hide there.
Le ŋkeke geɖewo megbe la, Yehowa gblɔ nam be, “Yi ɖe Frat azɔ nàɖatsɔ alidziblanu si megblɔ na wò be nàɣla ɖe afi ma.”
7 So I went to the Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle out of the place where I had hidden it, —and lo! the girdle was spoiled, it was good for nothing,
Ale meyi ɖe Frat ɖaku alidziblanu la le teƒe si meɣlae ɖo. Ke azɔ la mekpɔ be enyunyɔ eye ŋudɔwɔnu aɖeke megale eŋu o.
8 Then came the word of Yahweh unto me saying:
Yehowa ƒe gbe va nam be,
9 Thus, saith Yahweh, —After this manner, will I spoil the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem.
“Ale Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: ‘Alea kee magblẽ Yuda ƒe dada kple Yerusalem ƒe dada gã la mee.
10 This wicked people who are refusing to hear my words, who are walking in the stubbornness of their heart, and have gone after other gods, to serve them and to bow down to them, yea let them be like this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Ame vɔ̃ɖi siawo, esi wogbe nye gbe sese hedze woƒe dziwo ƒe aglãdzedze yome eye woti mawu bubuwo yome be yewoasubɔ wo, ade ta agu na wo la, anɔ abe alidziblanu sia si ŋu wɔna aɖeke megale o la ene.’
11 For as a girdle cleaveth unto the loins of a man, so caused I to cleave unto me—the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah Declareth Yahweh, to become mine—For a people, and For a name, and For a praise and For an adorning, —but they hearkened not.
Yehowa be, ‘Elabena, abe ale si alidziblanu nɔa ali dzii na ŋutsu ene la, nenema mebla Israel ƒe aƒe la katã kple Yuda ƒe aƒe la katãe ɖe ɖokuinye ŋu be woanye nye dukɔ, nye bubu, nye kafukafu kple nye atsyɔ̃ gake wogbe toɖoɖo.’
12 Therefore shalt thou say unto them this word—Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, Every jar, is to be filled with wine; and they will say unto thee, Do we not, know well, that every jar, is to be filled with wine?
“Gblɔ na wo be, ‘Ale Yehowa, Israel ƒe Mawu la gblɔe nye esi: Miku wain ɖe lãgbalẽgoawo katã me.’ Eye ne woagblɔ na wò be, ‘Ɖe míenyae be ele be woaku wain ɖe goawo katã me o hã?’ la,
13 Then shalt thou say unto them—Thus, saith Yahweh—Behold me! filling all the inhabitants of this land Even the kings that are sitting for David upon his throne and the priests and the prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—with drunkenness;
ekema gblɔ na wo be, aleae Yehowa gblɔe nye esi: ‘Matsɔ ahamumu ayɔ ame siwo katã le anyigba la dzi mee fũu, fia siwo nɔ David ƒe fiazikpui dzi la hã anɔ eme hekpe ɖe nunɔlawo, nyagblɔɖilawo kple ame siwo katã le Yerusalem ŋuti.
14 and I will dash them every man against his brother even the fathers and the sons together, Declareth Yahweh, —I will not pity, Neither will I spare, Neither will I have compassion, that I should not destroy them.
Yehowa be, matsɔ wo axlã ɖe wo nɔewo, fofowo kple viwo siaa, nyemana be nublanuikpɔkpɔ, amenuveve alo dɔmetɔtrɔ nawɔe be magbe wo tsɔtsrɔ̃ o.’”
15 Hear ye and give ear, be not haughty, —For Yahweh, hath spoken.
Misee, miƒu to anyi, migado mia ɖokui ɖe dzi o, elabena Yehowae ƒo nu.
16 Give ye to Yahweh your God—glory, Before he cause darkness, and Before your feet stumble upon the twilight mountains; Lest, when ye wait for light, He turn it into the shadow of death, And change it for thick darkness.
Mitsɔ ŋutikɔkɔe na Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la hafi wòahe viviti vɛ, hafi miaƒe afɔwo nanɔ nu klim le togbɛ dovivitiwo dzi. Miele mɔ kpɔm na kekeli, ke ana wòazu viviti tsiɖitsiɖi eye wòatrɔe wòazu blanuiléle ƒe blukɔ.
17 But if ye will not hear it, In secret places, shall my soul weep Because of the pride, And mine eye, shall flow over, and run down with tears, Because captive hath been taken the flock of Yahweh.
Ke ne mieɖo to o la, mafa avi le bebeme le miaƒe dada ta. Nye ŋkuwo afa avi vevie eye aɖatsi ado le mo nam blobloblo elabena woaɖe aboyo Yehowa ƒe alẽha la.
18 Say thou to the king and to the queen-mother, Abase yourselves—Sit down, —For descended have your Head-tires, your Crown of adornment.
Gblɔ na fia la kple fiasrɔ̃ la be, “Miɖi le miaƒe fiazikpuiwo dzi elabena miaƒe atsyɔ̃fiakukuwo age le ta na mi.”
19 The cities of the South, are shut And there is none to open, —Judah hath been carried away captive, She hath altogether been carried away captive in full number.
Woatu du siwo le gbegbe la ƒe agbowo eye ame aɖeke meli si aʋu wo o. Woaɖe aboyo Yudatɔwo katã eye woakplɔ wo adzoe.
20 Lift up your eyes and see Them who are coming in from the North, —Where is The flock that was given thee, Thy beautiful flock?
Mifɔ mo dzi ne miakpɔ ame siwo gbɔna tso anyiehe. Afi ka alẽha si wotsɔ de asi na mi la le, alẽha si dzi miedana ɖo?
21 What wilt thou say when he shall bring punishment upon thee, Since, thou thyself, hast accustomed them to be over thee as friends in chief? Shall not, pangs, seize thee, as of a woman in childbirth?
Nu ka nàgblɔ nenye be Yehowa tsɔ ame siwo nèhe be woanye xɔ̃wòwo la ɖo tatɔwo na wò? Ɖe màse veve abe nyɔnu si le ku lém la ene oa?
22 But if thou say in thy heart, Wherefore have these things befallen me? For the greatness of thine iniquity have Thy skirts been turned aside Thy heels suffered violence!
Ne èbia ɖokuiwò be, “Nu ka ta nu sia dzɔ ɖe dzinye hã la le wò nu vɔ̃ gbogboawo ta wovuvu avɔ le ŋuwò eye wowɔ fu wò ŋutilã ɖo?
23 Can the Ethiopian change, his skin, Or the leopard his spots? Even, ye, may be able to do right, Who are accustomed to do wrong.
Ɖe Etiopiatɔ ate ŋu atrɔ eƒe ŋutigbalẽ alo lãkle natrɔ agbalẽ ŋɔtaŋɔta si le eŋutia? Nenema kee mi ame siwo vɔ̃wɔwɔ ma la, miate ŋu awɔ nyui o.”
24 Therefore have I scattered them, As broken straw passing away, by the wind of the desert.
Yehowa be, “Makaka mi ahlẽ abe ale si dzogbeya lɔa tsro ɖe nu ene.
25 This is thy lot Thy measured portion from me, Declareth Yahweh; For that thou didst forget me, And confide in falsehood:
Esiae nye tɔwò kple wò gomekpɔkpɔ si meɖo ɖi na wò, elabena ègblẽm ɖi hedze aʋatsomawuwo yome.
26 Therefore, even I myself, have drawn away thy skirts, over thy face, And thy shame hath been seen,
Maɖe avɔ le ŋuwò atsɔ atsyɔ mo na wò be woakpɔ wò ŋukpeƒe,
27 Thine adulteries and thy neighings, thine unchaste wickedness, Upon the hills in the field, I have seen thine abominations! Woe to thee, O Jerusalem, Wilt thou not become pure? After how long yet?
wò ahasiwɔwɔ, wò ahiãgbetetewo kple wò gbolowɔwɔ ŋukpemanɔmetɔe! Mekpɔ wò ŋunyɔnuwɔwɔwo le togbɛwo dzi kple baliwo me. Oo, Yerusalem, babaa na wò. Va se ɖe ɣe ka ɣi nàƒo ɖi ase ɖo?”

< Jeremiah 13 >