Isaiah 1

1 [I am] Isaiah, the son of Amoz. [Yahweh showed me] visions about Jerusalem and [all the other places in] Judah. He showed me these visions during the years that Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.

Esiawoe nye gbedeasi siwo Yesaya, Amoz ƒe vi, xɔ tso Yehowa gbɔ le ŋutega me, tso nu siwo ava dzɔ ɖe Yuda kple Yerusalem dzi la ŋuti. Exɔ gbedeasi siawo le Yuda fiawo, Uzia, Yotam, Ahaz kple Hezekia ŋɔli.

2 This is what Yahweh says: “All you [angels in] [APO] heaven and [all you people on] [APO] earth, listen to me! The people that I caused to exist and took care of [DOU] have rebelled against me.

O! Dziƒo kple anyigba, miɖo to miase nya si gblɔm Yehowa le. Yehowa be: “Ɖevi siwo menyi hekplɔ wo kple beléle la dze aglã ɖe ŋunye.

3 Oxen know their owners, and donkeys know who provides food for them, but my Israeli people do not know [me]; they do not realize [that I am the one who takes care of them].”

Nyitsu nyaa eƒe aƒetɔ, eye tedzi nyaa eƒe nuɖuƒe, ke Israel menyam o, eye nye amewo mese nye nyawo gɔme o.”

4 Terrible things will happen to that sinful nation, to those people who are guilty of sinning greatly. They are a group of very evil people, who act very unjustly. They have abandoned Yahweh, the holy one of Israel; they have (abandoned/turned away from) him.

O! Dukɔ si wɔ nu vɔ̃, ame siwo dzi nu vɔ̃ do agba ɖo, nu vɔ̃ɖi wɔlawo ƒe dzidzimeviwo, vi siwo nye nu tovo wɔlawo, wogbe nu le Yehowa gbɔ, wodo ŋunyɔ Israel ƒe kɔkɔetɔ la, eye wotrɔ megbe dee.

5 Why do you [RHQ] continue to [do things for which] you should be punished? Why do you continue to rebel against Yahweh? [You are like] [MET] someone whose head is badly injured and whose mind is sick/corrupt.

Nu ka ta miedi be woanɔ mia ƒoƒo dzi? Nu ka ta miegale aglãdzedze dzi? Miaƒe ta katã xɔ abi, eye miaƒe dzi katã hã xɔ abi.

6 [It is as though] [MET] from the soles/bottoms of your feet to the [tops of your] heads nothing is healthy; there are only open wounds and cuts and sores that have not been cleaned or bandaged, and no [olive] oil has been put on them [to heal them].

Tso miaƒe afɔƒome va se ɖe miaƒe dzodome la, teƒe nyui aɖeke meli o, negbe abiwo, dodrowo, abi mumu siwo womeklɔ haɖe o alo ɖo amii loo alo bla o la koe li.

7 [It is as though] your country is ruined/desolate; your towns have been burned. Foreigners plunder/steal the crops in your fields while you watch; they destroy everything [that they see].

Miaƒe anyigba zu gbegbe, wotɔ dzo miaƒe duwo le miawo ŋutɔ ƒe ŋkume, du bubu me tɔwo va ha miaƒe agblemenukuwo, eye wogblẽ miaƒe anyigba abe ale si amedzrowo wɔna ene.

8 The city of Jerusalem has [already] been abandoned, it is like [SIM] a shelter in a vineyard that has been abandoned by the watchmen; it is like [SIM] a watchman’s hut in a field of melons that has been deserted. It is a city surrounded by its enemies who are waiting to attack it.

Zion nyɔnuvi tsi akogo abe agbadɔ si le waingble me ene, abe agblexɔe le dzamatregble me ene, eye abe du si ŋu futɔwo ɖe to ɖo ene.

9 If the Commander of the armies of angels had not allowed a few of us [his people] to (survive/remain alive), we would have [all] been [destroyed], like [the cities of] Sodom and Gomorrah [were destroyed].

Ɖe menye Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ ye kpɔtɔ ame ʋɛ aɖewo ɖi na mi o la, anye ne woatsrɔ̃ Yudatɔwo katã, abe ale si wotsrɔ̃ ame sia ame le Sodom kple Gomora ene.

10 You [leaders of Judah are as wicked as] the rulers of Sodom were, and you [other people in Jerusalem areas are as wicked as] the people in Gomorrah [were]. Listen to this message from Yahweh, [all of you]!

Mise Yehowa ƒe nya, mi Sodom dziɖulawo, milé fɔ ɖe míaƒe Mawu la ƒe se la ŋu, mi Gomoratɔwo!

11 He says, “You continue to bring many sacrifices to me, but I do not [RHQ] want them [because you do not worship me sincerely]! You bring me many offerings to be completely burned [on the altar], [but] I (am tired/do not want any more) of your burning all those offerings, the burning rams and the fat from fat cattle. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls and lambs and goats that [the priest] pours [against the altar].

“Miaƒe vɔsa gbogboawo ɖe, nu ka wonye nam?” Yehowae gblɔe. “Miaƒe numevɔsa siwo miewɔna kple agbowo kple lã damiwo ƒe ami la, wu tsɔtsɔ nam. Nyitsuwo, alẽwo kple gbɔ̃wo ƒe ʋu medoa dzidzɔ nam o.

12 When you come to my temple to worship me, no one [RHQ] told you to trample on my courtyard while you perform all those rituals.

Ne miedo ɖe nye ŋkume la, ame kae bia esia tso mia si be, mianɔ afɔɖi ƒom nye xɔxɔnuwo?

13 Stop bringing to me those offerings, because they are useless [to me]; I am disgusted with the incense that [the priests burn]. And [your feasts to celebrate] the new moon [each month] and your (Sabbath [days]/days of rest) and your [other] festivals— I detest them because of the wicked things [that you do].

Midzudzɔ vɔsa gbɔlo siawo tsɔtsɔ vɛ! Miaƒe dzudzɔʋeʋĩwo dodo medoa dzidzɔ nam o. Nyemate ŋu atsɔ miaƒe takpekpe vɔ̃ɖi siwo nye dzinu yeyewo, Dzudzɔgbewo kple gbeƒãɖeɖe takpegbewo o.

14 I [SYN] hate [all] your celebrations of each new moon and the [other] festivals that you celebrate each year. They are [like] [MET] a heavy burden that I am tired of carrying.

Melé fu miaƒe dzinu yeye ŋkekenyuiwo kple ŋkekenyui bubuawo. Wozu agba nam, eye nu ti kɔ nam le wo tsɔtsɔ me.

15 [So], when you lift up your hands when you pray [to me], I will not [even] look at you. Even if you pray [to me very] frequently, I will not listen [to you], [because it is as though] your hands are covered with the blood [of people whom you have killed].

Ne miele gbe dom ɖa, keke miaƒe abɔwo me la, maɣla nye ŋkume ɖe mi, eye ne mieli kɔ gbedodoɖa gleglegle hã la, nyemaɖo to mi o, elabena miaƒe asiwo ƒo ʋu.

16 Cleanse your inner beings, and become [spiritually] clean! Stop your evil behavior! Stop doing things that are wrong!

“Mile tsi ne mia ŋuti nakɔ. Miɖe miaƒe nu vɔ̃ɖiwo ɖa le nye ŋkume! Midzudzɔ vɔ̃wɔwɔ,

17 Learn to do [things that are] good! [Try to] cause people to do what is just. Help people who are (oppressed/treated cruelly). Defend orphans and widows [when people take them to court].”

ne miasrɔ̃ nyuiwɔwɔ! Midi nuteƒewɔwɔ, eye mide dzi ƒo na ame siwo wote ɖe anyi. Miʋli tsyɔ̃eviwo ta, eye miaxɔ nya ɖe ahosiwo nu.

18 Yahweh says, “You need to think about the results of what you do. Even though [the guilt of] your sins be [as evident and as difficult to get rid of] as [SIM] red [stains on a white garment] [DOU], [I will get rid of them completely] [like someone who can make that stained garment] become as white as snow or wool [DOU].

“Miva, mina míade ŋugble ɖekae,” Yehowa gblɔe. “Togbɔ be miaƒe nu vɔ̃wo biã abe nyagãdzĩ ene hã la, woafu abe ɖetifu ene. Ne wobiã abe ʋu ene hã la, woafu abe alẽfu ɣi ene.

19 If you are willing to obey [me], [I will enable] you to have plenty to eat.

Ne mielɔ̃, eye mieɖo to la, miaɖu anyigba la ƒe nu nyuitɔwo.

20 But, if you turn away [from me and] rebel against me, you will be killed [by your enemies’] swords. [That will surely happen, because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”

Ke ne miesẽ to, dze aglã la, yi atsrɔ̃ mi.” Elabena Yehowa ƒe nue gblɔe.

21 “[You people of Jerusalem previously] faithfully [worshiped only] me, but now you have become like [MET] prostitutes [who are not faithful to any husband]. Previously, people there always acted justly/fairly and righteously, but now your city [is full of] murderers.

Tsã la, wokpɔa nuteƒewɔwɔ kple dzɔdzɔenyenye le eme, ezu hlɔ̃dolawo ƒe du.

22 Previously, you were [like] [MET] pure silver, but now you have become [like] [MET] the scum that is left [when silver is purified]. Previously you were [like pure] wine, but you have become [like] [MET] wine that has [a lot of] water mixed with it.

Tsã la, klosalo si le keklẽm la wònye, ke azɔ la, elé ɣebia eye wòzu abe wain nyuitɔ si wotɔ tsii ene.

23 Your leaders are rebels; they spend time with thieves. They all want to get bribes and force others to give them gifts [in order that they do good things for them]. They do not defend orphans [in court], and they do not do all they can to enable widows to get what they should receive.

Wò dumegãwo zu aglãdzelawo kple fiafiwo xɔlɔ̃, wolɔ̃a zãnuxɔxɔ, eye wotia nunanawo yome. Womeʋlia tsyɔ̃eviwo ta o, eye ahosiwo ƒe nya medzɔna le woƒe ʋɔnu o.

24 Therefore [I, ] the Commander of the armies of angels, the mighty God of Israel, say to my enemies, ‘will get revenge on you; you will not cause me any more trouble. And I will pay you back for the evil things that you did.

Eya ta ale Aƒetɔ, Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ, Israel ƒe Ŋusẽtɔ la gblɔe nye esi. “O! Makpɔ gbɔɖeme tso nye ketɔwo ƒe asi me, eye mabia hlɔ̃ nye futɔwo.

25 I will raise my fist to strike you. I will [punish you severely] [MET], as though [MET] you were silver [and I needed to heat you very greatly to] melt you and get rid of the impurities.

Matrɔ atsi tsitre ɖe mia ŋu, atsra mia me, eye maɖe nu kuklui siwo nye ɖiƒoƒo la ɖa le mia me.

26 [After that happens, ] I will give you good judges like you had previously; you will have [wise] counselors like you had long ago. Then people will call your city “a city where people [act] righteously, a city where people are loyal to me.”'”

Emegbe la, maɖo ʋɔnudrɔ̃lawo na mi abe tsã ene, eye mana aɖaŋudelawo mi abe ale si wònɔ le gɔmedzedzea me ene. Emegbe la, woayɔ mi be Dzɔdzɔenyenye kple Nuteƒewɔwɔ ƒe Du.”

27 Because the people of Jerusalem will do what is fair/just, their city will be restored; those who repent [will be saved] because of [their acting] righteously.

Woaɖe Zion kple afia nyui tsotso, eye woaɖe eƒe dzimetrɔlawo kple dzɔdzɔenyenye.

28 But rebels and sinners will be crushed by Yahweh, and those who forsake him will disappear.

Ke woagbã aglãdzelawo kple nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo siaa gudugudu, eye woatsrɔ̃ ame siwo gbe nu le Yehowa gbɔ.

29 You will be ashamed because [you worshiped] idols under the oak trees [that you considered to be] sacred; you will be disgraced because [you worshiped idols] in the gardens where you chose [to worship them].

“Ŋu akpe mi le logoti siwo ŋu miekpɔa dzidzɔ le la ŋu; woade ŋukpe mo na mi le abɔ siwo mielɔ̃na la ta.

30 You will be like [SIM] a very large tree which has withered leaves, like [SIM] a garden that [is dried up because] it has no water.

Miazu abe logoti aɖe si ƒe aŋgbawo yrɔ kple abɔ si me tsi aɖeke mele o la ene.

31 Those among you who are [very] strong will become [like] [MET] dry wood, and the work they do will be [like] [MET] a spark; both they and the evil things that they do will burn up completely, and no one will be able to put out the fire.

Ame sesẽ la azu gbe ƒuƒu, eƒe dɔwɔwɔ azu dzoxi, wo ame eve la woabi, eye ame aɖeke mate ŋu atsii o.”