Hesekiel 20

1 Afe a ɛtɔ so nson no bosome enum no ɛda a ɛtɔ so edu no, Israel mpanimfoɔ no mu bi bɛbisaa Awurade hɔ adeɛ, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2 Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn sɛ:

Then came the word of the LORD to me, saying,

3 “Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanimfoɔ no sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Moaba sɛ morebɛbisa me nkyɛn adeɛ anaa? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo ɛkwan mma mommisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfoɔ Awurade na ɔseɛ.’

Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4 “Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwadeɛ a wɔyɛeɛ no si wɔn anim

Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5 na ka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Ɛda a meyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakob efie asefoɔ na meyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn.”

And say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up my hand to the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up my hand to them, saying, I am the LORD your God;

6 Saa ɛda no, mekaa wɔn ntam sɛ mɛyi wɔn afiri Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwoɔ ne nufosuo sene wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu deɛ ɛyɛ papa paa.

In the day that I lifted up my hand to them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

7 Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Mo mu biara nto nsɛsodeɛ tantan a mode mo ani asi soɔ no ntwene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn.”

Then said I to them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

8 “‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantoto nsɛsodeɛ tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi soɔ no angu, na wɔannyae ahoni a ɛfiri Misraim no akyiri die. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuo wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.

But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken to me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 Nanso me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ ɛmma wɔngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a meyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfoɔ wɔ mu, de yii wɔn firii Misraim no.

But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them, in bringing them forth from the land of Egypt.

10 Enti medii wɔn anim firii Misraim, de wɔn baa ɛserɛ no so.

Therefore I caused them to go forth from the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11 Mede me nhyehyɛeɛ maa wɔn na me ma wɔhunuu me mmara, ɛfiri sɛ obiara a ɔdi soɔ no nam so bɛnya nkwa.

And I gave them my statutes, and showed them my judgments, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them.

12 Na mede me home nna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛdeɛ wɔbɛhunu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron.

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.

13 “‘Nanso, Israelfoɔ tee mʼanim atua wɔ ɛserɛ no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛeɛ so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a ɔbɛdi soɔ no bɛnya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na wɔguu me home nna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14 Nanso, me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ ɛmma ho ɛkwan ma wɔnngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a meyii wɔn firii so no ani so.

But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15 Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwoɔ ne nufosuo sene soɔ, nsase nyinaa mu deɛ ɛyɛ pa ara no,

Yet also I lifted up my hand to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

16 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛdeɛ so na wɔguu me home nna ho fi, ɛsiane sɛ na wɔn akoma da wɔn ahoni no so.

Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17 Nanso mehunuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn, na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

Nevertheless my eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18 Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ, “Monnni mo agyanom ahyɛdeɛ ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.

But I said to their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19 Mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn; monni mʼahyɛdeɛ so na monhwɛ yie nni me mmara so.

I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20 Monyɛ me home nna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn no.”

And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.

21 “‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛdeɛ so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so, deɛ onipa di so a ɔbɛnya nkwa no. Wɔguu me home nna ho fi. Enti mekaa sɛ mɛhwie mʼabufuhyeɛ agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuo a ɛtia wɔn wɔ ɛserɛ no so.

However the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them; they profaned my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22 Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din enti, meyɛɛ deɛ amma ɛho ngu fi wɔ aman a meyii wɔn firii so no ani so.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23 Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ ɛserɛ no so sɛ mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,

I lifted up my hand to them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24 ɛfiri sɛ, wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛdeɛ guu me home nna ho fi, na wɔn ani kɔdii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.

Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

25 Bio, mede wɔn hyɛɛ nhyehyɛeɛ a ɛnyɛ, ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;

Therefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they should not live;

26 memaa ho ɛkwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔdeɛ de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛdeɛ mede ahodwirie bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahunu sɛ me ne Awurade.’

And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.

27 “Enti, onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfoɔ, ka kyerɛ wɔn sɛ, ‘Deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ nie: Na yei mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:

Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28 Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ, yɛɛ afɔrebɔdeɛ maa kokoɔ biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhahan de hyɛɛ me abufuo; wɔde nnuhwam maeɛ na wɔhwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.

For when I had brought them into the land, for which I lifted up my hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29 Na mebisaa wɔn sɛ: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de bɛsi ɛnnɛ.)

Then I said to them, What is the high place to which ye go? And its name is called Bamah to this day.

30 “Enti ka kyerɛ Israel efie sɛ: ‘Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Mobɛgu mo ho fi sɛdeɛ mo agyanom yɛeɛ na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni tantan no anaa?

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye harlotry after their abominations?

31 Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛyɛ mo mmammarima bɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, ɛnneɛ mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi bɛsi ɛnnɛ. Memma mommɛbisa me hɔ adeɛ anaa, Ao Israel efie? Ampa ara, sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie, meremma mommmisa me hɔ adeɛ.

For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even to this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32 “‘Moka sɛ, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ ewiasefoɔ a wɔsom nnua ne aboɔ no.” Nanso deɛ ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.

And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33 Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie, mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔatene mu ne abufuhyeɛ a wɔahwie agu bɛdi mo so.

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34 Mede mo bɛfiri amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afiri nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔatene mu ne abufuhyeɛ a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.

And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries in which ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.

35 Mede mo bɛba amanaman no ɛserɛ so, na ɛhɔ na mɛbu mo atɛn animu ne animu.

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

36 Sɛdeɛ mebuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim ɛserɛ soɔ no, saa ara na mɛbu mo atɛn, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie.

As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37 Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahunu mo yie na mede mo aba apam no nkyehoma ase.

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38 Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwom sɛ mɛyi wɔn afiri aman a wɔte soɔ no mu, nanso wɔn nan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade no.

And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

39 “‘Na mo deɛ, Ao Israel efie, yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso, akyiri no, mobɛtie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛdeɛ ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and after this also, if ye will not hearken to me: but profane ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40 Ɛfiri sɛ, me bɛpɔ kronkron no so, Israel bepɔ a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfoɔ Awurade na ɔseɛ, ɛhɔ, wɔ asase no so na Israel efie nyinaa bɛsom me, na ɛhɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mɛhia mo afɔrebɔdeɛ ne mo ayɛyɛdeɛ a ɛdi mu no aka mo afɔdeɛ kronkron no nyinaa ho.

For on my holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41 Sɛ meyi mo firi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano firi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ krobo a ɛyi hwa, afei mɛda me kronnyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahunu.

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries in which ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42 Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom so a, na mobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade.

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I lifted up my hand to give it to your fathers.

43 Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛɛ nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwunu ɛsiane amumuyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa enti.

And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, in which ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44 Israel, ɛfata sɛ wɔtwe wʼaso. Nanso mene wo bɛdi no wɔ ɛkwan a ɛbɛhyɛ me din animuonyam so. Wobɛhunu sɛ mene Awurade no, Otumfoɔ Awurade asɛm nie.’”

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

45 Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn sɛ:

Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

46 “Onipa ba, fa wʼani kyerɛ anafoɔ fam, ka asɛm tia anafoɔ fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwaeɛ a ɛwɔ anafoɔ fam asase soɔ.

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47 Ka kyerɛ anafoɔ fam kwaeɛ no sɛ: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Yei ne deɛ Otumfoɔ Awurade seɛ: Merebɛto wo mu ogya, na ɛbɛhye nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Deɛ ɛyɛ mono ne deɛ awoɔ. Wɔrennum ogyadɛreɛ no na ɛbɛhye asase no ani nyinaa; ɛfiri anafoɔ fam kɔsi atifi fam.

And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned in it.

48 Obiara bɛhunu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”

And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Afei mekaa sɛ, “Aa Otumfoɔ Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho sɛ, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi anaa?’”

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?