Ezekiel 20
1 And it happened that, in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, men from the elders of Israel arrived, so that they might inquire of the Lord, and they sat before me.
Afe a ɛto so ason no, ɔsram anum no da a ɛto so du no, Israel mpanyimfo no mu bi bebisaa Awurade hɔ ade, na wɔtenatenaa mʼanim.
2 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
Na Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:
3 “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Have you arrived in order to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, says the Lord God.
“Onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israel mpanyimfo no se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Moaba sɛ morebebisa me nkyɛn ade ana? Sɛ mete ase yi, meremma mo kwan ma mummisa me nkyɛn mmoa, Otumfo Awurade na ose.’
4 If you judge them, if you judge, O son of man, reveal to them the abominations of their fathers.
“Bu wɔn atɛn. Bu wɔn atɛn, onipa ba. Fa wɔn agyanom akyiwade a wɔyɛɛ no si wɔn anim
5 And you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God: In the day when I chose Israel, and I lifted up my hand on behalf of the stock of the house of Jacob, and I appeared to them in the land of Egypt, and I lifted up my hand on their behalf, saying, ‘I am the Lord your God,’
na ka kyerɛ wɔn se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Da a miyii Israel no, memaa me nsa so kaa ntam kyerɛɛ Yakobfi asefo, na miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ wɔn wɔ Misraim. Memaa me nsa so ka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”
6 in that day, I lifted up my hand for their sake, so that I would lead them away from the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which was singular among all lands.
Saa da no, mekaa wɔn ntam se meyi wɔn afi Misraim na mede wɔn aba asase a mahwehwɛ ama wɔn, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, asase nyinaa mu nea ɛyɛ papa pa ara no.
7 And I said to them: ‘Let each one cast away the offenses of his eyes, and do not choose to defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
Na meka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Mo mu biara ntow nsɛsode tantan a mode mo ani asi so no nkyene na mommfa Misraim ahoni no ngu mo ho fi, mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn.”
8 But they provoked me, and they were not willing to listen to me. Each one of them did not cast away the abominations of his eyes, nor did they leave behind the idols of Egypt. And so, I said that I would pour out my indignation upon them, and fulfill my wrath against them, in the midst of the land of Egypt.
“‘Nanso wɔyɛɛ dɔm tiaa me na wɔantie me; Wɔantotow nsɛsode tantan no a wɔde wɔn ani asi so no angu na wɔannyae ahoni a efi Misraim no akyidi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw wɔ wɔn so wɔ Misraim.
9 But I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated in the sight of the Gentiles, in the midst of whom they were, and among whom I appeared to them, so that I might lead them away from the land of Egypt.
Nanso me din nti meyɛɛ nea ɛremma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a wɔtete mu no anim, aman a miyii me ho adi kyerɛɛ Israelfo wɔ mu, de yii wɔn fii Misraim no.
10 Therefore, I cast them out of the land of Egypt, and I led them away into the desert.
Enti midii wɔn anim fii Misraim, de wɔn baa sare no so.
11 And I gave them my precepts, and I revealed to them my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them.
Mede me nhyehyɛe maa wɔn na mema wohuu me mmara, efisɛ obiara a odi so no nam so benya nkwa.
12 Moreover, I also gave to them my Sabbaths, so that these would be a sign between me and them, and so that they would know that I am the Lord, who sanctifies them.
Na mede me homenna maa wɔn sɛ ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ yɛn ntam, sɛnea wobehu sɛ me Awurade na meyɛɛ wɔn kronkron no.
13 But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert. They did not walk in my precepts, and they cast aside my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they grievously violated my Sabbaths. Therefore, I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, and that I would consume them.
“‘Nanso Israelfo tew mʼanim atua wɔ sare no so. Wɔanni me nhyehyɛe so, na wɔpoo me mmara no, nanso onipa a obedi so no benya nkwa wɔ wɔn mu, na woguu me homenna ho fi koraa. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so na masɛe wɔn wɔ sare no so.
14 But I acted for the sake of my name, lest it be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, in their sight.
Nanso me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho kwan ma wonngu me ho fi wɔ amanaman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.
15 And so I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, so as not to lead them into the land that I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, the foremost of all lands.
Afei memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so sɛ meremfa wɔn nnkɔ asase a mede ama wɔn no so, asase a ɛwo ne nufusu sen wɔ so, nsase nyinaa mu nea eye pa ara no,
16 For they cast aside my judgments, and they did not walk in my precepts, and they violated my Sabbaths. For their heart went after idols.
efisɛ wɔpoo me mmara, wɔanni mʼahyɛde so na woguu me homenna ho fi, esiane sɛ na wɔn koma da wɔn ahoni no so nti.
17 Yet my eye was lenient concerning them, so that I did not utterly destroy them, nor did I consume them in the desert.
Nanso mihuu wɔn mmɔbɔ, na mansɛe wɔn na mantɔre wɔn ase wɔ sare no so.
18 Then I said to their sons in the wilderness: ‘Do not choose to advance by the precepts of your fathers, nor should you observe their judgments. And do not be defiled by their idols.
Meka kyerɛɛ wɔn mma wɔ sare no so se, “Munnni mo agyanom ahyɛde ne wɔn mmara so, na mommfa wɔn ahoni ngu mo ho fi.
19 I am the Lord your God. Walk in my precepts, and observe my judgments, and accomplish them.
Mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn; munni mʼahyɛde so na monhwɛ yiye nni me mmara so.
20 And sanctify my Sabbaths, so that these may be a sign between me and you, and so that you may know that I am the Lord your God.’
Monyɛ me homenna kronkron na ɛnyɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne wɔ me ne mo ntam. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn no.”
21 But their sons provoked me. They did not walk in my precepts. And they did not observe my judgments, so as to do them; for if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they violated my Sabbaths. And so, I threatened that I would pour out my fury upon them, and that I would fulfill my wrath among them in the desert.
“‘Nanso mma no yɛɛ dɔm tiaa me. Wɔanni mʼahyɛde so, na wɔanhwɛ anni me mmara so; nea onipa di so a obenya nkwa no, woguu me homenna ho fi. Enti mekaa se mehwie mʼabufuwhyew agu wɔn so de awie mʼabufuw a etia wɔn wɔ sare no so no.
22 But I turned aside my hand, and I acted for the sake of my name, so that it would not be violated before the Gentiles, from whom I cast them out, before their eyes.
Nanso metwentwɛn so, na me din nti, meyɛɛ nea ɛremma ho ngu fi wɔ aman a miyii wɔn fii so no ani so.
23 Again, I lifted up my hand against them, in the wilderness, so that I would disperse them among the nations, and scatter them among the lands.
Memaa me nsa so kaa ntam wɔ sare no so se mɛhwete wɔn wɔ amanaman no so na mabɔ wɔn apansam wɔ nsase no so,
24 For they had not accomplished my judgments, and they had rejected my precepts, and they had violated my Sabbaths. And their eyes had been after the idols of their fathers.
efisɛ wɔanni me mmara so, na mmom wɔpoo mʼahyɛde guu me homenna ho fi, na wɔn ani kodii wɔn agyanom ahoni akyi.
25 Therefore, I also gave them precepts that were not good, and judgments by which they shall not live.
Enti memaa wɔn ahyɛde a enye ne mmara a ɛde asotwe mmom na ɛbɛba wɔn so, na ɛnyɛ nkwa;
26 And I defiled them by their own gifts, when they offered everything that opened the womb, because of their offenses. And they shall know that I am the Lord.
memaa ho kwan ma wɔde wɔn ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ wɔn abakan bɔɔ afɔre de guu wɔn ho fi, sɛnea mede ahodwiriw bɛhyɛ wɔn ma ama wɔahu sɛ mene Awurade.’
27 For this reason, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and you shall say to them: Thus says the Lord God. Yet also in this did your fathers blaspheme me, after they had spurned and despised me,
“Enti onipa ba, kasa kyerɛ Israelfo, ka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Nea Otumfo Awurade se ni: Na eyi mu nso, mo agyanom poo me na wɔnam so kaa abususɛm tiaa me:
28 though I had led them into the land, about which I lifted up my hand, so that I might give it to them: They saw every lofty hill and every leafy tree, and there they immolated their victims, and there they presented the provocation of their oblations, and there they stationed their sweet fragrances, and poured out their libations.
Mede wɔn baa asase a maka ntam sɛ mede bɛma wɔn no so no, wɔbɔɔ afɔre, yɛɛ afɔrebɔde maa koko biara a ɛkorɔn anaa dua biara a ɛso wɔ nhaban de hyɛɛ me abufuw; wɔde nnuhuam mae, na wohwiee ahwiesa maa wɔn.
29 And I said to them, ‘What is exalted about the place to which you go?’ And yet its name is called ‘Exalted,’ even to this day.
Na mibisaa wɔn se: Ɛhe ne saa sorɔnsorɔmmea a mokɔ hɔ yi?’” (Wɔfrɛ hɔ Bama de besi nnɛ.)
30 Because of this, say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord God: Certainly, you are defiled by the way of your fathers, and you have fornicated after their stumbling blocks.
“Enti ka kyerɛ Israelfi se: ‘Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mubegu mo ho fi sɛnea mo agyanom yɛe, na mo kɔn dɔ wɔn ahoni atantan no ana?
31 And you are being defiled by all of your idols, even to this day, by the oblation of your gifts, when you lead your sons through the fire. And should I respond to you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not answer you.
Sɛ mode mo ayɛyɛde a ɛyɛ mo mmabarima bɔ afɔre wɔ ogya so ma mo ahoni a, na mokɔ so de mo ahoni nyinaa gu mo ho fi besi nnɛ. Memma mommebisa me hɔ ade ana, Israelfi? Ampa ara sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, meremma mummmisa me hɔ ade.
32 And the plan of your mind will not occur, saying: ‘We will be like the Gentiles, and like the families of the earth, so that we worship what is wood and stone.’
“‘Moka se, “Yɛpɛ sɛ yɛyɛ sɛ aman no, te sɛ wiasefo a wɔsom nnua ne abo no.” Nanso nea ɛwɔ mo adwene mu no rensi da.
33 As I live, says the Lord God, I will reign over you with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured forth.
Sɛ mete ase yi, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni, Mede nsa a ɛyɛ den, basa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu bedi mo so.
34 And I will lead you away from the peoples. And I will gather you from the lands into which you were dispersed. I will reign over you with a powerful hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out.
Mede mo befi amanaman no so, na maboaboa mo ano afi nsase a wɔapete mo wɔ so no so; mede nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔateɛ mu ne abufuwhyew a wɔahwie agu na ɛbɛyɛ.
35 And I will lead you into the desert of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you, face to face.
Mede mo bɛba amanaman no sare so, na hɔ na mebu mo atɛn anim ne anim.
36 Just as I contended in judgment against your fathers in the desert of the land of Egypt, so also will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord God.
Sɛnea mibuu mo agyanom atɛn wɔ Misraim sare so no, saa ara na mebu mo atɛn, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.
37 And I will subject you to my scepter, and I will lead you into the bonds of the covenant.
Mɛma moafa mʼabaa no ase na mahu mo yiye na mede mo aba apam no nkyehama ase.
38 And I will select, from among you, the transgressors and the impious. And I will lead them away from the land of their sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord.
Mɛsa mo mu ayi wɔn a wɔyɛ dɔm tia me. Ɛwɔ mu sɛ meyi wɔn afi aman a wɔte so no mu, nanso wɔn anan rensi Israel asase so. Afei mubehu sɛ mene Awurade no.
39 And as for you, house of Israel: thus says the Lord God: Walk, each one of you, after your idols and serve them. But if in this also you will not listen to me, and you continue to defile my holy name with your gifts and with your idols,
“‘Na mo de, Israelfi, sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Mo mu biara nkɔsom nʼahoni! Nanso akyiri no, mubetie me na moremfa mo ayɛyɛde ne ahoni ngu me din kronkron ho fi bio.
40 on my holy mountain, on the exalted mountain of Israel, says the Lord God, there all the house of Israel shall serve me; all of them, I say, in the land in which they shall please me, and there I will require your first-fruits, and the foremost of your tithes, with all your sanctifications.
Efisɛ me bepɔw kronkron no so, Israel bepɔw a ɛkorɔn no so, Otumfo Awurade na ose, hɔ wɔ asase no so na Israelfi nyinaa bɛsom me, na hɔ na mobɛsɔ mʼani. Ɛhɔ na mehia mo afɔrebɔde ne mo ayɛyɛde a edi mu no, aka mo afɔre kronkron no nyinaa ho.
41 I will receive from you a fragrance of sweetness, when I will have led you away from the peoples, and gathered you from the lands into which you were dispersed. And I will be sanctified in you before the eyes of the nations.
Sɛ miyi mo fi amanaman no mu na meboaboa mo ano fi nsase a wɔbɔɔ mo petee so no so a, mobɛsɔ mʼani sɛ kurobow a eyi hua, afei mɛda me kronkronyɛ adi wɔ mo mu ama amanaman no ahu.
42 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have led you into the land of Israel, into the land about which I lifted up my hand, so that I would give it to your fathers.
Sɛ mede mo ba Israel asase a memaa me nsa so kaa ntam sɛ mede bɛma mo agyanom no so a, na mubehu sɛ mene Awurade.
43 And there you shall remember your ways and all your wickedness, by which you have been defiled. And you will be displeased with yourselves in your own sight, over all your evil deeds which you did.
Ɛhɔ no, mobɛkae mo suban ne nneyɛe nyinaa a mode agu mo ho fi, na mo ho bɛyɛ mo nwini esiane amumɔyɛ a moayɛ no nyinaa nti.
44 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I will have acted well toward you for the sake of my name, and not according to your evil ways, nor according to your very great wickedness, O house of Israel, says the Lord God.”
Mubehu sɛ mene AWURADE no, bere a me ne mo di no sɛnea me din te na mmom ɛnyɛ sɛnea mo akwammɔne ne mo porɔwee nneyɛe no te, mo Israelfo, Otumfo Awurade asɛm ni.’”
45 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se:
46 “Son of man, set your face against the way of the south, and pour in drops toward Africa, and prophesy against the forest of the field of the meridian.
“Onipa ba fa wʼani kyerɛ anafo fam, ka asɛm tia anafo fam na hyɛ nkɔm tia kwae a ɛwɔ anafo fam asase so.
47 And you shall say to the meridian forest: Listen to the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and I will burn up within you every green tree and every dry tree. The flame of the kindling will not be extinguished. And every face will be burned up within it, from the south, even to the north.
Ka kyerɛ anafo fam kwae no se: ‘Tie Awurade asɛm. Sɛɛ na Otumfo Awurade se: Merebɛto wo mu gya, na ɛbɛhyew nnua a ɛwɔ wo so nyinaa: Nea ɛyɛ amono ne nea awo. Wɔrennum ogyaframa no na ɛbɛhyew asase no ani nyinaa; efi anafo fam kosi atifi fam.
48 And all flesh will see that I, the Lord, have kindled it, and that it will not be extinguished.”
Obiara behu sɛ me Awurade na masɔ ogya no ano; ɛrennum.’”
49 And I said: “Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God! They are saying about me: ‘Does this man not speak except through parables?’”
Afei mekae se, “Aa, Otumfo Awurade! Wɔka fa me ho se, ‘Ɛnyɛ mmɛ na ɔrebu yi ana?’”
