The Godly Branch
1“How terrible it will be for the shepherds who lead my people astray!” announces the Lord. “They are destroying and scattering the sheep that belong to my flock.” 2So the Lord, the God of Israel, speaks to the shepherds who take care of my people. He tells them, “You have scattered my sheep. You have driven them away. You have not taken good care of them. So I will punish you for the evil things you have done,” announces the Lord. 3“I myself will gather together those who are left alive in my flock. I will gather them out of all the countries where I have driven them. And I will bring them back to their own land. There my sheep will have many lambs. There will be many more of them. 4I will place shepherds over them who will take good care of them. My sheep will not be afraid or terrified anymore. And none of them will be missing,” announces the Lord.
5“A new day is coming,” announces the Lord.
“At that time I will raise up for David’s royal line
a godly Branch.
He will be a King who will rule wisely.
He will do what is fair and right in the land.
6In his days Judah will be saved.
Israel will live in safety.
And the Branch will be called
The Lord Who Makes Us Right With Himself.
7Other days are also coming,” announces the Lord. “At that time people will no longer say, ‘The Lord brought the Israelites up out of Egypt. And that’s just as sure as he is alive.’ 8Instead, they will say, ‘The Lord brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north. He gathered them out of all the countries where he had forced them to go. And that’s just as sure as he is alive.’ Then they will live in their own land.”
Prophets Who Tell Lies
9Here is my message about the prophets.
My heart is broken inside me.
All my bones tremble with fear.
I am like a man who is drunk.
I am like a strong man who has had too much wine.
That’s what the Lord’s holy words
have done to me.
10The land is full of people
who aren’t faithful to the Lord.
Now the land is under his curse.
And that’s why it is thirsty for water.
That’s why the desert grasslands are dry.
The prophets are leading sinful lives.
They don’t use their power in the right way.
11“Prophets and priests alike are ungodly,”
announces the Lord.
“Even in my temple I find them sinning.
12So their path will become slippery.
They will be thrown out into darkness.
There they will fall.
I will bring trouble on them
when the time to punish them comes,”
announces the Lord.
13“Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw something I can’t stand.
They were prophesying in the name of Baal.
They were leading my people Israel astray.
14I have also seen something horrible among Jerusalem’s prophets.
They are not faithful to me.
They are not living by the truth.
They strengthen the hands of those who do evil.
So not one of them turns from their sinful ways.
All of them are like the people of Sodom to me.
They are just like the people of Gomorrah.”
15So the Lord who rules over all speaks about the prophets. He says,
“I will make them eat bitter food.
I will make them drink poisoned water.
The prophets of Jerusalem have spread
their ungodly ways all through the land.”
16The Lord who rules over all says to the people of Judah,
“Do not listen to what the prophets are saying to you.
They fill you with false hopes.
They talk about visions that come from their own minds.
What they say does not come from my mouth.
17They keep speaking to those who hate me. They say,
‘The Lord says you will have peace.’
They speak to all those who do
what their stubborn hearts want them to do.
They tell them, ‘No harm will come to you.’
18But which of them has ever stood in my courts?
Have they been there to see a vision or hear my message?
Who has listened and heard my message there?
19A storm will burst out
because of my great anger.
A windstorm will sweep down
on the heads of sinful people.
20My anger will not turn back.
I will accomplish everything
I plan to do.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.
21I did not send these prophets.
But they have run to tell you their message anyway.
I did not speak to them.
But they have still prophesied.
22Suppose they had stood in my courts.
Then they would have announced my message to my people.
They would have turned my people from their evil ways.
They would have turned them away from their sins.
23“Am I only a God who is nearby?”
announces the Lord.
“Am I not a God who is also far away?
24Who can hide in secret places
so that I can’t see them?”
announces the Lord.
“Don’t I fill heaven and earth?”
announces the Lord.
25“I have heard what the prophets are saying. They prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! The Lord has given me a dream!’ 26How long will that continue in the hearts of these prophets who tell lies? They try to get others to believe their own mistaken ideas. 27They tell one another their dreams. They think that will make my people forget my name. In the same way, their people of long ago forgot my name when they worshiped Baal. 28Let the prophet who has a dream describe the dream. But let the one who has my message speak it faithfully. Your prophets have given you straw to eat instead of grain,” announces the Lord. 29“My message is like fire,” announces the Lord. “It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.
30“So I am against these prophets,” announces the Lord. “I am against those who steal messages from one another. They claim that the messages come from me. 31Yes,” announces the Lord. “I am against the prophets who speak their own words. But they still say, ‘Here is what the Lord says.’ 32I am against prophets who talk about dreams that did not come from me,” announces the Lord. “They tell foolish lies. Their lies lead my people astray. But I did not send these prophets. I did not appoint them. They do not help my people in the least,” announces the Lord.
Prophets Who Give Messages That Are Not From the Lord
33“Jeremiah, these people might ask you a question. Or a prophet or priest might do this. They might ask, ‘What message have you received from the Lord?’ Then tell them, ‘You ask, “What message?” Here it is. “I will desert you,” announces the Lord.’ 34A prophet or priest might make a claim. Or someone else might do this. He might claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ Then I will punish them and their family. 35Here is what each of you people keeps on saying to your friends and other Israelites. You ask, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ Or you ask, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36But you must not talk about ‘a message from the Lord’ again. That’s because each person’s own words become their message. And so you twist the Lord’s words. He is the living God. He is the Lord who rules over all. And he is our God. 37Here is what you keep saying to a prophet. You ask, ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ Or you ask, ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38You claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ But here is what the Lord says. ‘You used the words, “This is a message from the Lord.” But I told you that you must not claim, “This is a message from the Lord.” ’ 39So you can be sure I will forget you. I will throw you out of my sight. I will also destroy the city I gave you and your people of long ago. 40I will bring on you shame that will last forever. It will never be forgotten.”
Trenee Dubaa No
1“Nnome nka nguanhwɛfo a wɔsɛe na wɔhwete me nguankuw no!” Awurade na ose. 2Ɛno nti sɛɛ na Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, ka kyerɛ ahwɛfo a wɔhwɛ me nkurɔfo so ni: “Esiane sɛ moabɔ me nguankuw ahwete, na moapam wɔn na moanhwɛ wɔn so yiye no nti, mede asotwe bɛbrɛ mo, mo bɔne a moayɛ no nti,” nea Awurade se ni. 3“Mʼankasa mɛboaboa me nguan nkae no afi aman a mapam wɔn akɔ hɔ nyinaa no so na mede wɔn bɛsan aba wɔn adidibea bio, baabi wɔbɛwowo na wɔn ase atrɛw. 4Na meyi nguanhwɛfo a wɔbɛhwɛ wɔn so, na wɔrensuro na wɔremmɔ hu bio na wɔn mu baako mpo renyera.” Awurade na ose.
5“Nna bi reba,” Awurade na ose,
“sɛ mɛma trenee dubaa bi so ama Dawid
ɔhene bi a obedi ade nyansa mu
na wayɛ nea ɛteɛ ne nea eye wɔ asase yi so.
6Ne mmere so, wobegye Yuda nkwa
na Israel bɛtena ase wɔ asomdwoe mu.
Eyi ne din a wɔde bɛfrɛ no:
Awurade Yɛn Trenee.
7Na afei nna bi reba,” Awurade na ose, “a nnipa renka bio se, ‘Nokware sɛ Awurade te ase yi, nea oyii Israelfo fii Misraim,’ 8na mmom, wɔbɛka se, ‘Nokware sɛ Awurade te ase yi, nea oyii Israel asefo fii atifi asase so ne aman nyinaa a ɔpam wɔn kɔɔ hɔ no so no.’ Na afei wɔbɛtena wɔn ankasa asase so.”
Atoro Adiyifo
9Nea ɛfa adiyifo no ho no:
Me koma abubu wɔ me mu;
me nnompe nyinaa wosow.
Mete sɛ ɔsabowfo,
mete sɛ obi a nsa abow no,
esiane Awurade
ne ne nsɛm kronkron no nti.
10Aguamammɔfo ahyɛ asase no so ma;
nnome no nti asase no awo wosee,
adidibea a ɛwɔ nweatam no so ahyew.
Adiyifo no nam ɔkwan bɔne so
de wɔn tumi yɛ nea ɛnteɛ.
11“Odiyifo ne ɔsɔfo nyinaa nsuro Nyankopɔn;
mʼasɔredan mu mpo mihu wɔn amumɔyɛsɛm,”
Awurade na ose.
12“Ɛno nti, wɔn kwan so bɛyɛ torotorootoro;
wɔbɛpam wɔn akɔ sum mu
na hɔ na wɔbɛhwehwe ase.
Mede amanehunu bɛba wɔn so
wɔ afe a wɔbɛtwe wɔn aso mu no,”
Awurade na ose.
13“Samaria adiyifo mu no
mihuu saa atantanne yi:
Wɔde Baal hyɛɛ nkɔm
nam so maa me nkurɔfo Israelfo fom kwan.
14Na Yerusalem adiyifo mu no
mahu ade a ɛyɛ hu:
Wɔsɛe aware na wodi atoro.
Wɔhyɛ wɔn a wɔyɛ bɔne no mpamuden,
enti obiara ntwe ne ho mfi nʼamumɔyɛsɛm ho.
Wɔn nyinaa te sɛ Sodom ma me;
na Yerusalemfo te sɛ Gomora.”
15Ɛno nti sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade, se fa adiyifo no ho:
“Mɛma wɔadi aduan a ɛyɛ nwen
na wɔanom nsu a awuduru wɔ mu,
efisɛ Yerusalem adiyifo nti,
bɔneyɛ ahyɛ asase yi so ma.”
16Sɛɛ na Asafo Awurade se:
“Munntie nkɔm a adiyifo no hyɛ kyerɛ mo;
wɔma mo nya anidaso a enni nnyinaso.
Wɔbɔ wɔn tirim ka anisoadehu,
a emfi Awurade anom.
17Wɔkɔ so ka kyerɛ wɔn a wobu me animtiaa no se,
‘Awurade se: Mubenya asomdwoe.’
Na wɔn a wodi wɔn komaden akyi no nyinaa,
wɔka kyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Ɔhaw biara remma mo so.’
18Na wɔn mu hena na wasɔre wɔ Awurade agyinatufo mu
sɛ ɔbɛhwɛ anaa obetie nʼasɛm?
Hena na wayɛ aso ate nʼasɛm?
19Hwɛ, Awurade ahum
betu abufuwhyew mu,
mfɛtɛ bedi kyinhyia wɔ
amumɔyɛfo mpampam.
20Awurade abufuw rensan
kosi sɛ obewie
ne koma mu nhyehyɛe nyinaa.
Nna a ɛreba no mu no
mobɛte ase yiye.
21Mansoma saa adiyifo yi,
nanso wɔde wɔn asɛm akyinkyin;
mamma wɔn nkra biara,
nanso wɔahyɛ nkɔm.
22Sɛ wɔkaa mʼagyinatufo ho a,
anka wɔbɛpae mu aka mʼasɛm akyerɛ me nkurɔfo
na ama wɔatwe wɔn ho afi wɔn akwammɔne
ne wɔn nneyɛe bɔne ho.
23“Meyɛ Onyankopɔn a mebɛn nko ara anaa,”
Awurade na ose,
“na menyɛ Onyankopɔn a mewɔ akyirikyiri nso?
24Obi betumi de ne ho asie baabi a
merentumi nhu no ana?”
Awurade na ose.
“Menyɛɛ ɔsoro ne asase so ma ana?”
Awurade na ose.
25“Mate nea adiyifo a wɔde me din hyɛ atoro nkɔm no keka. Wɔkeka se, ‘Mesoo dae! Mesoo dae!’ 26Eyi bɛkɔ so akosi da bɛn wɔ atoro adiyifo yi koma mu? Wɔn a wɔbɔ wɔn tirim hyɛ nnaadaa nkɔm? 27Wodwen sɛ dae a wɔkeka kyerɛkyerɛ wɔn ho no bɛma me nkurɔfo werɛ afi me din, sɛnea Baal som nti wɔn agyanom werɛ fii me din no. 28Ma odiyifo a waso dae no nka nʼadaeso, na ma nea ɔwɔ mʼasɛm no nka no nokware mu. Na dɛn na ntɛtɛ ne awi wɔ yɛ?” Awurade na ose. 29“Na mʼasɛm nte sɛ ogya,” Awurade na ose, “ɛnte sɛ asae a ɛpaapae ɔbotan mu nketenkete ana?
30“Ɛno nti,” Awurade na ose, “mikyi adiyifo a wɔfa nsɛm a efi wɔn yɔnkonom nkyɛn, na wɔpae mu ka no sɛnea efi me nkyɛn no. 31Yiw,” Awurade asɛm ni, “mikyi saa adiyifo a wɔde wɔn ankasa tɛkrɛmawo ka se, ‘Awurade na ose.’ 32Nokware, mikyi wɔn a wɔhyɛ adaeso ho atoro nkɔm,” Awurade na ose. “Wɔka kyerɛ wɔn na wɔde atoro nsɛm daadaa me nkurɔfo ma wɔfom kwan, nso mensomaa wɔn na minnyii wɔn. Wɔn so nni mfaso mma saa nnipa yi koraa,” Awurade na ose.
Atoro Adiyisɛm Ne Atoro Adiyifo
33“Sɛ saa nnipa yi, anaa odiyifo anaa ɔsɔfo bisa mo se, ‘Dɛn ne Awurade adiyisɛm no a?’ Monka nkyerɛ wɔn se, ‘Adiyisɛm bɛn? Mɛpo mo, Awurade na ose.’ 34Sɛ odiyifo bi, ɔsɔfo bi anaa obi foforo si so dua se, ‘Awurade adiyisɛm ni’ a, mɛtwe saa ɔbarima no ne ne fifo aso. 35Eyi ne nea mo mu biara kɔ so ka kyerɛ ne yɔnko anaa ne busuani: ‘Awurade mmuae ne dɛn?’ Anaa ‘Dɛn na Awurade aka?’ 36Nanso ɛnsɛ sɛ mobɔ ‘Awurade adiyisɛm’ so bio; efisɛ obiara asɛm bɛyɛ nʼadiyisɛm, ne saa nti modannan nsɛm a efi Onyankopɔn, Ɔteasefo, Asafo Awurade yɛn Nyankopɔn nkyɛn no mu. 37Eyi ne nea mokɔ so ka kyerɛ odiyifo: ‘Mmuae bɛn na Awurade de ama mo?’ Anaa ‘Asɛm bɛn na Awurade aka?’ 38Ɛwɔ mu, musi so dua se, ‘Eyi ne Awurade adiyisɛm’ nanso sɛɛ na Awurade ka: Mokae se, ‘Eyi yɛ Awurade adiyisɛm,’ wɔ bere a maka akyerɛ mo se monnka saa nsɛm yi bio. 39Afei, nokware, me werɛ befi mo, na mapam mo ne kuropɔn a mede maa mo ne mo agyanom afi mʼani so. 40Na mede daa animguase, ne daa ahohora a werɛ remfi da bɛba mo so.”
