Jeremiah Buys a Field
1A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It came in the 10th year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. It was in the 18th year of the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. 2The armies of the king of Babylon were getting ready to attack Jerusalem. Jeremiah the prophet was being held as a prisoner. He was kept in the courtyard of the guard. It was part of Judah’s royal palace.
3Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had made Jeremiah a prisoner there. Zedekiah had said to him, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘The Lord says, “I am about to hand over this city to the king of Babylon. He will capture it. 4Zedekiah, the king of Judah, will not escape from the powerful hands of the armies of Babylon. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. Zedekiah will speak with him face to face. He will see him with his own eyes. 5Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon. Zedekiah will remain there until I deal with him,” announces the Lord. “Suppose you fight against the armies of Babylon. If you do, you will not succeed.” ’ ”
6Jeremiah said, “A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said, 7‘Hanamel is going to come to you. He is the son of your uncle Shallum. Hanamel will say, “Buy my field at Anathoth. You are my closest relative. So it’s your right and duty to buy it.” ’
8“Then my cousin Hanamel came to me. I was in the courtyard of the guard. It happened just as the Lord had said it would. Hanamel said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth. It is in the territory of Benjamin. It is your right to buy it and own it. So buy it for yourself.’
“I knew that this was the Lord’s message. 9So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seven ounces of silver for him. 10I signed and sealed the deed of purchase. I had some people witness everything. And I weighed out the silver on the scales. 11There were two copies of the deed. One was sealed and the other wasn’t. The deed included the terms and conditions of the sale. 12I gave Baruch the copies of the deed. My cousin Hanamel saw me do this. The witnesses who had signed the deed were there too. So were all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. Baruch was the son of Neriah. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah.
13“I gave Baruch directions in front of all of them. I said, 14‘The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “Take this deed of purchase. Take the sealed and unsealed copies. Put them in a clay jar. Then they will last a long time.” 15The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” ’
16“I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch, the son of Neriah. Then I prayed to the Lord. I said,
17“ ‘Lord and King, you have reached out your great and powerful arm. You have made the heavens and the earth. Nothing is too hard for you. 18You show your love to thousands of people. But you cause the sins of parents to affect even their children. Great and powerful God, your name is the Lord Who Rules Over All. 19Your purposes are great. Your acts are mighty. Your eyes see everything people do. You reward each one of them in keeping with their conduct. You do this based on what they have done. 20You performed signs and wonders in Egypt. And you have continued to do them to this day. You have done them in Israel and among all people. You are still known for doing them. 21You brought your people Israel out of Egypt. You did it with signs and wonders. You reached out your mighty hand and powerful arm. You did great and wonderful things. 22You gave Israel this land that you promised to their people of long ago. It is a land that has plenty of milk and honey. 23Israel came in and took it over. But they did not obey you. They didn’t follow your law. They didn’t do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this trouble on them.
24“ ‘See how ramps are built up against Jerusalem’s walls to attack it. The city will be handed over to the armies of Babylon. They are attacking it. It will fall because of war, hunger and plague. What you said would happen is now happening, as you can see. 25Lord and King, the city will be handed over to the armies of Babylon. In spite of that, you tell me to buy a field. You say, “Pay for it with silver. And have the sale witnessed.” ’ ”
26Then a message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. The Lord said, 27“I am the Lord. I am the God of all people. Is anything too hard for me?” 28So the Lord says, “I am about to hand this city over to the armies of Babylon. I will give it to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He will capture it. 29The armies of Babylon are now attacking this city. They will come in and set it on fire. They will burn it down. They will burn down the houses where the people made me very angry. They burned incense on their roofs to the god named Baal. And they poured out drink offerings to other gods.
30“The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my eyes. They have done it since the nation was young. In fact, they have done nothing but make me very angry. They have worshiped statues of gods their own hands have made,” announces the Lord. 31“This city has always stirred up my great anger. It has done it since the day it was built. Now I must remove it from my sight. 32The people of Israel and Judah have made me very angry. They have done many evil things. They, their kings and officials have sinned. So have their priests and prophets. And the people of Judah and Jerusalem have also sinned. 33They turned their backs to me. They would not face me. I taught them again and again. But they would not listen or pay attention when they were corrected. 34They set up the hateful statues of their gods. They did it in the house where I have put my Name. They made my house ‘unclean.’ 35The people built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. That is where they sacrifice their children to Molek in the fire. That is something I did not command. It did not even enter my mind. They did something I hate. They made Judah sin.”
36Here is what you people of Judah are saying about this city. “By war, hunger and plague it will be handed over to the king of Babylon.” But here is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says. 37“You can be sure that I will gather my people again. I will send them away when my burning anger blazes out against them. But I will bring them back to this place. And I will let them live in safety. 38They will be my people. And I will be their God. 39I will give them a single purpose in life. Then, they will always have respect for me. Then all will go well for them. And it will also go well for their children after them. 40I will make a covenant with them that will last forever. I promise that I will never stop doing good to them. I will cause them to respect me. Then they will never turn away from me again. 41I will take pleasure in doing good things for them. I will certainly plant them in this land. I will do these things with all my heart and soul.”
42The Lord says, “I have brought all this horrible trouble on these people. But now I will give them all the good things I have promised them. 43Once more fields will be bought in this land. It is the land about which you now say, ‘It is a dry and empty desert. It doesn’t have any people or animals in it. It has been handed over to the armies of Babylon.’ 44Fields will be bought with silver. Deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed. That will be done in the territory of Benjamin. It will be done in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah. It will also be done in the towns of the central hill country. And it will be done in the towns of the western hills and the Negev Desert. I will bless their people with great success again,” announces the Lord.
Yeremia Tɔ Asase
1Eyi ne asɛm a efi Awurade nkyɛn baa Yeremia hɔ wɔ Yudahene Sedekia adedi afe a ɛto so du a na ɛyɛ Nebukadnessar adedi afe a ɛto so dunwɔtwe no mu. 2Na Babiloniahene nsraadɔm aka Yerusalem ahyɛ a na odiyifo Yeremia nso da dua mu wɔ awɛmfo adiwo a ɛwɔ Yuda ahemfi.
3Na Yudahene Sedekia de no ato afiase wɔ hɔ reka se, “Adɛn nti na wohyɛ nkɔm a ɛte sɛɛ? Woka se, ‘Nea Awurade se ni: Mede saa kuropɔn yi rebɛhyɛ Babiloniahene nsa, na wafa no nnommum. 4Yudahene Sedekia rennya kwan nguan mfi Babiloniafo nsam, na ampa ara hyɛ na wɔde no bɛhyɛ Babiloniahene nsa, na ɔne no akasa anim ne anim na ɔde nʼani ahu no. 5Ɔde Sedekia bɛkɔ Babilonia, na hɔ na ɔbɛtena akosi sɛ me ne no bedi, Awurade na ose. Sɛ woko tia Babiloniafo no a worenni nkonim.’ ”
6Yeremia kae se, “Awurade asɛm baa me nkyɛn se, 7Wo wɔfa Salum babarima Hanamel rebɛba wo nkyɛn, abɛka se, ‘Tɔ mʼasase a ɛwɔ Anatot32.7 Anatot—Yeremia kurom. no, efisɛ woyɛ me busuani titiriw na wowɔ ho kwan, na ɛyɛ wʼasɛde nso sɛ wotɔ.’
8“Na sɛnea Awurade aka no, me wɔfa ba Hanamel baa me nkyɛn wɔ awɛmfo adiwo hɔ bɛkae se, ‘Tɔ mʼasase a ɛwɔ Anatot wɔ Benyamin mantam mu no. Esiane sɛ wowɔ ho kwan sɛ wugye na wofa no nti, tɔ na fa.’
“Mihuu sɛ eyi yɛ Awurade asɛm.” 9Enti metɔɔ asase a na ɛwɔ Anatot no fii me wɔfa ba Hanamel nkyɛn na mituaa dwetɛ gram ɔha ne aduɔkron anan (194) maa no. 10Mede me nsa hyɛɛ adetɔ nhoma no ase, sɔw ano32.10 sɔw ano—Ɛnyɛ sɛ ɔde nsa bɛhyɛ ase sɛ ɛyɛ nokware nko, na mmom, sɛnea wɔbɛhyɛ nhyehyɛe no mu nsɛm no mu den na amma obiara antumi ansakra mu. wɔ nnansefo anim, na mede nsania karii dwetɛ mpɔw no. 11Na mefaa adetɔ nhoma no, nea wɔasɔw ano a ɛho nhyehyɛe wɔ mu no, ne nea wɔnsɔw ano no nso, 12na mede saa adetɔ nhoma no maa Neria babarima Baruk32.12 Baruk—Ase ne “Awurade ahyira no.” Na ɔyɛ Yeremia kyerɛwfo nokwafo. a, ɔyɛ Maaseia nena no wɔ me wɔfa ba Hanamel, nnansefo a wɔde wɔn nsa hyɛɛ adetɔ nhoma no ase ne Yudafo a na wɔwɔ awɛmfo adiwo hɔ no nyinaa anim.
13“Meka kyerɛɛ Baruk wɔ wɔn nyinaa anim se, 14‘Nea Asafo Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn no se ni: Fa saa adetɔ so nhoma yi, nea wɔasɔw ano ne nea wɔnsɔw ano, na fa gu dɔte asuhina mu, sɛnea ɛbɛkyɛ yiye.32.14 fa to asuhina mu sɛnea ɛbɛkyɛ yiye—Krataa a wohuu no asuhina mu wɔ Ɛlefantin ne Kumram (nkurow a ɛdeda Nkyene Po atɔe fam) no dii mfe 2,000 ne akyi a ɛho anka. 15Nea Asafo Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn no se ni: Wɔbɛtotɔ afi, mfuw ne bobe nturo wɔ asase yi so bio.’
16“Mede adetɔ nhoma no maa Neria babarima Baruk akyiri no, mebɔɔ Awurade mpae se,
17“Ao, Otumfo Awurade, wo na wonam wo tumi ne wo basa a woateɛ mu so abɔ ɔsoro ne asase. Biribiara nyɛ den mma wo. 18Wuyi ɔdɔ adi kyerɛ mpempem, nanso wutua agyanom amumɔyɛ so ka gu wɔn mma a wodi wɔn akyi srɛ so. Onyankopɔn Tweduampɔn a woso na wowɔ tumi, wo din ne Asafo Awurade, 19wo botae so, na wo nneyɛe yɛ kɛse. Wʼaniwa hu nnipa akwan nyinaa; na wutua obiara ka sɛnea nʼabrabɔ ne ne nneyɛe te. 20Woyɛɛ nsɛnkyerɛnne ne anwonwade wɔ Misraim na atoa so de abesi nnɛ wɔ Israel ne adesamma nyinaa mu, na wode agye din a ɛwɔ wo de besi nnɛ. 21Wode nsɛnkyerɛnne ne anwonwade, nsa a ɛyɛ den ne abasa a wɔateɛ mu ne nneɛma ɛyɛ hu yii wo man Israel fii Misraim. 22Wode asase a wokaa ho ntam sɛ wode bɛma wɔn agyanom no maa wɔn, asase a nufusu ne ɛwo sen wɔ so. 23Wɔba bedii, na wɔtenaa so, nanso wɔantie wo, na wɔanni wo mmara so; wɔanyɛ nea wohyɛɛ wɔn sɛ wɔnyɛ no. Enti wode saa amanehunu yi nyinaa baa wɔn so.
24“Hwɛ sɛnea wɔasisi ntuano mpampim de rebegye kuropɔn no. Esiane afoa, ɔkɔm ne ɔyaredɔm nti, wɔde kuropɔn no bɛhyɛ Babiloniafo a wɔretow ahyɛ ne so no nsa. Nea wokae no aba mu sɛnea wuhu no mprempren no. 25Na ɛwɔ mu sɛ wɔde kuropɔn no bɛhyɛ Babiloniafo nsa de, nanso wo, Otumfo Awurade, ka kyerɛ me se, ‘Fa dwetɛ tɔ asase na ma nnansefo mmra ho nhyehyɛe no mu.’ ”
26Na Awurade asɛm baa Yeremia nkyɛn se, 27“Mene Awurade adesamma nyinaa Nyankopɔn. Na biribi yɛ den dodo ma me ana? 28Enti nea Awurade se ni: Mede kuropɔn yi rebɛhyɛ Babiloniafo ne Babiloniahene Nebukadnessar nsa, na wɔafa. 29Babiloniafo a wɔretow ahyɛ saa kuropɔn yi so no bɛba, na wɔato mu gya; wɔbɛhyew no dwerɛbee, ɛno ne afi a nnipa hyew nnuhuam wɔ atifi maa Baal na wohwiee afɔrebɔ nsa maa anyame foforo de hyɛɛ me abufuw no.
30“Israelfo ne Yudafo nyɛɛ biribiara sɛ bɔne wɔ mʼani so, efi wɔn mmabun bere mu; ampa ara Israelfo nyɛɛ biribiara sɛ wɔde nneɛma a wɔde wɔn nsa ayɛ bɛhyɛ me abufuw, Awurade na ose. 31Efi da a wɔkyekyeree saa kuropɔn yi de besi nnɛ, wahyɛ me abufuw ne abufuwtraso a ɛsɛ sɛ miyi no fi mʼani so. 32Israelfo ne Yudafo de bɔne a wɔayɛ nyinaa ahyɛ me abufuw, wɔn, wɔn ahemfo ne adwumayɛfo, wɔn asɔfo ne adiyifo, mmarima a wɔwɔ Yuda ne nnipa a wɔwɔ Yerusalem. 33Wɔdan wɔn akyi kyerɛɛ me; ɛwɔ mu, mekyerɛkyerɛ wɔn bere biara de, nanso wɔantie na wɔamfa nteɛso. 34Wɔasisi ahoni a ɛyɛ akyiwade wɔ ofi a me Din da so no mu, de guu ho fi. 35Wosisii sorɔnsorɔmmea maa Baal wɔ Ben Hinom bon mu, de wɔn mmabarima ne mmabea bɔɔ afɔre maa Molek, wɔ bere a menhyɛɛ wɔn na ɛmmaa mʼadwene mu da sɛ wɔnyɛ saa akyiwade yi mma Yuda nyɛ bɔne.
36“Woreka wɔ kuropɔn yi ho se, ‘Wɔnam afoa, ɔkɔm ne ɔyaredɔm so de bɛhyɛ Babiloniahene nsa’; nanso sɛɛ na Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn se: 37Ampa ara mɛboaboa wɔn ano afi nsase a mifi mʼabufuwhyew mu pam wɔn koguu hɔ; mɛsan de wɔn aba ha na mama wɔatena ase ahotɔ mu. 38Wɔbɛyɛ me nkurɔfo, na mayɛ wɔn Nyankopɔn. 39Na mɛma wɔn koma koro na wɔayɛ wɔn ade abɔ mu, sɛnea bere biara wobesuro me, wɔn ankasa ne wɔn nkyirimma yiyedi nti. 40Na me ne wɔn bɛyɛ daapem apam: Merennyae wɔn yiyeyɛ da, na mede ɔpɛ bɛhyɛ wɔn koma mu, ama wɔasuro me, sɛnea wɔrentwe wɔn ho mfi me ho da. 41Mʼani begye sɛ mɛyɛ wɔn yiye, na ampa ara mede me koma ne me kra nyinaa bedua wɔn wɔ asase yi so.
42“Sɛɛ na Awurade se: Sɛnea mede amanehunu kɛse yi nyinaa aba nkurɔfo yi so no, saa ara na mede yiyedi a mahyɛ wɔn ho bɔ no bɛma wɔn. 43Wɔbɛtotɔ nsase bio wɔ ha, nea moka wɔ ho se, ‘Wɔde ahyɛ Babiloniafo nsa, ɛno nti ada mpan, na nnipa anaa mmoa nni so no.’ 44Wɔde dwetɛ bɛtotɔ nsase, na wɔbɛyɛ adetɔ nhoma wɔ so. Wɔbɛsɔw ano wɔ nnansefo anim wɔ Benyamin32.44 Benyamin mantam. Wɔbɔ Benyamin din ha kan efisɛ na hɔ yɛ ɔmantam a Yeremia kurow a ofi mu wɔ. mantam, nkuraa a atwa Yerusalem ho ahyia, nkurow a ɛwɔ Yuda, bepɔw so man, atɔe fam mmepɔw ase ne Negeb, efisɛ mɛsan de wɔn ahonyade ama wɔn, Awurade na ose.”
