< Hosea 13 >

1 [Previously], when [the leaders of] Israel spoke, the people trembled; those leaders were highly respected by the Israeli people. But the people sinned greatly by [worshiping] Baal, so now they will be killed [by their enemies].
Sɛ Efraim kasa a, na nnipa ho popo; wɔma no so wɔ Israelman mu. Nanso Baalsom nti, onyaa afɔbu na owui.
2 Now they sin more and more; they make idols for themselves [and coat the idols] with their silver. Those idols are statues that are very cleverly made, but those statues are made by [mere] humans. But [the people are told], “Kiss those idols [that resemble a] calf, and offer sacrifices to them!”
Afei wɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne ara; wɔde wɔn dwetɛ yɛ ahoni ma wɔn ho, nsɛsode no nyinaa no. Adwumfo no nam nyansakwan so na ayeyɛ. Wɔka nnipa yi ho asɛm se, “Wɔde nnipa bɔ afɔre na wofew nantwimma ahoni ano.”
3 Therefore, those people will [disappear quickly] like [SIM] the morning mist or the dew that lies [on the ground] early [in the morning]; [they will disappear] like [SIM] chaff that is blown away from where [the wheat] is threshed, like [SIM] smoke that goes out of a chimney.
Ɛno nti, wɔbɛyɛ sɛ anɔpa omununkum sɛ anɔpa bosu a etu yera, sɛ ntɛtɛ a ehuw fi awiporowbea sɛ wusiw a ɛfa mfɛnsere mu kɔ.
4 But [Yahweh says to his people], “I am Yahweh, your God, [the one who brought your ancestors] out of Egypt. You must believe that only I am God and that there is no other God, and that there is no one else who can save you!
“Nanso mene Awurade wo Nyankopɔn, a miyii wo fii Misraim. Nnye Onyankopɔn biara nto mu sɛ me, anaa Ogyefo biara sɛ me.
5 I took care of your [ancestors when they were] in the desert, where it was extremely [hot and] dry.
Mehwɛɛ wo wɔ nweatam so, asase a so yɛ hyew yiye no so.
6 When I provided food for them, their [stomachs] were full, and they were satisfied. But then they became proud and they forgot [about] me, [and you are like your ancestors]!
Memaa wɔn aduan no, wodi mee; wɔmee no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ fii me.
7 So I will attack you like [SIM] a lion [attacks other animals]; I will be like [SIM] a leopard that waits beside the road [to attack another animal].
Enti mɛtow ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛw wɔn wɔ akwan ho sɛ ɔsebɔ.
8 Like [SIM] a female bear attacks anyone that steals her cubs, I will attack you Israelis and rip you open. I will completely destroy you like [SIM] lions or [other] wild animals tear apart the animals that they catch and devour them.
Mɛtow ahyɛ wɔn so na matetew wɔn mu te sɛ sisi bi a wɔawia ne mma. Mɛwe wɔn te sɛ gyata; wuram aboa besunsuan wɔn mu.
9 [You people of] Israel, you will be destroyed because you oppose me, the only one who (can help/helps) you.
“Wɔasɛe wo, Israel, efisɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo boafo.
10 You have a king; (why is he [unable to save you]?/but he is [unable to save you].) [RHQ] You have [RHQ] rulers in all your towns, but they are not helping you, [either]. Your [ancestors] said, ‘Appoint for us a king and [other] leaders [to rule over us] [like the other nations have]!’
Wo hene wɔ he na wabegye wo? Wo sodifo a wɔwɔ wo nkurow nyinaa so no wɔ he, wɔn a wokaa faa wɔn ho se, ‘Ma me ɔhene ne ahenemma’ no?
11 I was angry with them [for requesting that], but I appointed a king [to rule over] them. But [later] I became very angry with them [again], so I took their king away.
Enti mʼabufuw mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibere mu no, miyii no hɔ.
12 [I have written on a scroll] a record of the sins that have been committed by you people of Israel, and I have stored away that record.
Efraim afɔdi no wɔaboaboa ano wɔakyerɛw ne bɔne agu hɔ.
13 You people are not wise; and now [you are helpless]. You are like [MET] a woman who is having birth pains but who is unable to give birth to the baby.
Ɔbɛte ɔyaw te sɛ ɔbea a ɔreko awo, na abofra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ bere no du a, ɔmma awotwaa no ano.
14 I certainly will not [RHQ] save you from being killed and from going to the place where the dead people are. I will [RHQ] cause you to be afflicted by plagues and to die and be buried in graves. I will not be merciful [to you]. (Sheol h7585)
“Mɛpata agye wɔn afi ɔda tumi mu. Megye wɔn afi owu nsam. Owu, wo nwowɔe wɔ he? Asaman, wo sɛe wɔ he? “Merennya ayamhyehye biara, (Sheol h7585)
15 Even if you people of Israel prosper more than the nearby nations do, [the army of Assyria] will come [like] [MET] an east wind that blows from the desert; the springs and wells in Israel will become dry; and [your enemies] will take away all your valuable possessions.
mpo sɛ ɔyɛ yiye wɔ ne nuanom mu a. Apuei mframa a efi Awurade hɔ bɛba, ɛbɛbɔ afi nweatam so; osu rentɔ asusowbere na nʼabura bɛyow. Wɔbɛfom ne koradan mu nneɛma nea ɛsom bo no nyinaa.
16 [You people of] Samaria must be punished because you have rebelled against [me], your God. You will be killed by [your enemies’] swords; your little children will be [killed by being] dashed/thrown to the ground; the [bellies of] women [among you] will be ripped open.”
Ɛsɛ sɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Samaria gye wɔn afɔdi to mu, efisɛ wɔayɛ dɔm atia wɔn Nyankopɔn. Wɔbɛtotɔ wɔ afoa ano; wɔbɛtotow wɔn mmofra ahwehwe fam, wɔn mmaa a wɔanyinsɛn nso wɔbɛpaapae wɔn mu.”

< Hosea 13 >