< 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; wɔpagyaa no wɔ Israelman mu. Nanso Baalsom enti, ɔnyaa afɔbuo na ɔwuiɛ.
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, nsɛsodeɛ no nyinaa no. Adwumfoɔ no nam nyansakwan so na ayeyɛ. Wɔka nnipa yi ho asɛm sɛ, “Wɔde nnipa bɔ afɔdeɛ na wɔfe anantwie mma 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 enti, wɔbɛyɛ sɛ anɔpa omununkum sɛ anɔpa bosuo a ɛtu yera, sɛ ntɛtɛ a ehu firi ayuporobea sɛ wisie a ɛfa mpoma 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 Onyankopɔn, a meyii wo firii Misraim. Nnye Onyankopɔn biara nto mu sɛ me, anaa Ɔgyefoɔ 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 anweatam so, asase a ɛso yɛ hye yie 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 aduane no, wɔdi meeɛ; wɔmeeɛ no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ firii 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, mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛ 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.
Mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so na matete wɔn mu te sɛ sisire bi a wɔawia ne mma. Mɛwe wɔn te sɛ gyata; wiram aboa bɛsunsuan 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, Ao Israel, ɛfiri sɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo ɔboafoɔ.
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 ɔhene a ɔbɛgye wo no wɔ he? Wo sodifoɔ a wɔwɔ wo nkuro so wɔ he, wɔn a wokaa wɔ wɔn ho sɛ, ‘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 mʼabufuo mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibereɛ mu no, meyii 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 afɔdie no wɔaboaboa ano wɔatwerɛ 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 ɔyea te sɛ ɔbaa a ɔreko awoɔ, na abɔfra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ berɛ no duru 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 )
“Mɛpata agye wɔn afiri damena tumi mu. Mɛgye wɔn afiri owuo nsam. Owuo wo nwowɔeɛ wɔ he? Asaman wo sɛeɛ wɔ he? “Merennya ayamhyehyeɛ, (Sheol )
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 yie wɔ ne nuanom mu a. Apueeɛ mframa a ɛfiri Awurade hɔ bɛba, ɛbɛbɔ afiri anweatam so; osuo rentɔ osutɔberɛ na nʼabura bɛwe. Wɔbɛfom nʼakoradan mu nneɛma deɛ 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 afɔdie to mu, ɛfiri sɛ wɔayɛ ɛdɔm atia wɔn Onyankopɔn. Wɔbɛtotɔ wɔ akofena ano; wɔbɛtoto wɔn mmɔfra ahwehwe fam, wɔn mmaa a wɔanyinsɛn nso wɔbɛpaapae wɔn mu.”