< Hosea 14 >
1 [You people of] Israel, return to Yahweh our God. You are being punished because of the sins which you have committed.
O Israel, mitrɔ yi Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu la gbɔ, elabena miaƒe nu vɔ̃wo gbã mi gudugudu.
2 So now return to Yahweh and say [MTY] this to him: “Forgive us for all the sins that we have committed, and kindly accept (us/our sacrifices) in order that we may thank/praise you [IDM].
Miva Yehowa gbɔ kple miaƒe kukuɖeɖe, eye miagblɔ nɛ be, “O Yehowa, tsɔ míaƒe nu vɔ̃wo ke mí. Ve mía nu nàgaxɔ mí, eye míatsɔ kafukafuvɔsa vɛ na wò.
3 [We admit that] Assyria will not save us, and our war horses will not save us, either. We will never again say, ‘You are our gods’ to [the idols that] we [SYN] have made. You are the one who acts mercifully to orphans.”
Asiria mate ŋu axɔ na mí le aʋa me o, eye míaƒe aʋawɔsɔwo hã mate ŋu aɖe mí o; míagayɔ legba siwo míewɔ kple asi la be míaƒe mawuwo azɔ o, elabena wò Yehowa ɖeɖe gbɔ ko tsyɔ̃eviwo kpɔa nublanuikpɔkpɔ le.”
4 [Yahweh says, “If they say that to me, ] I will forgive them for having (turned away from/abandoned) me, and I will love them with all my inner being, because I [PRS] will have stopped being angry with them.
“Ekema mada gbe le woƒe mɔtatra ŋu, eye magalɔ̃ wo kple dzi faa, elabena nye dɔmedzoe nu afa keŋ.
5 I will be to the people of Israel like dew [that refreshes the soil]. When I do that, they will [become as delightful as] [MET] lilies are when they are blooming. [No one will be able to conquer them; ] they will be [as unmovable as] [SIM] the roots [of cedar trees].
Manɔ abe ahũdzadza ene na Israel, aƒo se nyuie abe dzogbenya ene, eye wòaƒo ke ɖe to abe Lebanon ƒe sedati ene.
6 [Their good influence will spread] like [MET] the branches of a tree. They will be like [SIM] beautiful olive trees, and [they will be as delightful as] [SIM] the aroma of the cedar [trees in] Lebanon.
Eƒe alɔdzewo atse nyuie, eƒe dzedzeme anɔ abe amiti ene, eye eƒe ʋeʋẽ anɔ abe Lebanon ƒe sedati ene.
7 People will [come to them to be protected] [like people are protected from the hot sun by being] [MET] in the shade [of a tree]. They [will (flourish/be strong) like] [SIM] grain that grows well. They will [be successful like] a vineyard [in which grapes grow abundantly]. They will become as famous/well-known as [SIM] the wines from Lebanon.
Amewo aganɔ anyi ɖe eƒe vɔvɔli te bɔkɔɔ, aʋã abe bli ene, aƒo se abe wainti ene, eye axɔ ŋkɔ abe Lebanon ƒe wain ene.
8 [You people of] Israel, do not [RHQ] have anything more to do with idols; if you [get rid of your idols], I will answer your [prayers] and take care of you. I am like [MET] a strong/green pine tree, and your blessings come from me.”
O Efraim! Migbe nu le legbawo gbɔ! Matɔ nɛ, akpɔ eta. Mele abe ati dama ene. Wò nuteƒewɔwɔ tso gbɔnye.”
9 Those who are wise will understand the things [about which I have written]. Those who think well will pay careful attention to them. The things that Yahweh wants us to do [MET] are right; righteous people will conduct their lives adhering to them. But those who rebel against Yahweh will be ruined.
Ame sia ame si si nunya le la, ase nu siawo gɔme. Ame sia ame si bua ta me la, neɖo to, elabena Yehowa ƒe mɔwo le dzɔdzɔe, eye ame dzɔdzɔewoe zɔa edzi, ke nu vɔ̃ wɔlawo ya akli nu, adze anyi.