Hosea 11

1 “Esi Israel nye ɖevi la, melɔ̃e, eye Egipte meyɔ vinye la tsoe, abe vinye ŋutsu ene.

When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

2 Zi ale si meyɔe la, zi nenema ke wòtrɔ megbe dem, hele vɔ sam na Baalwo, eye wòle dzudzɔ ʋeʋĩ dom na legbawo.

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

3 Nyee lé Efraim ƒe alɔnu hefia azɔlizɔzɔe, gake menyae be nyee kpɔ ye ta o.

Yet I taught Ephraim to go; I took them on my arms; but they knew not that I healed them.

4 Mekplɔ wo kple dɔmenyo ƒe ka, eye mebla wo kple lɔlɔ̃. Meɖe kɔkuti la le woƒe kɔ, eye mebɔbɔ na nuɖuɖu wo.

I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love; and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat before them.

5 “Nye dukɔ agatrɔ ayi Egipte, eye Asiria aɖu wo dzi, elabena wogbe dzimetɔtrɔ.

He shall not return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return.

6 Aʋa adzɔ le woƒe duwo me; woagbã woƒe agbo sesẽwo, eye woatɔ te woƒe ɖoɖowo.

And the sword shall fall upon his cities, and shall consume his bars, and devour [them], because of their own counsels.

7 Nye dukɔ ɖoe kplikpaa be yeagbem. Esia ta ne woyɔ Mawu, Dziƒoʋĩtɔ la gɔ̃ hã la, womakpɔ xɔxɔ o.

And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they call them to [him that is] on high, none at all will exalt [him].

8 “O, nye Efraim, aleke mate ŋu atsɔ wò ana? Israel, aleke mate ŋu aɖe asi le ŋuwò? Aleke mawɔ agbe wò abe Adma kple Zeboyim ene? Nye dzi le avi fam le menye, eye nye dzi xɔ dzo ɖe mia ŋuti be maɖe mi!

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together.

9 Gbeɖe, nyemahe to na mi abe ale si nye dziku helĩhelĩ le gbɔgblɔm nam ene o, eye nyemagbã Efraim gudugudu hã o, elabena Mawue menye, eye menye amegbetɔe menye o. Nyee nye Kɔkɔetɔ si le mia dome eye nyemava le dziku me be magblẽ nu o.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

10 Azɔ la, dukɔ la adi Yehowa. Aɖe gbe abe dzata ene. Ne eɖe gbe la, viawo atrɔ agbɔ kple dzodzo nyanyanya tso ɣetoɖoƒe.

They shall walk after the LORD, who shall roar like a lion: for he shall roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west.

11 Woatrɔ tso Egipte abe xeviwo ƒe ha gã aɖe ene. Nenema ke woatrɔ tso Asiria abe ahɔnɛ ƒe ha gã aɖe ene. Magakplɔ wo ayi woƒe aƒewo mee.” Yehowae gblɔe.

They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith the LORD.

12 Efraim ƒo xlãm kple alakpa, eye Israel ƒe aƒe la ƒo xlãm kple beble. Yuda gadze aglã ɖe Mawu ŋuti, eye wòtsi tsitre ɖe anukwaretɔ kple Kɔkɔetɔ la gɔ̃ hã ŋu.

Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One.