Hosea 13
1 Tsã la, ne Efraim ɖe gbe la, dukɔwo ʋuʋuna nyanyanya, elabena wodoe ɖe dzi le Israel, gake edze Baal subɔsubɔ ƒe nu vɔ̃ me eye wòku.
When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.
2 “Ke azɔ la, woƒe aglãdzedze la va de ŋgɔ. Wotsɔ woƒe klosalo na aɖaŋuwɔlawo, ame siwo lolõ wo tsɔ wɔ legbawo le woawo ŋutɔ ƒe nunya nu. Wogblɔ tso dukɔ sia ŋu be wotsɔa amegbetɔ saa vɔe, eye wogbugbɔa nu na nyivilegbawo.
Now they constantly sin, making for themselves idols from molten metal. All of these idols are skillfully made from silver by their craftsmen. “Offer sacrifices to these idols,” say the people. “Kiss the bull calf idols.”
3 Wo katã woabu vĩi abe afu ene, eye woaƒu enumake abe ahũ ene; woakaka abe ale si ya kakana atsakiti ene, eye woabu abe dzudzɔ ene.
Consequently they will be like the morning mist, like early morning dew, like chaff blowing away from the threshing floor, like smoke from a chimney.
4 “Nye ɖeka koe nye Yehowa, miaƒe Mawu, eye alea ko mele tso esime ke mekplɔ mi do goe tso Egipte. Mawu bubu aɖeke mele mia si o, negbe nye ko, elabena ɖela aɖeke meli kpe ɖe ŋutinye o.
Yet I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except me.
5 Mekpɔ mia ta le gbedzi, le kuɖiɖinyigba ma dzi.
I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them
6 Ke esi mieɖu nu ɖi ƒo vɔ la, dada yɔ mia me, mieŋlɔm be,
and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.
7 eya ta mava dze mia dzi abe dzata ene, made xa ɖe mɔ to na mi abe lãklẽ ene.
So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.
8 Madze wo dzi abe sisiblisinɔ si ƒe viwo wofi dzoe ene, mavuvu wo akɔ ɖi abe dzatanɔ ene. Lã wɔadã aɖe avuvu wo viwo akɔ ɖi.
I will be like a mother bear whose cubs have been taken, I will rip out their hearts. I shall devour them like a lion, like a wild beast I will tear them apart.
9 “O Israel, ètsrɔ̃ ɖokuiwò, elabena ètso ɖe nye, wò xɔnametɔ ŋu.
You have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.
10 Afi ka miaƒe fia la le? Nu ka wɔ miayɔe ne wòaxɔ na mi o? Afi ka miaƒe dumegãwo katã le? Ame siwo ŋuti miegblɔ le be, ‘Na fia kple dumegãwo mí’ la le? Eya ta miyɔ wo woava xɔ na mi!
Where then is your king? Let him save you in all your cities! Where are your leaders who demanded a king and princes from me?
11 Le nye dziku me, meɖo fia na mi, eye megaxɔe le mia si le nye dɔmedzoe me.
In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.
12 Woƒo Efraim ƒe vodadawo nu ƒu, eye wodzra eƒe nu vɔ̃wo ɖo ɖe agbalẽ me.
Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.
13 Efraim se veve abe nyɔnu si le ku lém la ene, gake ele abe vi manyanu ene, elabena ne eƒe ɣeyiɣi de la, medoa ta ɖe vidzidɔ nu o.
The pain of childbirth has come to them, trying to give birth to a son who is not “wise” because he is not in the right position when the time comes.
14 “Maɖe wo tso tsiẽƒe ƒe ŋusẽ me, eye maxɔ wo le ku ƒe asi me. O ku, afi ka wò ŋɔdzi la le? O tsiẽƒe, afi ka wò gbegblẽ la le? Elabena nyemakpɔ nublanui o. (Sheol h7585)
I shall redeem them from the power of Sheol; I shall deliver them from death. Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my sight. (Sheol h7585)
15 “Togbɔ be eyae de ŋgɔ wu le nɔviawo dome hã la, ɣedzeƒeya tso Yehowa gbɔ aƒo tso gbegbe ava. Eƒe tsiwo amie, eye vudowo me aƒu kplakplakpla. Woaha eƒe nudzraɖoƒewo, eye woalɔ eƒe kesinɔnuwo adzoe.
Even though they flourish among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from the Lord that rises in the desert will dry up their springs and their wells will fail. It will rob from their treasury everything of value.
16 Samaria azu aƒedo, elabena edze aglã ɖe Mawu ŋu. Woatsi yi nu, woalé vidzĩwo axlã ɖe anyi woaku, eye woako woƒe funɔwo kple yi agbagbee.”
Samaria will have to bear the consequences of their guilt, because they rebelled against her God. They will be slaughtered by the sword; their children will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women will be ripped open.
