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.
[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].
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 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!”
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.
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.
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.
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!
5 Mekpɔ mia ta le gbedzi, le kuɖiɖinyigba ma dzi.
I took care of your [ancestors when they were] in the desert, where it was extremely [hot and] dry.
6 Ke esi mieɖu nu ɖi ƒo vɔ la, dada yɔ mia me, mieŋlɔm be,
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]!
7 eya ta mava dze mia dzi abe dzata ene, made xa ɖe mɔ to na mi abe lãklẽ ene.
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].
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.
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.
9 “O Israel, ètsrɔ̃ ɖokuiwò, elabena ètso ɖe nye, wò xɔnametɔ ŋu.
[You people of] Israel, you will be destroyed because you oppose me, the only one who (can help/helps) you.
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!
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]!’
11 Le nye dziku me, meɖo fia na mi, eye megaxɔe le mia si le nye dɔmedzoe me.
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.
12 Woƒo Efraim ƒe vodadawo nu ƒu, eye wodzra eƒe nu vɔ̃wo ɖo ɖe agbalẽ me.
[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.
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.
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.
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 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)
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 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.
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.”
[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.”
