Hosea 8
1 “Mitsɔ kpẽ la ɖo nu! Egbɔna abe hɔ̃ ene ɖe Yehowa ƒe aƒe la ŋu, elabena wotu nye nubabla la hetsitre ɖe nye seawo ŋu.
Set the cornet to thy mouth. [Let the enemy come] like the eagle against the house of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and against my law have they trespassed.
2 Azɔ la, Israel le ɣli dom nam be, ‘Míaƒe Mawu, kpe ɖe mía ŋuti!’
To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
3 Gake Israel gbe nu le nu si nyo la gbɔ; azɔ la, eƒe futɔwo ati eyome.
[But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
4 Woɖo fiawo, gake womebia gbem hafi o, eye wotia dumegã siwo dzi nyemeda asi ɖo o. Wotsɔ woƒe klosalo kple sika wɔ legbawoe na wo ɖokui hena woawo ŋutɔ ƒe tsɔtsrɔ̃.
They set up kings, but not my advice: they chose princes and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made themselves idols so that they will be cut off.
5 O Samaria, tsɔ wò nyivilegba si nèwɔ la ƒu gbe. Nye dɔmedzoe le bibim ɖe wo ŋu. Gbe ka gbe miana mia ŋuti nakɔ?
Thy calf, O Samaria, hath caused thy rejection; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be that they cannot cleanse themselves?
6 Nu siawo dzɔ tso Israel, nyivilegba si gbede tu la, menye Mawu o, eya ta woagbã Samaria ƒe nyivi la gudugudu.
For whom Israel did also that [idol] spring; an artisan made it, and no God is it: so then shall it become broken in splinters— that calf of Samaria.
7 “Woƒã ya, eya ta woaŋe ahomya. Woƒe bliwo magbã ahadza o, eya ta ahɔ̃litiwo matse ku o, eye ne bli anɔ blitikpui aɖewo ŋu hã la, amedzrowo ahae aɖu.
For the wind do they sow, and the whirlwind shall they reap: [their seed] bringeth no standing corn; the plant yieldeth no meal; but should it yield it, strangers would swallow it up.
8 Israel gbã gudugudu, ɖeko wòle dukɔwo dome abe nu maɖinu ene,
Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
9 elabena wodzo yi Asiria hele tsatsam abe gbetedziwo ene. Efraim tsɔ eɖokui dzra na ahiãviwo.
For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.
10 Togbɔ be wodzra wo ɖokuiwo na dukɔwo hã la, magaƒo wo nu ƒu azɔ. Woakpe fu le fiagã la kple dumegãwo ƒe teteɖeanyi ta.
But even though they should spend gifts among the nations, now will I gather them: and they shall be humbled a little through the burden of the king of princes.
11 “Efraim tu vɔsamlekpui geɖewo, hena nu vɔ̃ vɔsa, gake menye nyee wòtu wo na o. Wotu wo hena nu vɔ̃ wɔwɔ.
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
12 Ne mede se akpe ewo nɛ hã la, ɖeko wòagblɔ be menye yee wode seawo na o, ke boŋ ame bubuwoe wode wo na.
I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
13 Wowua nye vɔsalãwo hena lã la ɖuɖu, gake woƒe nu menyoa Yehowa ŋu o. Azɔ aɖo ŋku woƒe vɔ̃ɖivɔ̃ɖi dzi, eye wòahe to na wo ɖe woƒe nu vɔ̃ ta, ale woagatrɔ ayi Egipte.
My sacrificial offerings they slay as common flesh that they may eat it; the Lord accepteth them not in favor: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall indeed return to Egypt.
14 Israel ŋlɔ eƒe wɔla be, eye wòtu fiasã gã dranyiwo. Yuda ɖo gli sesẽwo ƒo xlã eƒe duwo. Maɖo dzo ɖa wòafia woƒe duwo, eye wòabi woƒe mɔ sesẽwo.”
For Israel forgot his Maker, and built palaces; and Judah multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire among his cities, and it shall devour their fine edifices.
