< Hosea 11 >
1 “Bere a Israel yɛ abofra no, na medɔ no, na Misraim na mefrɛɛ me babarima fii.
I loved Israel when he was a child. He's my son I called out of Egypt.
2 Nanso mpɛn dodow a mefrɛɛ Israel no, saa ara na woguan fii me nkyɛn. Wɔbɔɔ afɔre maa Baal ahoni, na wɔhyew nnuhuam maa nsɛsode.
As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed to the Baals and offered incense to idols.
3 Me na migyigyee Efraim taataa, turuu wɔn wɔ me basa so; nanso wɔnkae sɛ me na mesaa wɔn yare.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the hand, but they didn't realize I was the one who healed them.
4 Me de ayamye hama ne ɔdɔ dii wɔn anim; miyii konnua no fii wɔn kɔn mu na mekotow maa wɔn aduan dii.
I led them along with cords of kindness, with ropes of love. I was the one who eased their burden and bent down to feed them.
5 “Wɔbɛsan akɔ Misraim, na Asiria adi wɔn so, esiane sɛ wɔannu wɔn ho nti.
However, because my people refuse to return to me, they will not return to the land of Egypt but Assyria shall be their king.
6 Afoa bedi ahim wɔ wɔn kuropɔn mu na ɛbɛsɛe wɔn apon akyi adaban na wɔn nhyehyɛe to betwa.
War will sweep through their cities, putting an end to their boasting and destroying their plans.
7 Me nkurɔfo asi no pi sɛ wɔbɛtwe wɔn ho afi me nkyɛn. Sɛ mpo wosu frɛ me Onyankopɔn Ɔsorosoroni no mpo a meremma wɔn so ɔkwan biara so.
My people are hanging on to their apostasy from me. They call him “god on high” but he will not raise them up at all.
8 “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na meyi wo ama, Efraim? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn ma meyi wo ama, Israel? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mɛyɛ wo sɛ Adma? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mɛyɛ wo sɛ Seboim? Me koma asakra wɔ me mu; na mʼahummɔbɔ ahwanyan.
How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I let you go, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is breaking; I am full of compassion.
9 Merenyɛ mʼabufuwhyew so ade, na merennan me ho nsɛe Efraim bio. Meyɛ Onyankopɔn na menyɛ onipa. Meyɛ Ɔkronkronni a ɔwɔ mo mu. Meremma wɔ abufuw mu.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God, not a human being. I am the Holy One living among you. I will not enter your cities.
10 Wobedi Awurade akyi. Ɔbɛbobɔ mu te sɛ gyata. Na sɛ ɔbobɔ mu a, ne mma de ahopopo befi atɔe aba.
The people will follow me, the Lord. He will roar like a lion. When he roars like a lion then his children will come trembling from the west.
11 Wɔde ahopopo bɛba te sɛ nnomaa a wofi Misraim, te sɛ mmorɔnoma a wofi Asiria. Mɛbɔ wɔn atenase wɔ wɔn afi mu,” sɛnea Awurade se ni.
Like a flock of frightened birds they will come from Egypt, like doves they will come from Assyria, and I will bring them back home, declares the Lord.
12 Efraim de atoro atwa me ho ahyia, Israelfi nso wɔde nnaadaa. Yuda abɔ Onyankopɔn so ko mpo ɔde tia Ɔkronkronni nokwafo no.
Ephraim surrounds me with lies and Israel with deceit, and Judah still wanders with some deity, faithful to some “Holy One.”