< Hosea 11 >
1 “Bere a Israel yɛ abofra no, na medɔ no, na Misraim na mefrɛɛ me babarima fii.
“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son 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.
The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to idols.
3 Me na migyigyee Efraim taataa, turuu wɔn wɔ me basa so; nanso wɔnkae sɛ me na mesaa wɔn yare.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for 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 with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 “Wɔbɛsan akɔ Misraim, na Asiria adi wɔn so, esiane sɛ wɔannu wɔn ho nti.
Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?
6 Afoa bedi ahim wɔ wɔn kuropɔn mu na ɛbɛsɛe wɔn apon akyi adaban na wɔn nhyehyɛe to betwa.
The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own 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 determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help them.
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 hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.
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 my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.
10 Wobedi Awurade akyi. Ɔbɛbobɔ mu te sɛ gyata. Na sɛ ɔbobɔ mu a, ne mma de ahopopo befi atɔe aba.
They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, 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.
They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.
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 falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”