Hosea 13
1 Sɛ Efraim kasa a, na nnipa ho popo; wɔma no so wɔ Israelman mu. Nanso Baalsom nti, onyaa afɔbu na owui.
When Ephraim used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and died.
2 Afei wɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne ara; wɔde wɔn dwetɛ yɛ ahoni ma wɔn ho, nsɛsode no nyinaa no. Adwumfo no nam nyansakwan so na ayeyɛ. Wɔka nnipa yi ho asɛm se, “Wɔde nnipa bɔ afɔre na wofew nantwimma ahoni ano.”
And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skilfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!
3 Ɛno nti, wɔbɛyɛ sɛ anɔpa omununkum sɛ anɔpa bosu a etu yera, sɛ ntɛtɛ a ehuw fi awiporowbea sɛ wusiw a ɛfa mfɛnsere mu kɔ.
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the window.
4 “Nanso mene Awurade wo Nyankopɔn, a miyii wo fii Misraim. Nnye Onyankopɔn biara nto mu sɛ me, anaa Ogyefo biara sɛ me.
Yet it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any saviour except me.
5 Mehwɛɛ wo wɔ nweatam so, asase a so yɛ hyew yiye no so.
It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
6 Memaa wɔn aduan no, wodi mee; wɔmee no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ fii me.
When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!
7 Enti mɛtow ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛw wɔn wɔ akwan ho sɛ ɔsebɔ.
So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait by the path.
8 Mɛtow ahyɛ wɔn so na matetew wɔn mu te sɛ sisi bi a wɔawia ne mma. Mɛwe wɔn te sɛ gyata; wuram aboa besunsuan wɔn mu.
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces.
9 “Wɔasɛe wo, Israel, efisɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo boafo.
You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only helper.
10 Wo hene wɔ he na wabegye wo? Wo sodifo a wɔwɔ wo nkurow nyinaa so no wɔ he, wɔn a wokaa faa wɔn ho se, ‘Ma me ɔhene ne ahenemma’ no?
I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings and princes.’
11 Enti mʼabufuw mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibere mu no, miyii no hɔ.
I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.
12 Efraim afɔdi no wɔaboaboa ano wɔakyerɛw ne bɔne agu hɔ.
Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.
13 Ɔbɛte ɔyaw te sɛ ɔbea a ɔreko awo, na abofra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ bere no du a, ɔmma awotwaa no ano.
The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave the womb!
14 “Mɛpata agye wɔn afi ɔda tumi mu. Megye wɔn afi owu nsam. Owu, wo nwowɔe wɔ he? Asaman, wo sɛe wɔ he? “Merennya ayamhyehye biara, (Sheol h7585)
Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)
15 mpo sɛ ɔyɛ yiye wɔ ne nuanom mu a. Apuei mframa a efi Awurade hɔ bɛba, ɛbɛbɔ afi nweatam so; osu rentɔ asusowbere na nʼabura bɛyow. Wɔbɛfom ne koradan mu nneɛma nea ɛsom bo no nyinaa.
Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring will be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things.
16 Ɛsɛ sɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Samaria gye wɔn afɔdi to mu, efisɛ wɔayɛ dɔm atia wɔn Nyankopɔn. Wɔbɛtotɔ wɔ afoa ano; wɔbɛtotow wɔn mmofra ahwehwe fam, wɔn mmaa a wɔanyinsɛn nso wɔbɛpaapae wɔn mu.”
Samaria will bear her guilt, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.
