Hosea 14
1 Israel, san wʼakyi kɔ Awurade wo Nyankopɔn nkyɛn. Wʼasehwe fi wo bɔne!
[You people of] Israel, return to Yahweh our God. You are being punished because of the sins which you have committed.
2 Fa wo nsɛm a wowɔ san kɔ Awurade nkyɛn. Ka kyerɛ no se, “Fa yɛn bɔne nyinaa kyɛ yɛn, na fa ahummɔbɔ gye yɛn, na yɛatumi ayi wo ayɛ.
So now return to Yahweh and say [MTY] this to him: “Forgive us for all the sins that we have committed, and kindly accept (us/our sacrifices) in order that we may thank/praise you [IDM].
3 Asiria rentumi nnye yɛn; yɛrentena akofo apɔnkɔ so. Yɛrenka bio da se, ‘Yɛn anyame’ nkyerɛ nea yɛn ara de yɛn nsa ayɛ, na wo mu na ayisaa nya mmɔborɔhunu.”
[We admit that] Assyria will not save us, and our war horses will not save us, either. We will never again say, ‘You are our gods’ to [the idols that] we [SYN] have made. You are the one who acts mercifully to orphans.”
4 “Mɛsa wɔn asoɔden yare. Mefi me koma mu adɔ wɔn, efisɛ mʼabufuw nni wɔn so bio.
[Yahweh says, “If they say that to me, ] I will forgive them for having (turned away from/abandoned) me, and I will love them with all my inner being, because I [PRS] will have stopped being angry with them.
5 Mɛyɛ sɛ obosu ama Israel. Ɔbɛfefɛw ayɛ frɔmfrɔm te sɛ sukooko. Te sɛ Lebanon sida no, ɔde ne ntin betim fam;
I will be to the people of Israel like dew [that refreshes the soil]. When I do that, they will [become as delightful as] [MET] lilies are when they are blooming. [No one will be able to conquer them; ] they will be [as unmovable as] [SIM] the roots [of cedar trees].
6 ne mman bɛdennan. Nʼahoɔfɛ bɛyɛ sɛ ngodua, na ne hua ayɛ sɛ Lebanon sida.
[Their good influence will spread] like [MET] the branches of a tree. They will be like [SIM] beautiful olive trees, and [they will be as delightful as] [SIM] the aroma of the cedar [trees in] Lebanon.
7 Nnipa bɛtena ne nwini ase bio. Obenyin ayɛ frɔmfrɔm te sɛ aburow. Ɔbɛfefɛw ayɛ frɔmfrɔm te sɛ bobe, na ne din a ahyeta bɛyɛ sɛ nsa a efi Lebanon.
People will [come to them to be protected] [like people are protected from the hot sun by being] [MET] in the shade [of a tree]. They [will (flourish/be strong) like] [SIM] grain that grows well. They will [be successful like] a vineyard [in which grapes grow abundantly]. They will become as famous/well-known as [SIM] the wines from Lebanon.
8 Efraim dɛn na me ne ahoni wɔ yɛ bio? Megye no so na mʼani aku ne ho. Mete sɛ dua a nʼahaban mpo; sɛ wobɛsow aba a, egyina me so.”
[You people of] Israel, do not [RHQ] have anything more to do with idols; if you [get rid of your idols], I will answer your [prayers] and take care of you. I am like [MET] a strong/green pine tree, and your blessings come from me.”
9 Hena ne onyansafo? Obehu eyinom mu. Hena na ɔwɔ nhumu? Ɔbɛte eyinom ase. Awurade akwan teɛ. Atreneefo nantew so, nanso asoɔdenfo hintiw wɔ mu.
Those who are wise will understand the things [about which I have written]. Those who think well will pay careful attention to them. The things that Yahweh wants us to do [MET] are right; righteous people will conduct their lives adhering to them. But those who rebel against Yahweh will be ruined.
