< Hosea 8 >
1 “Monhyɛn torobɛnto! Ɔkɔre bi wɔ Awurade fifo so efisɛ nnipa no abu mʼapam so na wɔasɔre atia me mmara.
[He shall come] into their midst as the land, as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and have sinned against my law.
2 Afei Israel su frɛ me se, ‘Yɛn Nyankopɔn, yegye wo to mu!’
They shall soon cry out to me, [saying], O God, we know thee.
3 Nanso Israel apo nea eye; ɔtamfo bɛtaa no.
For Israel has turned away from good things; they have pursued an enemy.
4 Wosisi ahemfo a minnim ho hwee, wɔpaw ahenemma wɔ bere a mempenee so ɛ. Wɔde wɔn dwetɛ ne wɔn sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ ahoni ma wɔn ho de sɛe wɔn ankasa ho.
They have made kings for themselves, but not by me: they have ruled, but they did not make it known to me: [of] their silver and their gold they have made images to themselves, that they might be destroyed.
5 Tow wo nantwi ba ohoni no kyene, Samaria! Mʼabufuwhyew reba wɔn so. Wɔbɛtena nea ɛho ntew mu akosi da bɛn?
Cast off thy calf, O Samaria; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will they be unable to purge themselves in Israel?
6 Wofi Israel! Saa nantwi ba yi, odwumfo bi na osenii; ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn! Wobebubu mu asinasin, saa Samaria nantwi ba no.
Whereas the workman made it, and it is not God; wherefore thy calf, Samaria, was a deceiver:
7 “Wodua mframa na wotwa mfɛtɛ. Awi a egyina hɔ no nni ti; nti wɔrennya siam mfi mu. Sɛ ɛsow aduan mpo a, ahɔho na wobedi.
for they sowed blighted [seed], and their destruction shall await them, a sheaf of corn that avails not to make meal; and even if it should produce it, strangers shall devour it.
8 Wɔamene Israel; afei ɔfra aman no mu te sɛ ade a so nni mfaso biara.
Israel is swallowed up: now is he become among the nations as a worthless vessel.
9 Na wɔakɔ Asiria te sɛ wuram afurum a ɔno nko ara nenam. Efraim nso atɔn ne ho ama adɔfo.
For they have gone up to the Assyrians: Ephraim has been strengthened against himself; they loved gifts.
10 Ɛwɔ mu, wɔatɔn wɔn ho wɔ amanaman no mu de, nanso mɛboaboa wɔn ano. Wɔn so befi ase atew wɔ ɔhene kɛse bi nhyɛso ase.
Therefore shall they be delivered to the nations: now I will receive them, and they shall cease a little to anoint a king and princes.
11 “Ɛwɔ mu sɛ Efraim sisii afɔremuka bebree a wɔbɔ bɔnefakyɛ afɔre wɔ so de, ɛno nti abɛyɛ afɔremuka a wɔyɛ bɔne wɔ so.
Because Ephraim has multiplied altars, [his] beloved altars are become sins to him.
12 Mekyerɛw me mmara a ɛfa nneɛma bebree ho maa wɔn, nanso wɔfaa no sɛ ananafo ade.
I will write down a multitude [of commands] for him; but his statutes are accounted strange things, [even] the beloved altars.
13 Wɔde mʼayɛyɛde bɔ afɔre na wɔwe nam no, nanso wɔnsɔ Awurade ani. Afei ɔbɛkae wɔn atirimɔdensɛm na wɔatwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho: Wɔbɛsan akɔ Misraim.
For if they should offer a sacrifice, and eat flesh, the lord will not accept them: now will he remember their iniquities, and will take vengeance on their sins: they have returned to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things among the Assyrians.
14 Israel werɛ afi ne yɛfo na wasisi ahemfi akɛseakɛse; Yuda abɔ nkurow bebree ho ban. Nanso mɛto ne nkuropɔn mu gya a ɛbɛhyew wɔn aban.”
And Israel has forgotten him that made him, and they have built fanes, and Juda has multiplied walled cities: but I will send fire on his cities, and it shall devour their foundations.