Hosea 8
1 “Monhyɛn torobɛnto! Ɔkɔre bi wɔ Awurade fifo so efisɛ nnipa no abu mʼapam so na wɔasɔre atia me mmara.
Set the cornet to thy mouth. [Let the enemy come] like the eagle against the house of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and against my law have they trespassed.
2 Afei Israel su frɛ me se, ‘Yɛn Nyankopɔn, yegye wo to mu!’
To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
3 Nanso Israel apo nea eye; ɔtamfo bɛtaa no.
[But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
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 set up kings, but not my advice: they chose princes and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made themselves idols so that they will be cut off.
5 Tow wo nantwi ba ohoni no kyene, Samaria! Mʼabufuwhyew reba wɔn so. Wɔbɛtena nea ɛho ntew mu akosi da bɛn?
Thy calf, O Samaria, hath caused thy rejection; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be that they cannot cleanse themselves?
6 Wofi Israel! Saa nantwi ba yi, odwumfo bi na osenii; ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn! Wobebubu mu asinasin, saa Samaria nantwi ba no.
For whom Israel did also that [idol] spring; an artisan made it, and no God is it: so then shall it become broken in splinters— that calf of Samaria.
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 the wind do they sow, and the whirlwind shall they reap: [their seed] bringeth no standing corn; the plant yieldeth no meal; but should it yield it, strangers would swallow it up.
8 Wɔamene Israel; afei ɔfra aman no mu te sɛ ade a so nni mfaso biara.
Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
9 Na wɔakɔ Asiria te sɛ wuram afurum a ɔno nko ara nenam. Efraim nso atɔn ne ho ama adɔfo.
For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' 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.
But even though they should spend gifts among the nations, now will I gather them: and they shall be humbled a little through the burden of the king of 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 hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
12 Mekyerɛw me mmara a ɛfa nneɛma bebree ho maa wɔn, nanso wɔfaa no sɛ ananafo ade.
I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
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.
My sacrificial offerings they slay as common flesh that they may eat it; the Lord accepteth them not in favor: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall indeed return to Egypt.
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.”
For Israel forgot his Maker, and built palaces; and Judah multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire among his cities, and it shall devour their fine edifices.
