< Hosea 11 >

1 “Ɛberɛ a Israel yɛ abɔfra no, na me dɔ no, na Misraim na mefrɛɛ me babarima firiiɛ.
When Israel was yet young, then I loved him, and out of Egypt did I call my son.
2 Nanso mpɛn dodoɔ a mefrɛɛ Israel no, saa ara na wɔdwane firii me nkyɛn. Wɔbɔɔ afɔdeɛ maa Baal ahoni, na wɔhyee nnuhwam maa nsɛsodeɛ.
The [prophets] called them; but the more they went from them: unto the Be'alim would they sacrifice, and to the graven images would they burn incense.
3 Me na megyegyee Efraim taataa, meturu no wɔ mʼabasa so; nanso, wɔnkae sɛ me na mesaa wɔn yadeɛ.
Yet I myself appointed a leader for Ephraim, who took them up in his arms; but they would not acknowledge that I healed them.
4 Mede ayamyɛ ahoma ne ɔdɔ dii wɔn anim; meyii kɔnnua no firii wɔn kɔn mu na mekoto maa wɔn aduane diiɛ.
With human cords I ever drew them forward, with leading-strings of love: and I was to them as those that lift off the yoke from their jaws, and I held out unto them food.
5 “Wɔbɛsane akɔ Misraim, na Asiria adi wɔn so, ɛsiane sɛ wɔannu wɔn ho enti.
He should not return unto the land of Egypt: yet [now] is the Assyrian his king; because they refused to repent.
6 Akofena bɛdi ahim wɔ wɔn kuropɔn mu na ɛbɛsɛe wɔn apono akyi adaban na wɔn nhyehyɛeɛ to bɛtwa.
And the sword shall fall on his cities, and shall make an end of his boughs, and consume them, because of their [evil] counsels.
7 Me nkurɔfoɔ asi no pi sɛ wɔbɛtwe wɔn ho afiri me nkyɛn. Sɛ wosu frɛ Ɔsorosoroni no mpo a ɔrempagya wɔn ɛkwan biara so.
For my people are only bent on backsliding from me; and though upward they call them, they altogether will not elevate themselves.
8 “Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mɛyi wo ama, Efraim? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn ma mɛyi wo ama, Israel? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mɛyɛ wo sɛ Adma? Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na mɛyɛ wo sɛ Seboim? Mʼakoma asesa wɔ me mu; na mʼahummɔborɔ ahwanyane.
How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I surrender thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I change thee as Zeboyim? turned is my heart within me, all my compassion is enkindled together.
9 Merenyɛ mʼabufuhyeɛsoɔ adeɛ, ɛna merennane me ho ɛnsɛe Efraim nso. Meyɛ Onyankopɔn na mennyɛ onipa. Meyɛ Ɔkronkronni a ɔwɔ mu mu. Meremma wɔ abufuo mu.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; for God am I, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of thee, and I will not come with an enemy's hatred.
10 Wɔbɛdi Awurade akyi. Ɔbɛbobɔ mu te sɛ gyata. Na sɛ ɔbobɔm a, ne mma de ahopopoɔ bɛfiri atɔeɛ aba.
They shall follow after the Lord, when he will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall hasten together from the west;
11 Wɔde ahopopoɔ bɛba te sɛ nnomaa a wɔfiri Misraim te sɛ mmorɔnoma a wɔfiri Asiria. Mɛbɔ wɔn atenaseɛ wɔ wɔn afie mu,” sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie.
They shall hasten together as birds out of Egypt, and as doves out of the land of Assyria: and I will cause them to dwell in their houses, saith the Lord.
12 Efraim de atorɔ atwa me ho ahyia, Israel efie nso wɔde nnaadaa. Yuda abɔ Onyankopɔn so ko mpo ɔde tia Ɔkronkronni nokwafoɔ no.
With lies hath Ephraim encompassed me about, and with deceit, the house of Israel; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful to the Holy One.

< Hosea 11 >