Hosea 11
1 “Ɛberɛ a Israel yɛ abɔfra no, na me dɔ no, na Misraim na mefrɛɛ me babarima firiiɛ.
“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
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 more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to idols.
3 Me na megyegyee Efraim taataa, meturu no wɔ mʼabasa so; nanso, wɔnkae sɛ me na mesaa wɔn yadeɛ.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for them.
4 Mede ayamyɛ ahoma ne ɔdɔ dii wɔn anim; meyii kɔnnua no firii wɔn kɔn mu na mekoto maa wɔn aduane diiɛ.
I led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 “Wɔbɛsane akɔ Misraim, na Asiria adi wɔn so, ɛsiane sɛ wɔannu wɔn ho enti.
Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?
6 Akofena bɛdi ahim wɔ wɔn kuropɔn mu na ɛbɛsɛe wɔn apono akyi adaban na wɔn nhyehyɛeɛ to bɛtwa.
The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.
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.
My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help them.
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 can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.
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 my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.
10 Wɔbɛdi Awurade akyi. Ɔbɛbobɔ mu te sɛ gyata. Na sɛ ɔbobɔm a, ne mma de ahopopoɔ bɛfiri atɔeɛ aba.
They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling 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 will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.
12 Efraim de atorɔ atwa me ho ahyia, Israel efie nso wɔde nnaadaa. Yuda abɔ Onyankopɔn so ko mpo ɔde tia Ɔkronkronni nokwafoɔ no.
Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”
