< Hosea 13 >
1 Sɛ Efraim kasa a, na nnipa ho popo; wɔpagyaa no wɔ Israelman mu. Nanso Baalsom enti, ɔnyaa afɔbuo na ɔwuiɛ.
When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.
2 Afei, wɔkɔ so yɛ bɔne ara; wɔde wɔn dwetɛ yɛ ahoni ma wɔn ho, nsɛsodeɛ no nyinaa no. Adwumfoɔ no nam nyansakwan so na ayeyɛ. Wɔka nnipa yi ho asɛm sɛ, “Wɔde nnipa bɔ afɔdeɛ na wɔfe anantwie mma ahoni ano.”
Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”
3 Ɛno enti, wɔbɛyɛ sɛ anɔpa omununkum sɛ anɔpa bosuo a ɛtu yera, sɛ ntɛtɛ a ehu firi ayuporobea sɛ wisie a ɛfa mpoma mu kɔ.
Therefore they will be like the morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes, like chaff blown from a threshing floor, like smoke through an open window.
4 “Nanso mene Awurade wo Onyankopɔn, a meyii wo firii Misraim. Nnye Onyankopɔn biara nto mu sɛ me, anaa Ɔgyefoɔ biara sɛ me.
Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me.
5 Mehwɛɛ wo wɔ anweatam so, asase a ɛso yɛ hye yie no so.
I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought.
6 Memaa wɔn aduane no, wɔdi meeɛ; wɔmeeɛ no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ firii me.
When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
7 Enti, mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛ wɔn wɔ akwan ho sɛ ɔsebɔ.
So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
8 Mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so na matete wɔn mu te sɛ sisire bi a wɔawia ne mma. Mɛwe wɔn te sɛ gyata; wiram aboa bɛsunsuan wɔn mu.
Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them, and I will tear open their chests. There I will devour them like a lion, like a wild beast would tear them apart.
9 “Wɔasɛe wo, Ao Israel, ɛfiri sɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo ɔboafoɔ.
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me— against your helper.
10 Wo ɔhene a ɔbɛgye wo no wɔ he? Wo sodifoɔ a wɔwɔ wo nkuro so wɔ he, wɔn a wokaa wɔ wɔn ho sɛ, ‘Ma me ɔhene ne ahenemma’ no?
Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”?
11 Enti mʼabufuo mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibereɛ mu no, meyii no hɔ.
So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.
12 Efraim afɔdie no wɔaboaboa ano wɔatwerɛ ne bɔne agu hɔ.
The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is stored up.
13 Ɔbɛte ɔyea te sɛ ɔbaa a ɔreko awoɔ, na abɔfra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ berɛ no duru a, ɔmma awotwaa no ano.
Labor pains come upon him, but he is an unwise son. When the time arrives, he fails to present himself at the opening of the womb.
14 “Mɛpata agye wɔn afiri damena tumi mu. Mɛgye wɔn afiri owuo nsam. Owuo wo nwowɔeɛ wɔ he? Asaman wo sɛeɛ wɔ he? “Merennya ayamhyehyeɛ, (Sheol )
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will redeem them from Death. Where, O Death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol, is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. (Sheol )
15 mpo sɛ ɔyɛ yie wɔ ne nuanom mu a. Apueeɛ mframa a ɛfiri Awurade hɔ bɛba, ɛbɛbɔ afiri anweatam so; osuo rentɔ osutɔberɛ na nʼabura bɛwe. Wɔbɛfom nʼakoradan mu nneɛma deɛ ɛsom bo no nyinaa.
Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come— a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
16 Ɛsɛ sɛ nnipa a wɔwɔ Samaria gye wɔn afɔdie to mu, ɛfiri sɛ wɔayɛ ɛdɔm atia wɔn Onyankopɔn. Wɔbɛtotɔ wɔ akofena ano; wɔbɛtoto wɔn mmɔfra ahwehwe fam, wɔn mmaa a wɔanyinsɛn nso wɔbɛpaapae wɔn mu.”
Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.