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 used to speak there was trembling; a prince was he in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal and 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.”
And now they go on sinning. They make for themselves molten gods – idols of silver, skilfully made, wholly the work of smiths. Yet to such they sacrifice! And they who sacrifice kiss calf idols!
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 shall be like the morning mist, like the dew that early disappears, like the chaff which blows away from the threshing floor, like the smoke from the 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 it was I, the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt, you know no other god but me, nor has there been any saviour except me.
5 Mehwɛɛ wo wɔ anweatam so, asase a ɛso yɛ hye yie no so.
It was I who shepherded you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat.
6 Memaa wɔn aduane no, wɔdi meeɛ; wɔmeeɛ no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ firii me.
When they were pastured they became full, when they were full their hearts became proud. Therefore they forgot me!
7 Enti, mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛ wɔn wɔ akwan ho sɛ ɔsebɔ.
So now I will be to them like a lion, like a leopard will I lay in wait 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.
I will fall upon them like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will tear open their chests, like a lion will devour them, and like a wild beast will tear them in pieces.
9 “Wɔasɛe wo, Ao Israel, ɛfiri sɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo ɔboafoɔ.
You are destroyed, Israel, by me, your only 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?
I want to rule you! Where are your princes in your cities, those of whom you demanded, ‘Give me kings and princes.’
11 Enti mʼabufuo mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibereɛ mu no, meyii no hɔ.
I give you kings in my anger, and take them away in my wrath.
12 Efraim afɔdie no wɔaboaboa ano wɔatwerɛ ne bɔne agu hɔ.
Ephrahn’s iniquity is gathered up, his sin is laid by in store.
13 Ɔbɛte ɔyea te sɛ ɔbaa a ɔreko awoɔ, na abɔfra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ berɛ no duru a, ɔmma awotwaa no ano.
The pangs of childbirth come upon him, but he is an unwise child. For this is no time to refuse to leave 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 h7585)
Should I deliver them from the power of Sheol? Should I redeem them from death? Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your pestilence? Compassion is forever hidden from my eyes. (Sheol h7585)
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.
Though he is flourishing among his brothers, there will come an east wind, the Lord’s wind, coming up from the wilderness. His fountain will dry up, his spring shall be parched. The wind will strip the treasury, all the precious things.
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, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword, their children dashed to pieces, their pregnant women ripped open.
