Hosea 4

1 Montie Awurade asɛm, mo Israelfoɔ ɛfiri sɛ Awurade wɔ kwaadu de bɔ mo a mote asase no so: “Nokorɛ, ɔdɔ, anaa Onyankopɔn ho nimdeɛ nni asase no so.

Hear the LORD’s word, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: “Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

2 Nnome nko ara, atorɔtwa ne awudie, korɔnobɔ, ne awaresɛeɛ na moyɛ ma ɛtra so, na mogyahwiegu ba ntoasoɔ ntoasoɔ.

There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

3 Yei enti asase no di awerɛhoɔ na wɔn a ɛte so nyinaa wuwu; ewiram mmoa, ewiem nnomaa ne ɛpo mu nam rewuwu.

Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells in it will waste away, with all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

4 “Mma obiara mmɔ kwaadu, mma obiara mmɔ ɔfoforɔ soboɔ. Na mmom, mo asɔfoɔ mo na me ne mo anya.

“Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

5 Mosunti awia ne anadwo, na adiyifoɔ no ne mo sunti. Ɛno enti mɛsɛe mo ɔman.

You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

6 Nimdeɛ a me nkurɔfoɔ nni enti wɔresɛe. “Sɛ moapo nimdeɛ enti, me nso mapo mo sɛ mʼasɔfoɔ; sɛ moabu moani agu mo Onyankopɔn mmara so enti, me nso mabu mʼani agu mo mma so.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God’s law, I will also forget your children.

7 Asɔfoɔ no redɔɔso no na bɔne a ɛboro soɔ na wɔyɛ tia me. Wɔde wɔn Animuonyam asesa deɛ ɛyɛ animguaseɛ.

As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.

8 Wɔdidi me nkurɔfoɔ bɔne ho ɛno enti wɔn ani gye atirimuɔdensɛm ho.

They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

9 Sɛdeɛ nnipa no teɛ no, saa ara na asɔfoɔ no nso teɛ. Metwe wɔn mmienu aso wɔ wɔn akwan ho na matua wɔn wɔn nneyɛeɛ so ka.

It will be like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

10 “Wɔbɛdidi, nanso wɔremmee. Wɔbɛbɔ adwaman, nanso wɔrennɔre, ɛfiri sɛ, wɔagya Awurade hɔ, de wɔn ho ama

They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned listening to the LORD.

11 adwamammɔ, nsã dada ne foforɔ, a ɛma me nkurɔfoɔ

Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

12 nteaseɛ tu yera. Wɔkɔ abisa wɔ ahoni a wɔde nnua asene nkyɛn na duasin bi ama wɔn mmuaeɛ. Adwamammɔ honhom rema wɔn ayera ɛkwan; wɔnni wɔn Onyankopɔn nokorɛ.

My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

13 Wɔbɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ mmepɔ atifi na wɔhye afɔrebɔdeɛ wɔ nkokoɔ so: odum, duafufuo ne odupɔn ase, deɛ onwunu yɛ fɔmm hɔ. Ɛno enti, wo mmammaa dane adwamammɔfoɔ na mo nsenom mmaa nso yɛ awaresɛefoɔ.

They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks, poplars, and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

14 “Merentwe mo mmammaa aso sɛ wɔadane adwamanfoɔ, anaa mo nsenom mmaa aso sɛ wɔasɛe awadeɛ. Ɛfiri sɛ, mo mmarima, mo nso mote saa ara. Mo ne baasifoɔ ne abosomfieso adwamanfoɔ di hwebom. Nnipa a wɔnni nteaseɛ bɛkɔ ɔsɛeɛ mu!

I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

15 “Ɛwom sɛ woyɛ ɔwaresɛefoɔ deɛ, Ao Israel, nanso, mma Yuda nni ho fɔ. “Nkɔ Gilgal; na ɛmforo nkɔ Bet Awen. Na nnka ntam sɛ, ‘Sɛ Awurade te ase yi!’

“Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet do not let Judah offend; and do not come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, ‘As the LORD lives.’

16 Israelfoɔ yɛ asoɔdenfoɔ te sɛ, nantwie ba a ɔyɛ asowuiɛ ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na Awurade ahwɛ wɔn so sɛ nnwammaa a wɔwɔ adidibea?

For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will the LORD feed them like a lamb in a meadow?

17 Efraim de ne ho abɔ ahoni; Gyaa no!

Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

18 Sɛ wɔn nsã sa koraa a, wɔtoa wɔn adwamammɔ so; wɔn sodifoɔ ani gye aniwudeɛ ho yie.

Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

19 Ntwaho mframa bɛpra wɔn akɔ, na wɔn afɔrebɔ de animguaseɛ bɛbrɛ wɔn.

The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.