Hosea 8
1 “Monhyɛn totorobɛnto! Ɔkɔdeɛ bi wɔ Awurade fiefoɔ so ɛfiri sɛ nnipa no abu mʼapam so na wɔasɔre atia me mmara.
Set the cornet to thy mouth. [Let the enemy come] like the eagle against the house of the Lord: because they have transgressed my covenant, and against my law have they trespassed.
2 Afei, Israel su frɛ me sɛ, ‘Ao, yɛn Onyankopɔn, yɛgye wo to mu!’
To me will they then cry, My God, we, Israel, know thee.
3 Nanso, Israel apo deɛ ɛyɛ; ɔtamfoɔ bɛtaa no.
[But] Israel did reject the good; so let the enemy pursue him.
4 Wɔsisi ahemfo a mennim ho hwee wɔpa ahenemma wɔ ɛberɛ a mempenee so. Wɔde wɔn dwetɛ ne wɔn sikakɔkɔɔ yɛ ahoni ma wɔn ho de sɛeɛ wɔn ankasa ho.
They set up kings, but not my advice: they chose princes and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made themselves idols so that they will be cut off.
5 To wo nantwie ba ohoni no twene, Ao, Samaria! Mʼabufuhyeɛ reba wɔn so. Wɔbɛtena deɛ ɛho nteɛ mu, akɔsi da bɛn?
Thy calf, O Samaria, hath caused thy rejection; my anger is kindled against them: how long will it be that they cannot cleanse themselves?
6 Wɔfiri Israel! Saa nantwie ba yi, odwumfoɔ bi na ɔseneeɛ; ɛnyɛ Onyankopɔn! Wɔbɛbubu mu asinasini, saa Samaria nantwie ba no.
For whom Israel did also that [idol] spring; an artisan made it, and no God is it: so then shall it become broken in splinters— that calf of Samaria.
7 “Wɔdua mframa na wɔtwa ntwahoframa. Awuo a ɛgyina hɔ no nni tire; enti wɔrennya esam mfiri mu. Sɛ ɛso aduane mpo a, ahɔhoɔ na wɔbɛdi.
For the wind do they sow, and the whirlwind shall they reap: [their seed] bringeth no standing corn; the plant yieldeth no meal; but should it yield it, strangers would swallow it up.
8 Wɔamene Israel; afei ɔfra aman no mu te sɛ adeɛ a ɛho nni mfasoɔ biara.
Swallowed up is Israel: now are they among the nations as a vessel without any value.
9 Na wɔakɔ Asiria te sɛ wiram afunumu a ɔno nko ara nenam. Efraim nso atɔn ne ho ama adɔfoɔ.
For they are needs gone up to Assyria, they who like a wild ass should dwell alone: Ephraim spendeth lovers' gifts.
10 Ɛwom, wɔatɔn wɔn ho wɔ amanaman no mu deɛ, nanso mɛboaboa wɔn ano. Wɔn so bɛfiri aseɛ ate wɔ ɔhene kɛseɛ bi nhyɛsoɔ ase.
But even though they should spend gifts among the nations, now will I gather them: and they shall be humbled a little through the burden of the king of princes.
11 “Ɛwom sɛ Efraim sisii afɔrebukyia bebree a wɔbɔ bɔne fakyɛ afɔdeɛ wɔ so deɛ, ɛno enti abɛyɛ afɔrebukyia a wɔyɛ bɔne wɔ so.
Because Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, the altars have been unto him the means of sinning.
12 Metwerɛɛ me mmara a ɛfa nneɛma bebree ho maa wɔn, nanso wɔfaa no sɛ ananafoɔ adeɛ.
I ever wrote down for him the great things of my law; but as a strange thing are they accounted.
13 Wɔde mʼayɛyɛdeɛ bɔ afɔdeɛ na wɔwe ɛnam no, nanso wɔnsɔ Awurade ani. Afei, ɔbɛkae wɔn atirimuɔdensɛm na watwe wɔn aso wɔ wɔn bɔne ho: Wɔbɛsane akɔ Misraim.
My sacrificial offerings they slay as common flesh that they may eat it; the Lord accepteth them not in favor: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins; they shall indeed return to Egypt.
14 Israel werɛ afiri ne yɛfoɔ na wasisi ahemfie akɛseakɛseɛ; Yuda abɔ nkuro bebree ho ban. Nanso, mɛto ne nkuropɔn mu ogya a ɛbɛhye wɔn aban.”
For Israel forgot his Maker, and built palaces; and Judah multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire among his cities, and it shall devour their fine edifices.
