< Hosea 13 >

1 When Ephraim spoke, they were feared, for they were the leading tribe in Israel. But when they were guilty of Baal worship, they died.
Sɛ Efraim kasa a, na nnipa ho popo; wɔpagyaa no wɔ Israelman mu. Nanso Baalsom enti, ɔnyaa afɔbuo na ɔwuiɛ.
2 Now they constantly sin, making for themselves idols from molten metal. All of these idols are skillfully made from silver by their craftsmen. “Offer sacrifices to these idols,” say the people. “Kiss the bull calf idols.”
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.”
3 Consequently they will be like the morning mist, like early morning dew, like chaff blowing away from the threshing floor, like smoke from a chimney.
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.
4 Yet I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You shall know no other gods but me. None can save you except me.
“Nanso mene Awurade wo Onyankopɔn, a meyii wo firii Misraim. Nnye Onyankopɔn biara nto mu sɛ me, anaa Ɔgyefoɔ biara sɛ me.
5 I looked after you in the wilderness; in that dry desert land it was like pasture to them
Mehwɛɛ wo wɔ anweatam so, asase a ɛso yɛ hye yie no so.
6 and they were satisfied. But when they were satisfied they became arrogant, and they forgot me.
Memaa wɔn aduane no, wɔdi meeɛ; wɔmeeɛ no, wɔyɛɛ ahantan; na wɔn werɛ firii me.
7 So I will be like a lion to them, like a leopard I will lie in wait beside the path.
Enti, mɛto ahyɛ wɔn so sɛ gyata, mɛtɛ wɔn wɔ akwan ho sɛ ɔsebɔ.
8 I will be like a mother bear whose cubs have been taken, I will rip out their hearts. I shall devour them like a lion, like a wild beast I will tear them apart.
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.
9 You have destroyed yourselves, Israel, for your only help is in me.
“Wɔasɛe wo, Ao Israel, ɛfiri sɛ woasɔre atia me, me a meyɛ wo ɔboafoɔ.
10 Where then is your king? Let him save you in all your cities! Where are your leaders who demanded a king and princes from me?
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?
11 In my anger I give you a king, and in my fury I take one.
Enti mʼabufuo mu, memaa wo ɔhene, na mʼanibereɛ mu no, meyii no hɔ.
12 Ephraim's guilt is packed up; their sin will be eradicated.
Efraim afɔdie no wɔaboaboa ano wɔatwerɛ ne bɔne agu hɔ.
13 The pain of childbirth has come to them, trying to give birth to a son who is not “wise” because he is not in the right position when the time comes.
Ɔbɛte ɔyea te sɛ ɔbaa a ɔreko awoɔ, na abɔfra no nnim nyansa nti; sɛ berɛ no duru a, ɔmma awotwaa no ano.
14 I shall redeem them from the power of Sheol; I shall deliver them from death. Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my sight. (Sheol h7585)
“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)
15 Even though they flourish among the reeds, an east wind will come, a wind from the Lord that rises in the desert will dry up their springs and their wells will fail. It will rob from their treasury everything of value.
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.
16 Samaria will have to bear the consequences of their guilt, because they rebelled against her God. They will be slaughtered by the sword; their children will be dashed to the ground; their pregnant women will be ripped open.
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.”

< Hosea 13 >