< Hosea 12 >

1 Efraim de mframa ayɛ aduane; ɔdi apueeɛ mframa akyi daa na ɔdi atorɔ yɛ akakabensɛm bebree. Ɔne Asiria yɛ apam na ɔde ngo kɔ Misraim.
Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 Awurade wɔ soboɔ de bɔ Yuda; ɔbɛtwe Yakob aso, wɔ nʼakwan ho na watua no ne nneyɛeɛ so ka.
The LORD also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways and according to his deeds he will repay him.
3 Ɔyafunu mu na ɔsɔɔ ne nua nantin; ɔnyiniiɛ no, ɔne Onyankopɔn pepree so.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
4 Ɔne ɔbɔfoɔ tentameeɛ dii ne so nkonim; ɔde nisuo srɛɛ ne nkyɛn adom. Ɔhunuu no wɔ Bet-El ne no kasaa wɔ hɔ.
Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made petition to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him,
5 Asafo Awurade Onyankopɔn, Awurade ne ne din a ahyeta!
even the LORD, the God of hosts; The LORD is his name of renown.
6 Ɛsɛ sɛ wo sane kɔ wo Onyankopɔn nkyɛn. Tena ɔdɔ ne tenenee mu, na twɛn wo Onyankopɔn daa.
Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.
7 Ɔdwadini de nsisie nsania yɛ nʼadwuma; nʼani gye nsisie ho.
A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.
8 Efraim hoahoa ne ho sɛ, “Meyɛ ɔdefoɔ; manya me ho. Mʼahonya nyinaa mu wɔrenhunu amumuyɛ biara wɔ me ho.”
Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."
9 “Mene Awurade wo Onyankopɔn, a meyii wo firii Misraim. Mɛma woakɔtena ntomadan mu bio sɛdeɛ na woyɛ wɔ wʼapontoɔ afahyɛ nna mu no.
"But I the LORD your God brought you up from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 Mekasa kyerɛɛ adiyifoɔ, memaa wɔn anisoadehunu bebree na mefaa wɔn so kaa mmɛbusɛm.”
I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
11 Gilead yɛ otirimuɔdenfoɔ anaa? Emu nnipa no yɛ ahuhufoɔ! Wɔde anantwie bɔ afɔdeɛ wɔ Gilgal anaa? Wɔn afɔrebukyia bɛyɛ te sɛ aboɔ a wɔahɔre no sie wɔ asase a wɔafuntum soɔ.
If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 Yakob dwane kɔɔ Aramfoɔ asase so; Israel someeɛ de nyaa yere, ɔhwɛɛ nnwan de tua etiri nsa.
Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
13 Awurade nam odiyifoɔ so yii Israel firii Misraim, ɔnam odiyifoɔ so hwɛɛ no.
By a prophet the LORD brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Nanso, Efraim ahyɛ no abufuo yaayaaya; nʼAwurade bɛma ne mogyahwiegu ho afɔdie ada ne so na ɔbɛtua nʼanimtiabuo no so ka.
Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.

< Hosea 12 >