1I would like to heal Israel.
But when I try to, Ephraim’s sins
are brought out into the open.
The crimes of Samaria
are made known to everyone.
The people tell lies.
They break into houses and steal.
They rob others in the streets.
2But they do not realize
that I remember all the evil things they do.
Their sins pile up and cover them.
I am always aware of their sins.
3“Their evil conduct even makes the king glad.
Their lies make the princes happy.
4But all the people are unfaithful to the king.
Their anger against him burns
like the coals in an oven.
The baker does not even need to stir up the fire
until the dough is ready.”
5On special days to honor our king,
the princes get drunk with wine.
And the king enjoys the party.
He joins hands with those
who pretend to be faithful to him.
6Their hearts are as hot as an oven.
They make evil plans to get rid of him.
Their anger burns like a slow fire all night.
In the morning it blazes out like a flaming fire.
7All of them are as hot as an oven.
They destroy their rulers.
All their kings fall from power.
But none of them calls on the Lord for help.
8The people of Ephraim mix with the nations.
They are like a thin loaf of bread
that is baked on only one side.
9People from other lands make them weaker and weaker.
But they don’t realize it.
Their hair is becoming gray.
But they don’t even notice it.
10The pride of Israel proves that they are guilty.
But in spite of everything,
they don’t return to the Lord their God.
They don’t go to him for help.
11The Lord says,
“The people of Ephraim are like a dove.
They are easily tricked.
They do not have any sense at all.
First they call out to Egypt for help.
Then they turn to Assyria.
12When they send for help,
I will throw my net over them.
I will capture them like the birds in the sky.
When I hear them gathering like birds,
I will catch them.
13How terrible it will be for them!
They have wandered away from me.
So they will be destroyed.
That’s because they have refused to obey me.
I long to save them.
But they tell lies about me.
14They do not cry out to me from their hearts.
Instead, they just lie on their beds and sob.
They cut themselves when they pray to their gods
for grain and fresh wine.
But they turn away from me.
15I brought them up and made them strong.
But they make evil plans against me.
16I am the Most High God. But they do not turn to me.
They are like a bow that does not shoot straight.
Their leaders will be killed by swords.
They will die because they have spoken too proudly.
The people of Egypt
will make fun of them.”
1ɛberɛ biara a mɛsa Israel yadeɛ no,
Efraim nnebɔne da adi.
Samaria awurukasɛm nso daa adi.
Wɔyɛ nnaadaafoɔ
akorɔmfoɔ a wɔbubu adan ani kɔ afie mu,
ne akwanmukafoɔ a wɔbɔ korɔno wɔ mmɔntene so.
2Na wɔnhunu sɛ
mekae wɔn nnebɔne nyinaa.
Wɔn bɔne bunkam fa wɔn so;
ɛgu mʼanim ɛberɛ biara.
3“Wɔde atirimuɔdensɛm gyegye ɔhene no ani,
na wɔde atorɔ nso gyegye ahenemma no ani.
4Wɔn nyinaa yɛ awaresɛefoɔ
a akɔnnɔ redɛre wɔ wɔn mu.
Wɔte sɛ fononoo a wɔasɔ mu ogya
ɛberɛ a burodotofoɔ ahyɛ aseɛ refotɔ nʼasikyiresiam.
5Ɛda a ɔhene rehyɛ fa no
ahenemma boro nsã,
na ɔhene no fɛdifoɔ ne wɔn bɔ mu goro.
6Wɔn akoma te sɛ fononoo;
wɔde atirimpɔ bɔne kɔ ɔhene anim.
Wɔn nsusuiɛ bɔne no dɛɛdɛɛ anadwo mu nyinaa;
adekyeeɛ mu no, ɛdɛre te sɛ ogyaframa.
7Wɔn nyinaa ayɛ hye sɛ fononoo.
Wɔkunkumm wɔn sodifoɔ.
Wɔn ahemfo nyinaa hwehwe ase
na wɔn mu biara nnsu mfrɛ me.
8“Efraim ne aman no adi afra
Efraim yɛ ɔfam a anyinya a wɔnkusaeɛ.
9Ananafoɔ twe nʼahoɔden,
nanso ɔnhunu.
Ɛdwono aba ne tiri so,
nanso nʼani mmaa so.
10Israel ahantan di adanseɛ tia no,
nanso yei nyinaa akyi no
ɔnnsane nkɔ Awurade ne Onyankopɔn nkyɛn,
na ɔnhwehwɛ no nso.
11“Efraim te sɛ aborɔnoma a
wɔtumi daadaa no na ɔnni adwene.
Ɔfrɛ Misraim,
na wadane akɔ Asiria.
12Sɛ wɔkɔ a, mɛto mʼasau agu wɔn so;
atwe wɔn aba fam te sɛ ewiem nnomaa.
Sɛ mete sɛ wɔretu abom a,
mɛkyere wɔn.
13Nnome nka wɔn,
ɛfiri sɛ wɔatwe wɔn ho afiri me ho!
Ɔsɛeɛ mmra wɔn so,
ɛfiri sɛ wɔate me so atua!
Anka mepɛ sɛ megye wɔn
nanso wotwa atorɔ fa me ho.
14Wɔmmfiri wɔn akoma mu nnsu mfrɛ me
mmom wɔtwa adwo wɔ wɔn mpa so.
Wɔboaboa wɔn ho ano kɔpɛ aduane ne nsã foforɔ,
nanso wɔtwe wɔn ho firi me ho.
15Metetee wɔn, hyɛɛ wɔn den,
nanso wɔbɔ pɔ bɔne tia me.
16Wɔnnhwehwɛ Ɔsorosoroni no;
wɔte sɛ tadua a asɛeɛ,
wɔn ntuanofoɔ bɛtotɔ wɔ akofena ano
ɛfiri sɛ, wɔnnkasa obuo so.
Yei enti wɔbɛdi wɔn ho fɛ
wɔ Misraim asase so.
