Israel Heart Wey Divide
Plenty money bring more altars, no be more faithfulness. The calf-idol go Assyria as tribute, the king disappear like small stick for top water, and thorn grow cover the high places. For middle of the threats, invitation come: dig your land wey never plough and find our Papa now.
10 1Israel bin be fine vine wey dey bring im fruit. As im fruit dey plenty, na so e dey build plenty altar; as im land dey rich, na so e dey make im sacred pillar fine well well. 2Their heart don divide; now dem must carry their guilt. E go break down their altar and scatter their sacred pillar.
3Because now dem go talk say, “We no get king, because we no fear our Papa—and even king, wetin e fit do for us?” 4Na ordinary word dem dey talk, dey swear empty oath and dey make Covenant; so judgment dey spring up like poison weed for di line wey dem plough for farm. 5Di people of Samaria dey shake because of di calf of Beth-aven. Im people dey cry over am, and im idol-priest dem dey wail over am, over im glory wey don comot from am. a a v5 Beth-aven mean “house of wickedness” — na so Hosea dey mock Bethel wey mean “house of God,” because calf-worship don take root for there. 6Dem go carry di idol self go Assyria as tribute give di great king. Shame go catch Ephraim, and Israel go shame because of di plan wey e make. 7Samaria king go perish like small stick wey dem throw for water. 8Di high place of Aven, di sin of Israel, dem go destroy am. Thorn and thistle go grow cover their altar, and dem go talk give di mountain say, “Cover us,” and give di hill say, “Fall on top us.” b b v8 Jesus talk dis very word give di women wey dey cry for di road to di cross (Luke 23:30), and John hear am again for di day of judgment (Revelation 6:16).
9Since di days of Gibeah you don dey sin, Israel; na there dem take their stand. Abi war no go catch dem for Gibeah? c c v9 Gibeah: one gang-murder for there cause fight wey nearly turn to civil-war and nearly wipe out Benjamin (Judges 19–20). 10Wen I want, I go discipline dem, and nation go gather come against dem, dey tie dem tight because of their double guilt.
11Ephraim bin be heifer wey dem don train wey like to thresh grain, and I spare im fine neck; but now I go put yoke for Ephraim, Judah must plough, and Jacob must break di ground for imsef. d d v11 Threshing (dey waka on top grain) na easy, sweet work for ox; but plough mean heavy wooden yoke dey press di neck — God bin allow Ephraim enjoy di easy life. 12Plant correct-and-holy way for una own sake; reap di fruit of Covenant love; break di ground wey una never plough. Because na time to seek our Papa, till e come and rain correct-and-holy way pour on top una.
13Una don plough wickedness; una don reap injustice; una don chop di fruit of lie. Because una trust for una own way, for di plenty warrior wey una get, 14di roar of battle go rise against una people, and all una fortress go turn to rubble, like as Shalman destroy Beth-arbel for di day of war, wen dem smash mother dem to pieces together with their children. 15Na so e go be for you, Bethel, because of your big evil. Wen day break, dem go cut off di king of Israel finish.
