God's Love for His People
1 When Israel was a child,
I loved him, and I called
my son out of Egypt.
2 But as the saying goes,
“The more they were called,
the more they rebelled.”
They never stopped offering
incense and sacrifices
to the idols of Baal.
3 I took Israel by the arm
and taught them to walk.
But they would not admit
that I was the one
who had healed them.
4 I led them with kindness
and with love,
not with ropes.
I held them close to me;
I bent down to feed them.
5 But they rejected me,
and so must return to Egypt;
now Assyria will rule them.
6 War will visit their cities,
and their plans will fail.
7 My people are determined
to reject me for a god
they think is stronger,
but he can't help.
8 Israel, I can't let you go.
I can't give you up.
How could I possibly destroy you
as I did the towns of Admah
and Zeboiim?
I just can't do it.
My feelings for you
are much too strong.
9 Israel, I won't lose my temper
and destroy you again.
I am the Holy God—
not merely some human,
and I won't stay angry.
10 I, the Lord, will roar like a lion,
and my children will return,
trembling from the west.
11 They will come back,
fluttering like birds from Egypt
or like doves from Assyria.
Then I will bring them
back to their homes.
I, the Lord, have spoken!
Israel and Judah Compared
12 Israel is deceitful to me,
their loyal and holy God;
they surround me with lies,
and Judah worships
other gods.
Yaawe ye Banisirayila kanu le hani saayiŋ
1 Yaawe* ko:
“Biriŋ Banisirayila la dindiŋyaa waatoo le mu,
ŋa a kanu.
Ka bo Misira,
ŋa n dinkewo kili naŋ.
2 Bari n ka ì kili ñaameŋ,
ì ka jamfa n na wo le ñaama.
Ì tuta sadaa* bo la Baali* jalaŋolu ye,
ì ka cuuraayoo siisindi jalaŋ koteŋolu ye.
3 Nte faŋo le ye Efurayimu* moolu nindi taamoo la,
ŋa ì muta ì buloolu le la ka ì teetee.
Bari ì maŋ a loŋ ko,
nte le mu ì hatilaa ti.
4 Ŋa ì samba hadamayaa le la,
meŋ mu mooyaa niŋ kanoo ti.
Ŋa ì la yookoo* sika ì toŋo to,
n jimita ì kaŋ ka ì domorindi.
5 “Ì be muru la Misira le,
Asiriya si ì mara,
kaatu ì balanta le ka muru naŋ n kaŋ.
6 Hawusaroo* si ŋalasi ì la saatewolu to,
a ye dundaŋ daa nee bantambiloolu tiñaa,
moolu si faa ì la feere jawoolu kamma la.
7 N na moolu ka tenteŋ ne ka balaŋ m ma,
bari hani niŋ ì ye ì la Baali jalaŋo kili,
a te ì la yookoo sika noo la ì kaŋ.
8 “Bari Efurayimu,
n si i bula noo ñaadii le?
Banisirayila,
n si m bo noo i to ñaadii le?
N si ali kasaara noo ñaadii le ko Aduma saatewo,
waraŋ Seboyimu saatewo?
Ali la kuwo ye n niyo kuyaa le,
balafaa ye m futufaa.
9 N te n na jusukandoo jii la ali kaŋ,
sako n si Efurayimu kasaara.
Nte mu Alla Senuŋ Baa le ti,
meŋ be ali fee,
m maŋ ke hadamadiŋo ti.
N niŋ jusukandoo te naa la ali kaŋ.
10 Niŋ nte Yaawe bumbunta ko jatoo,
n na moolu be bula la n nooma le.
Niŋ m bumbunta,
n diŋolu kijafaratoo si naa,
ka bo tilijii karoo la.
11 Ì kijafaratoo si naa
ko kunoolu, ka bo naŋ Misira,
ko puraalu, ka bo Asiriya.
M be ì murundi la ì yaalu to le.”
Yaawe le ye a fo.
Tuumiroo, Banisirayila niŋ Yahuuda kaŋ
12 Yaawe ko:
“Efurayimu niŋ faniyaa le ye m muru,
Banisirayila moolu ye m muru nakaroo la.
Yahuuda ka balaŋ m ma,
a la Alla Senuŋo, meŋ foroyaata.
