Hosea 11
1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
“U-Israyeli esesengumntwana, ngangimthanda njalo indodana yami ngayikhupha eGibhithe.
2 But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
Kodwa kwathi lapho u-Israyeli ngimbiza kanengi kwayikhona ehlehlela khatshana lami. Banikela imihlatshelo kuboBhali, batshisela lezifanekiso impepha.
3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
Yimi engafundisa u-Efrayimi ukuhamba, ngibabambe ngezingalo; kodwa kababonanga ukuthi yimi engabelaphayo.
4 I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
Ngabakhokhela ngentambo zomusa woluntu, ngezibopho zothando; ngaba njengomuntu osusa amajogwe entanyeni zabo, ngakhothamela phansi ukuba angiphe ukudla.
5 Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
Kabayikubuyela eGibhithe na, njalo i-Asiriya kayiyikubabusa na njengoba besala ukuphenduka?
6 A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
Izinkemba zizaphazima emadolobheni abo, zizachitha imigoqo yamasango abo ziqede amacebo abo.
7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
Abantu bami bazimisele ukungihlamukela. Lanxa bekhuleka koPhezukonke kasoze abaphakamise.
8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
Ngingakukhalela kanjani, Efrayimi? Ngingakunikela kanjani, Israyeli? Ngingakuphatha kanjani njengo-Adima na? Ngingakwenza kanjani, njengoZebhoyimi na? Inhliziyo yami iguqukile phakathi kwami; isihawu sami sonke siqubukile.
9 I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
Kangiyikwenza okwentukuthelo yami eyesabekayo, kumbe ngiphenduke ngimqothule u-Efrayimi. Ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, hatshi umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwenu. Kangiyikuza ngolaka.
10 They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
Bazamlandela uThixo; uzabhonga njengesilwane. Lapho esebhonga, abantwana bakhe bazakuza beqhaqhazela bevela entshonalanga.
11 They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.
Bazakuza bevela eGibhithe beqhaqhazela njengezinyoni bevela e-Asiriya bephaphazela njengamajuba. Ngizabahlalisa emakhaya abo,” kutsho uThixo.
12 Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
“U-Efrayimi usengizingeleze ngamanga, lendlu ka-Israyeli ngenkohliso. LoJuda uluhlaza kuNkulunkulu, kanye lakuye othembekileyo oNgcwele.”
