< Amos 3 >
1 Hear this word that Jehovah hath spoken against you, children of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
Zwanini ilizwi elikhulunywe nguThixo ngani lina bantu bako-Israyeli Lomndeni wonke engawukhupha eGibhithe:
2 You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore will I visit upon you all your iniquities.
“Yini kuphela engalikhethayo kuyo yonke imideni yasemhlabeni; ngakho ngizalijezisela zonke izono zenu.”
3 Shall two walk together except they be agreed?
Ababili bayahamba bendawonye ngaphandle kokuba bevumelene ukwenzanjalo na?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest when he hath no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den if he have taken nothing?
Isilwane siyabhonga ehlathini kungelalutho esingalubamba na? Siyabhonga esikhundleni saso singabambanga lutho na?
5 Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth when no gin [is laid] for him? Will the snare spring up from the earth when nothing at all hath been taken?
Inyoni iyabanjwa emhlabathini okungelamjibila othiywe khona na? Umjibila uyathanca usuke emhlabathini kungelalutho olubambayo na?
6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and Jehovah not have done [it]?
Lapho icilongo likhala edolobheni abantu kabethuki na? Lapho incithakalo isehlela idolobho kayenziwanga nguThixo na?
7 But the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Impela uThixo Wobukhosi kenzi lutho engavezanga icebo lakhe ezincekwini zakhe abaphrofethi.
8 The lion hath roared, — who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken, — who can but prophesy?
Isilwane sibhongile, ngubani ongayikwesaba na? UThixo Wobukhosi usekhulumile ngubani ongayekela ukuphrofitha na?
9 Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great uproar in the midst thereof, and the oppressions that are within her:
Memezelani ezinqabeni zase-Ashidodi lasezinqabeni zaseGibhithe lithi: “Buthanani phezu kwezintaba zaseSamariya; libone isiyaluyalu esikhulu phakathi kwayo lokuncindezela phakathi kwabantu bayo.”
10 and they know not to do right, saith Jehovah, who store up violence and plunder in their palaces.
“Kabakwazi ukwenza okulungileyo,” kutsho uThixo, “bona ababuthelela impango baphange lasezinqabeni zabo.”
11 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: An adversary! — even round about the land! And he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be pillaged.
Ngakho uThixo Wobukhosi uthi: “Isitha sizachitha ilizwe; sizadiliza izinqaba zenu, siphange izinqaba zenu.”
12 Thus saith Jehovah: Like as the shepherd rescueth out of the jaw of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be rescued that sit in Samaria in the corner of a couch, and upon the damask of a bed.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Njengomelusi ehlenga emlonyeni wesilwane amathambo amabili kuphela omlenze loba isiqa sendlebe, bazahlengwa kanjalo abako-Israyeli abahlala eSamariya bethithibele ekucineni kwemibheda yabo, kanye laseDamaseko phezu kwemibheda yabo yokuphumulela.”
13 Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord Jehovah, the God of hosts,
“Zwanini lokhu lifakaze ngendlu kaJakhobe,” kutsho iNkosi, uThixo uNkulunkulu uSomandla.
14 that in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him, I will also punish the altars of Bethel; and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
“Ngosuku engizajezisela u-Israyeli izono zakhe ngizabhidliza ama-alithare aseBhetheli; impondo ze-alithare zizaqunywa ziwele emhlabathini.
15 And I will smite the winter-house with the summer-house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and many houses shall have an end, saith Jehovah.
Ngizadiliza indlu yebusika kanye lendlu yehlobo, izindlu eziceciswe ngempondo zendlovu zizadilizwa lezindlu ezinkulu zizabhidlizwa,” kutsho uThixo.