< Amos 2 >

1 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will punish the people of] Moab because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they [dug up] the bones of the king of Edom and burned them completely, with the result that [the ashes became as white] as lime.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngenxa yezono ezintathu zaseMowabi loba ngenxa yezine, kangiyikulunqanda ulaka lwami, ngoba utshise amathambo enkosi yase-Edomi aze afana lekalaga,
2 So I will cause a fire to completely burn the fortresses of Kerioth [city in Moab]. [People will hear soldiers] shouting and blowing trumpets [loudly] while I am causing Moab to be destroyed
ngizathumela umlilo kuMowabi ozalobisa izinqaba zaseKheriyothi. UMowabi uzachitheka kulokuxokozela okukhulu lokumenyezelwa kwezitsho zempi lokukhala kwecilongo.
3 [and while] I am getting rid of its king and all its leaders. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it!”
Ngizaqothula ababusi bakhe ngibulale zonke izikhulu zakhe kanye laye,” kutsho uThixo.
4 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will also punish the people of] Judah because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they have rejected what I taught them and they have not obeyed my commands. They have been deceived [and persuaded to worship false gods], the same [gods] that their ancestors [worshiped].
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngenxa yezono ezintathu zikaJuda loba ngenxa yezine, kangiyikulunqanda ulaka lwami, ngoba bawalile umthetho kaThixo kabaze bagcina lezimiso zakhe, ngoba badukiswe ngonkulunkulu bamanga, onkulunkulu abalandelwa ngokhokho babo.
5 So I will cause a fire to completely burn [everything in] Judah, including the fortresses in Jerusalem.”
Ngizathumela umlilo koJuda ozalobisa izinqaba zaseJerusalema.”
6 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will punish the people of] Israel because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they sell righteous [people] to get [a small amount of] silver; they sell poor [people, causing them to become slaves], getting for [each of] them [only the amount of money with which they could buy] a pair of sandals.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngenxa yezono ezintathu zika-Israyeli loba ngenxa yezine, kangiyikulunqanda ulaka lwami ngoba bathengisa abalungileyo ngesiliva, labaswelayo ngamanyathelo.
7 [It is as though] they trample the poor people into the dirt and do not allow those who are helpless to be treated fairly. Men and their fathers dishonor me [MTY] by both having sex [EUP] with the same [slave] girl.
Banyathela phezu kwamakhanda abayanga njengaphezu kothuli lomhlabathi banqabele imfanelo yabancindezelweyo. Uyise lendodana bembatha lentombi yinye kanjalo bangcolise ibizo lami elingcwele.
8 [When poor people borrow money], [the lenders force those people to give to them a piece of clothing] for them to keep until he can pay back the money. [But at the end of each day, instead of returning that garment as Yahweh had commanded them to], they lie down on that garment at the places where they worship [their gods]! They fine people, and with that money [they buy] wine and drink it in the temples of their gods!
Bacambalala phansi emaceleni ama-alithare wonke, phezu kwezembatho ezithethwe ziyizibambiso. Endlini kankulunkulu wabo banatha iwayini elithethwe njengenhlawulo.
9 [Long ago, ] to assist your ancestors, I got rid of the Amor people-group. They [seemed to be] as tall as cedar [trees] and as strong as oak [trees], but I got rid of them completely, [as easily as someone cuts off] [MET] the branches of a tree and then digs out all its roots.
Ngachitha umʼAmori phambi kwabo, lanxa wayemude njengemisedari njalo eqine njengomʼokhi. Ngachitha izithelo zakhe phezulu kanye lempande zakhe ngaphansi.
10 I brought your [ancestors] out of Egypt, and [then] I led them through the desert for 40 years. And then I enabled them to conquer/possess the Amor area.
Ngalikhupha eGibhithe ngalikhokhela iminyaka engamatshumi amane enkangala ukuba ngilinike ilizwe lama-Amori.
11 I chose some of you Israelis to be prophets, and I chose others to be Nazir-men [who were completely dedicated to me]. You people of Israel certainly [RHQ] know that what I have said is true!
Ngakhupha labaphrofethi bephuma phakathi kwamadodana enu, kanye lamaNaziri ephuma phakathi kwezinsizwa zenu. Lokhu akuqotho na, bantu bako-Israyeli?” kutsho uThixo.
12 But you commanded the prophets to not speak the messages that [I gave to] them, and you persuaded the Nazir-men to drink wine, [which I told them never to do].
“Kodwa lanathisa amaNaziri iwayini, lalaya abaphrofethi ukuba bangaphrofethi.
13 So I will crush you like [SIM] [the wheels of] a wagon that is loaded with grain crushes [whatever it rolls over].
Khathesi-ke mina ngizalichoboza njengokuchoboza kwenqola ithwele amabele.
14 [Even] if you run fast, you will not escape; [even] if you are strong, [it will be as though] you are weak, and warriors will be unable to save themselves.
Olejubane kayikubaleka, oqinileyo uzawaswela amandla akhe, lebutho kaliyikusindisa impilo yalo.
15 [Even] if you are able to shoot arrows [well], you will be forced to retreat [LIT]; [even] if you run fast or if you ride [away] on a horse, you will not [be able to] save yourself.
Umtshoki akayikugxila, ibutho elilejubane kaliyikuphunyuka lomgadi webhiza kayikusindisa impilo yakhe.
16 [Even] warriors who are very brave will drop their weapons when they try to flee on the day [that I get rid of them]. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it.”
Lebutho elilesibindi kakhulu, ngalolosuku lizabaleka linqunu,” kutsho uThixo.

< Amos 2 >