Hosea 13
1 “When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but he became guilty because of Baal worship, and he died.
Lapho u-Efrayimi ekhuluma, abantu bathuthumela; wabatshazwa ko-Israyeli. Kodwa waba lecala lokukhonza uBhali wasesifa.
2 Now they sin more and more. They make cast metal figures from their silver, idols as skillfully worked as possible, all of them the work of the craftsmen. People say of them, 'These men who sacrifice kiss calves.'
Khathesi benza izono njalonjalo; bazenzela izithombe ngesiliva sabo, izifanekiso ezenziwe ngokuhlakanipha, zonke ziyimisebenzi yezingcitshi. Ngabantu laba kuthiwa, “Banikela imihlatshelo yabantu, bange izithombe zamathole.”
3 So they will be like the morning clouds, like the dew that goes away early, like the chaff that is driven by the wind away from a threshing floor, and like smoke out of a chimney.
Ngakho bazakuba njengenkungu yekuseni, njengamazolo ekuseni anyamalalayo, njengamakhoba asuka ezizeni, njengentuthu iphuma ewindini.
4 But I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but me; you must acknowledge that besides me, there is no other savior.
“Kodwa mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, owalikhupha elizweni laseGibhithe. Kaliyikwamukela omunye uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami, hatshi omunye uMsindisi ngaphandle kwami.
5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great dryness.
Ngalilondoloza enkangala, elizweni elilokutshisa okuvuthayo.
6 When you had pasture, then you became full; and when you were filled, your heart became lifted up. For that reason you forgot me.
Lapho ngibapha ukudla, basutha; sebesuthi, basuka bazigqaja; basebengikhohlwa.
7 I will become like a lion to them; like a leopard I will watch along the path.
Ngizakwehlela phezu kwabo njengesilwane, ngizacathama ngasendleleni njengengwe.
8 I will attack them as a bear that is robbed of her cubs. I will rip open their chests, and there I will devour them as a lion, as a wild beast would tear them to pieces.
Njengebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo ngizabahlasela ngibaqhaqhe. Ngizabadla njengesilwane, inyamazana yeganga izabadabula.
9 I will destroy you, Israel; who will be able to help you?
Uchithiwe, wena Israyeli, ngoba umelane lami, umelane lomsizi wakho.
10 Where now is your king, that he may save you in all your cities? Where are your rulers, about whom you said to me, 'Give me a king and princes'?
Ingaphi inkosi yakho, ukuba ikusize na? Bangaphi ababusi bakho kuwo wonke amadolobho akho, bona owathi ngabo, ‘Ngipha inkosi lababusi’?
11 I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath.
Ngakho ngakunika inkosi ngithukuthele, njalo ngolaka lwami ngayisusa.
12 Ephraim's iniquity has been stored up; his guilt has been stored up.
Icala lika-Efrayimi ligciniwe, izono zakhe zigcinwe emibhalweni.
13 Pains of childbirth will come on him, but he is an unwise son, for when it is time to be born, he does not come out of the womb.
Ufikelwa yibuhlungu obunjengowesifazane ehelelwa, kodwa ungumntwana ongelalwazi; lapho isikhathi sifika, kabuyi ekuvulekeni kwesizalo.
14 Will I rescue them from the hand of Sheol? Will I rescue them from death? Where, death, are your plagues? Where, Sheol, is your destruction? Compassion is hidden from my eyes.” (Sheol h7585)
Ngizabahlenga emandleni engcwaba; ngizabasindisa ekufeni. Zingaphi, we kufa izifo zakho? Kungaphi, we ngcwaba, ukuchitha kwakho? Kangiyikuba lesihawu, (Sheol h7585)
15 Though Ephraim is prosperous among his brothers, an east wind will come; the wind of Yahweh will blow in from the wilderness. Ephraim's spring will dry up, and his well will have no water. His enemy will plunder his storehouse of every precious object.
lanxa ekhula phakathi kwabafowabo. Umoya wasempumalanga ovela kuThixo uzafika, uphephetha uvela enkangala; intwasa yakhe izakwehluleka, lemithombo yakhe itshe. Indlu yakhe yokugcinela izaphangwa yonke ingcebo yayo.
16 Samaria will be guilty, for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their young children will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open.
Abantu baseSamariya kuzamela balithwale icala labo, ngoba bamhlamukele uNkulunkulu wabo. Bazabulawa ngenkemba; insane zabo zizasakazelwa phansi, abesifazane babo abazithweleyo baqhaqhwe.”
