Hosea 13
1 When Ephraim spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
Lapho u-Efrayimi ekhuluma, abantu bathuthumela; wabatshazwa ko-Israyeli. Kodwa waba lecala lokukhonza uBhali wasesifa.
2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, [and] idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of artificers: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the 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 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff [that] is driven with the whirlwind from the floor, and as the smoke from the chimney.
Ngakho bazakuba njengenkungu yekuseni, njengamazolo ekuseni anyamalalayo, njengamakhoba asuka ezizeni, njengentuthu iphuma ewindini.
4 Yet I [am] the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no God but me: for [there is] no savior besides me.
“Kodwa mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, owalikhupha elizweni laseGibhithe. Kaliyikwamukela omunye uNkulunkulu ngaphandle kwami, hatshi omunye uMsindisi ngaphandle kwami.
5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drouth.
Ngalilondoloza enkangala, elizweni elilokutshisa okuvuthayo.
6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.
Lapho ngibapha ukudla, basutha; sebesuthi, basuka bazigqaja; basebengikhohlwa.
7 Therefore I will be to them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe [them].
Ngizakwehlela phezu kwabo njengesilwane, ngizacathama ngasendleleni njengengwe.
8 I will meet them as a bear [that is] bereaved [of her whelps], and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.
Njengebhele elithathelwe imidlwane yalo ngizabahlasela ngibaqhaqhe. Ngizabadla njengesilwane, inyamazana yeganga izabadabula.
9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me [is] thy help.
Uchithiwe, wena Israyeli, ngoba umelane lami, umelane lomsizi wakho.
10 I will be thy king: where [is any other] that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, 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 thee a king in my anger, and took [him] away in my wrath.
Ngakho ngakunika inkosi ngithukuthele, njalo ngolaka lwami ngayisusa.
12 The iniquity of Ephraim [is] bound up; his sin [is] hid.
Icala lika-Efrayimi ligciniwe, izono zakhe zigcinwe emibhalweni.
13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he [is] an unwise son; for he should not stay long in [the place of] the breaking forth of children.
Ufikelwa yibuhlungu obunjengowesifazane ehelelwa, kodwa ungumntwana ongelalwazi; lapho isikhathi sifika, kabuyi ekuvulekeni kwesizalo.
14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues, O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid 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 he is fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall pillage the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
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 shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.
Abantu baseSamariya kuzamela balithwale icala labo, ngoba bamhlamukele uNkulunkulu wabo. Bazabulawa ngenkemba; insane zabo zizasakazelwa phansi, abesifazane babo abazithweleyo baqhaqhwe.”
