U-Amosi 4
1 Zwanini ilizwi leli lina mankomokazi aseBhashani phezu kweNtaba iSamariya, lina besifazane elincindezela abayanga lichoboze abaswelayo beselisithi kubomkenu, “Siletheleni okunathwayo!”
Hear this word, O ye cows of Bashan, that are on the mount of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their lords, Bring, and let us drink.
2 UThixo Wobukhosi usefunge ngobungcwele bakhe wathi: “Isikhathi sizafika impela lapho elizathathwa khona ngewuka, owokucina wenu ngewuka yenhlanzi.
Sworn hath the Lord Eternal by his holiness, that, lo, days are coming over you, when men will carry you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
3 Lizaphuma ngamunye ngezikhala emdulini liqonde nta phandle, njalo lizalahlelwa ngaphandle ngokuya eHamoni,” kutsho uThixo.
And through breaches in the wall shall ye go out, every one through that before her: and ye shall cast off your proud greatness, saith the Lord.
4 “Hambani eBhetheli liyekwenza isono; hambani eGiligali liyekwenza isono ngokudlulayo. Lethani imihlatshelo yenu nsuku zonke ekuseni lokwetshumi kwenu minyaka yonke emithathu.
Go then to Beth-el, and transgress; to Gilgal, [and] multiply transgression; and bring in the morning your sacrifices, after three days your tithes:
5 Tshisani isinkwa esilemvubelo njengomnikelo wokubonga lintele ngeminikelo yenu yokuzithandela lizikhukhumeze ngayo, lina bako-Israyeli, ngoba lokhu yikho elithanda ukukwenza,” kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
And burn of leaven a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and proclaim and publish freewill-offerings; for so do you love [to do], O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord Eternal.
6 “Ngalilethela indlala emadolobheni wonke lokusweleka kokudla emadolobheni wonke, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
But, I also had indeed given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: and yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
7 “Ngagodla izulu futhi kusasele inyanga ezintathu ukuba kuvunwe. Izulu ngalinisa kwelinye idolobho kodwa ngaligodla kwelinye. Enye insimu yaba lezulu, enye kayaze yaba lalo njalo yoma qha.
And I also had indeed withholden from you the rain, when it was yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain upon one city, and upon another city I caused it not to rain; one piece of land was rained upon, and another piece whereupon it rained not became dried up;
8 Abantu babhadazela besuka kwelinye idolobho besiya kwelinye befuna amanzi kodwa kabawatholanga anele ukuba bakholwe, ikanti kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
And two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: and yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
9 “Ezikhathini ezinengi ngahlasela izivande zenu lezivini zenu, ngizihlasela ngesona langengumane. Izintethe zadla imikhiwa yenu lezihlahla zenu zama-oliva, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
I had smitten you with blasting and mildew; the multitude of your gardens and your vineyards and your fig-trees and your olive-trees did the caterpillar devour: and yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
10 “Ngathumela izifo phakathi kwenu njengengakwenza kweleGibhithe. Ngabulala izinsizwa zenu ngenkemba ndawonye lamabhiza enu athunjwayo. Ngavimbanisa amakhala enu ngomnuko wezihonqo zenu, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
I had sent out against you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men with the sword, together with your captive horses; and I had caused the stench of your camps to ascend even into your nostrils; and yet ye have not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
11 “Ngachitha abanye benu njengalokhu ngachitha iSodoma leGomora. Lalinjengesikhuni esitshayo esihluthunwe emlilweni, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
I had produced an overthrow among you, like the overthrow by God of Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye became like a fire-brand snatched out of the burning: and yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.
12 “Ngakho-ke engizakwenza kuwe Israyeli yilokhu, njalo njengoba lokhu ngizakwenza kuwe, zilungisele ukuhlangana loNkulunkulu wakho, wena Israyeli.”
Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: because then I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
13 Yena obumba izintaba, udala umoya, aveze lemicabango yakhe ebantwini, yena oguqula ukusa kube ngumnyama, anyathele lezindawo eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, uThixo uNkulunkulu uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe.
For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning-dawn [and] darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, — The Lord, the God of hosts, is his name.
