U-Amosi 4
1 Zwanini ilizwi leli lina mankomokazi aseBhashani phezu kweNtaba iSamariya, lina besifazane elincindezela abayanga lichoboze abaswelayo beselisithi kubomkenu, “Siletheleni okunathwayo!”
Hear these words, O ye kine of Bashan, That are on the mountain of Samaria; That oppress the poor; that crush the needy; That say to your master, Bring, and let us drink!
2 UThixo Wobukhosi usefunge ngobungcwele bakhe wathi: “Isikhathi sizafika impela lapho elizathathwa khona ngewuka, owokucina wenu ngewuka yenhlanzi.
The Lord Jehovah hath sworn by his holiness; Behold, the days shall come upon you When ye shall be taken away with hooks, And your residue with fishing-hooks.
3 Lizaphuma ngamunye ngezikhala emdulini liqonde nta phandle, njalo lizalahlelwa ngaphandle ngokuya eHamoni,” kutsho uThixo.
And ye shall go out at the breaches, every one right forward, And ye shall be thrown into a castle, saith Jehovah.
4 “Hambani eBhetheli liyekwenza isono; hambani eGiligali liyekwenza isono ngokudlulayo. Lethani imihlatshelo yenu nsuku zonke ekuseni lokwetshumi kwenu minyaka yonke emithathu.
Go, now, to Bethel, and transgress; At Gilgal multiply transgression! Bring your sacrifices every morning, And your tithes every three years!
5 Tshisani isinkwa esilemvubelo njengomnikelo wokubonga lintele ngeminikelo yenu yokuzithandela lizikhukhumeze ngayo, lina bako-Israyeli, ngoba lokhu yikho elithanda ukukwenza,” kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
Burn a thank-offering from your extortions, And proclaim the free-will offerings; publish them abroad! For this is your delight, ye sons of Israel, Saith the Lord, Jehovah.
6 “Ngalilethela indlala emadolobheni wonke lokusweleka kokudla emadolobheni wonke, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
I also have caused cleanness of teeth in all your cities, And want of bread in all your places; And yet ye have not returned to me, saith Jehovah.
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.
I also have withholden from you the rain three months before the harvest; I have caused it to rain upon one city, And upon another city have I not caused it to rain; One piece of ground hath been rained upon, And another, upon which I have not caused it to rain, hath withered.
8 Abantu babhadazela besuka kwelinye idolobho besiya kwelinye befuna amanzi kodwa kabawatholanga anele ukuba bakholwe, ikanti kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
Two or three cities have gone to one city, To drink water, and have not been satisfied; And yet ye have not returned to me, saith Jehovah.
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 have smitten you with blasting and mildew; The locust hath devoured your many gardens, Your vineyards, your fig-trees, and your olive-trees; Yet have ye not returned to me, saith Jehovah.
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 have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt; I have slain your young men with the sword, And your horses have I led into captivity; I have made the smell of your camps to come up into your nostrils; And yet ye have not returned to me, saith Jehovah.
11 “Ngachitha abanye benu njengalokhu ngachitha iSodoma leGomora. Lalinjengesikhuni esitshayo esihluthunwe emlilweni, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah; And ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; And yet ye have not returned to me, saith Jehovah.
12 “Ngakho-ke engizakwenza kuwe Israyeli yilokhu, njalo njengoba lokhu ngizakwenza kuwe, zilungisele ukuhlangana loNkulunkulu wakho, wena Israyeli.”
Therefore thus will I deal with thee, O Israel! Yet since I will thus deal with 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 behold, he formed the mountains, and created the wind; He declareth to man what is his thought; He maketh the morning darkness, And walketh upon the high places of the earth; Jehovah, God of hosts, is his name.
