UHoseya 1

1 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuHosiya indodana kaBheri ngezinsuku zemibuso yabo-Uziya, loJothamu, lo-Ahazi loHezekhiya amakhosi akoJuda, kanye lasezinsukwini zokubusa kukaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi inkosi yako-Israyeli.

The word of the Lord that came unto Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of 'Uzziyah, Jotham, Achaz, [and] Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, and in the days of Jerobo'am the son of Joash the king of Israel.

2 Kwathi uThixo eseqalise ukukhuluma ngoHosiya, uThixo wathi kuye, “Hamba uyethatha umfazi oyisifebe ubelabantwana bobufebe, ngoba ilizwe lilecala lobufebe obubi kakhulu ngokweduka kuThixo.”

The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea was, that the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of prostitution and children of prostitution; for the [inhabitants of the] land go far astray, departing from the Lord.

3 Ngakho wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi, njalo wathatha isisu wamzalela indodana.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblayim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

4 UThixo wasesithi kuHoseya, “Methe ibizo uthi nguJezerili, ngoba masinyane nje ngizayijezisa indlu kaJehu ngenxa yesihluku sokubulala abantu abanengi eJezerili, njalo ngizawuqeda umbuso wako-Israyeli.

And the Lord said unto him, Call his name Yizre'el; for but yet a little while, when I will visit the blood of Yizre'el upon the house of Jehu, and I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 Ngalolosuku ngizakwephula idandili lika-Israyeli eSigodini saseJezerili.”

And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Yizre'el.

6 UGomeri wathatha isisu futhi, wazala indodakazi. UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisoze ngibe lothando futhi endlini ka-Israyeli, ukuba ngibathethelele.

And she conceived again, and bore a daughter: and he said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruchamah [[Not finding mercy]]; for I will not farther have any more mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will give them their full recompense.

7 Kodwa ngizakuba lothando endlini kaJuda, njalo ngizabakhulula, kungayisikho ngedandili, inkemba kumbe impi, loba ngamabhiza langabagadi bamabhiza, kodwa ngoThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.”

But upon the house of Judah will I have mercy, and I will save them through the Lord their God, and I will not save them by the bow, or by the sword, or by battle, by horses, or by horsemen.

8 UGomeri eselumule uLo-Ruhama ebeleni, waba lenye indodana.

Now when she had weaned Lo-ruchamah, she conceived, and bore a son.

9 UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo lokuthi nguLo-Ami, ngoba lina kalisibo bantu bami, lami kangisuye uNkulunkulu wenu.

Then said he, Call his name Lo-'ammi [[Not my people]]; for ye are not my people, and I will indeed not be unto you [a God].

10 Kodwa abako-Israyeli bazakuba njengetshebetshebe ekhunjini lolwandle elingeke lilinganiswe kumbe libalwe. Endaweni lapho okwakuthiwe khona kubo, ‘Kalisibo bantu bami,’ bazabizwa ngokuthi, ‘bantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’

Yet shall the number of the children of Israel [once] be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that instead that people say of them, Ye are not my people [[Lo-'ammi]], shall they call them, The sons of the living God.

11 Abantu bakoJuda labantu bako-Israyeli bazamanyana, njalo bazakhetha umkhokheli oyedwa baphume elizweni, ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJezerili.”

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and they will appoint for themselves one head, and they shall go up out of the land, for great shall be the day of Yizre'el.