< 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 LORD’s word that came to Hosea the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, 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.”
When the LORD spoke at first by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take for yourself a wife of prostitution and children of unfaithfulness; for the land commits great adultery, forsaking the LORD.”
3 Ngakho wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi, njalo wathatha isisu wamzalela indodana.
So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; 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.
The LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.
5 Ngalolosuku ngizakwephula idandili lika-Israyeli eSigodini saseJezerili.”
It will happen in that day that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.”
6 UGomeri wathatha isisu futhi, wazala indodakazi. UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisoze ngibe lothando futhi endlini ka-Israyeli, ukuba ngibathethelele.
She conceived again, and bore a daughter. Then he said to him, “Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel, that I should in any way pardon them.
7 Kodwa ngizakuba lothando endlini kaJuda, njalo ngizabakhulula, kungayisikho ngedandili, inkemba kumbe impi, loba ngamabhiza langabagadi bamabhiza, kodwa ngoThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.”
But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, sword, battle, horses, or horsemen.”
8 UGomeri eselumule uLo-Ruhama ebeleni, waba lenye indodana.
Now when she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, she conceived, and bore a son.
9 UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo lokuthi nguLo-Ami, ngoba lina kalisibo bantu bami, lami kangisuye uNkulunkulu wenu.
He said, “Call his name Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I will not be yours.
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 the number of the children of Israel will be as the sand of the sea, which can’t be measured or counted; and it will come to pass that, in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’
11 Abantu bakoJuda labantu bako-Israyeli bazamanyana, njalo bazakhetha umkhokheli oyedwa baphume elizweni, ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJezerili.”
The children of Judah and the children of Israel will be gathered together, and they will appoint themselves one head, and will go up from the land; for great will be the day of Jezreel.

< UHoseya 1 >