UHoseya 10
1 U-Israyeli wayelivini eliqhelayo, wazizalela izithelo. Ngokwanda kwezithelo zakhe wakha ama-alithare amanengi; kwathi ngokuphumelela kwelizwe lakhe wahlobisa amatshe akhe akhonzwayo.
Israel is an unpruned vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly statues.
2 Inhliziyo zabo ziyakhohlisa, khathesi kufanele bathwale icala labo. UThixo uzawabhidliza ama-alithare abo, uwachithile lamatshe abo, akhonzwayo.
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will break down their altars, he will destroy their statues.
3 Ngakho bazakuthi, “Thina kasilankosi ngoba kasimhloniphanga uThixo. Kodwa loba sasingaba lenkosi, kuyini eyayingasenzela khona?”
For now they will say, We have no king, for we feared not Jehovah; and a king, what can he do for us?
4 Benza izithembiso ezinengi, bafunge izifungo zamanga, benze lezivumelwano; ngakho amacala ayanda njengokhula olubulalayo ensimini elinyiweyo.
They speak [mere] words, swearing falsely in making a covenant; therefore shall judgment spring up as hemlock in the furrows of the fields.
5 Abantu abahlala eSamariya bayesaba ngenxa yesithombe sethole saseBhethi-Aveni. Abantu bakhona bazasililela benzenjalo labaphristi bakhona abakhonza izithombe, labo abathokozela ubuhle baso ngoba sithethwe kubo ekuthunjweni.
The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calf of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the idolatrous priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.
6 Sizathwalelwa e-Asiriya njengomthelo enkosini enkulu. U-Efrayimi uzayangeka; u-Israyeli uzakuba lenhloni ngezithombe zakhe zezigodo.
Yea, it shall be carried unto Assyria [as] a present for king Jareb: Ephraim shall be seized with shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7 ISamariya lenkosi yakhona kuzabhujiswa kuzakhukhulwa kuhambe njengogatshanyana phezu kwamanzi.
As for Samaria her king is cut off as chips upon the face of the waters.
8 Izindawo zokukhonzela zobuxhwali zizachithwa, kuyisono sika-Israyeli. Ameva lokhula kuzakhula kwembese ama-alithare abo. Lapho-ke bazakuthi ezintabeni, “Sembeseni!” Lakuwo amaqaqa bathi, “Welani phezu kwethu!”
And the high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up upon their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us! and to the hills, Fall on us!
9 “Kusukela ensukwini zaseGibhiya wenze isono, we Israyeli, njalo ulokhu usele khonapho. Kanje impi kayibaficanga yini abenza okubi eGibhiya?
From the days of Gibeah hast thou sinned, O Israel: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10 Lapho sengifuna, ngizabajezisa; izizwe zizaqoqanela ukumelana labo ukuba zibabophele isono sabo esiphindiweyo.
At my pleasure will I chastise them; and the peoples shall be assembled against them, when they are bound for their two iniquities.
11 U-Efrayimi ulithokazi elifundisiweyo elithanda ukubhula amabele; ngakho ngizagaxa ijogwe entanyeni yakhe enhle. U-Efrayimi ngizamtshayela, uJuda kumele alime uJakhobe kumele abulale amagade.
And Ephraim is a trained heifer, that loveth to tread out [the corn]; I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to draw; Judah shall plough, Jacob shall break his clods.
12 Zihlanyeleleni ukulunga, vunani isithelo sothando olungapheliyo, liqeqebule lomhlabathi wenu ongalinywanga; ngoba kuyisikhathi sokudinga uThixo, aze abuye athele ukulunga phezu kwenu.
Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 Kodwa lina lihlanyele ukuxhwala, livune ububi, lidle isithelo senkohliso. Njengoba lithembe amandla enu lamabutho enu amanengi,
Ye have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14 ukuhlokoma kwempi kuzakuba khona ebantwini bakini, ngakho zonke izinqaba zenu zizabhidlizwa njengalokhu uShalimani wabhidliza iBhethi-Abheli ngosuku lwempi, lapho onina basakazelwa phansi labantwababo.
And a tumult shall arise among thy peoples, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with the children.
15 Kuzakwenzakala kanjalo lakuwe, wena Bhetheli, ngoba ukuxhwala kwakho kukhulu. Lapho lolosuku lusisa, inkosi yako-Israyeli izachithwa okupheleleyo.”
So shall Bethel do unto you because of the wickedness of your wickedness: at day-break shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.
