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 was a luxuriant vine, which put forth fruit freely: as his fruit increased, he increased his altars; the more goodly his land was, the more goodly were his pillars.
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 bear their guilt; He will break down their altars, He will spoil their pillars.
3 Ngakho bazakuthi, “Thina kasilankosi ngoba kasimhloniphanga uThixo. Kodwa loba sasingaba lenkosi, kuyini eyayingasenzela khona?”
Surely now shall they say: 'We have no king; for we feared not the LORD; and the 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 words, they swear falsely, they make covenants; thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
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 be in dread for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the 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.
It also shall be carried unto Assyria, for a present to King Contentious; Ephraim shall receive 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 foam upon the water.
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!”
The high places also of Aven shall be destroyed, even the sin of Israel. The thorn and the thistle shall come up on 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 thou hast sinned, O Israel; there they stood; no battle was to overtake them in Gibeah, nor the children of arrogancy.
10 Lapho sengifuna, ngizabajezisa; izizwe zizaqoqanela ukumelana labo ukuba zibabophele isono sabo esiphindiweyo.
When it is My desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are yoked to their two rings.
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 heifer well broken, that loveth to thresh, and I have passed over upon her fair neck; I will make Ephraim to ride, Judah shall plow, 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 according to righteousness, reap according to mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and cause righteousness to rain upon you.
13 Kodwa lina lihlanyele ukuxhwala, livune ububi, lidle isithelo senkohliso. Njengoba lithembe amandla enu lamabutho enu amanengi,
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust 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.
Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy hosts, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle; the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15 Kuzakwenzakala kanjalo lakuwe, wena Bhetheli, ngoba ukuxhwala kwakho kukhulu. Lapho lolosuku lusisa, inkosi yako-Israyeli izachithwa okupheleleyo.”
So hath Beth-el done unto you because of your great wickedness; at daybreak is the king of Israel utterly cut off.
