UHoseya 11
1 “U-Israyeli esesengumntwana, ngangimthanda njalo indodana yami ngayikhupha eGibhithe.
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son.
2 Kodwa kwathi lapho u-Israyeli ngimbiza kanengi kwayikhona ehlehlela khatshana lami. Banikela imihlatshelo kuboBhali, batshisela lezifanekiso impepha.
But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images.
3 Yimi engafundisa u-Efrayimi ukuhamba, ngibabambe ngezingalo; kodwa kababonanga ukuthi yimi engabelaphayo.
It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them in My arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them.
4 Ngabakhokhela ngentambo zomusa woluntu, ngezibopho zothando; ngaba njengomuntu osusa amajogwe entanyeni zabo, ngakhothamela phansi ukuba angiphe ukudla.
I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.
5 Kabayikubuyela eGibhithe na, njalo i-Asiriya kayiyikubabusa na njengoba besala ukuphenduka?
Will they not return to the land of Egypt and be ruled by Assyria because they refused to repent?
6 Izinkemba zizaphazima emadolobheni abo, zizachitha imigoqo yamasango abo ziqede amacebo abo.
A sword will flash through their cities; it will destroy the bars of their gates and consume them in their own plans.
7 Abantu bami bazimisele ukungihlamukela. Lanxa bekhuleka koPhezukonke kasoze abaphakamise.
My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
8 Ngingakukhalela kanjani, Efrayimi? Ngingakunikela kanjani, Israyeli? Ngingakuphatha kanjani njengo-Adima na? Ngingakwenza kanjani, njengoZebhoyimi na? Inhliziyo yami iguqukile phakathi kwami; isihawu sami sonke siqubukile.
How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
9 Kangiyikwenza okwentukuthelo yami eyesabekayo, kumbe ngiphenduke ngimqothule u-Efrayimi. Ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, hatshi umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwenu. Kangiyikuza ngolaka.
I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not man— the Holy One among you— and I will not come in wrath.
10 Bazamlandela uThixo; uzabhonga njengesilwane. Lapho esebhonga, abantwana bakhe bazakuza beqhaqhazela bevela entshonalanga.
They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
11 Bazakuza bevela eGibhithe beqhaqhazela njengezinyoni bevela e-Asiriya bephaphazela njengamajuba. Ngizabahlalisa emakhaya abo,” kutsho uThixo.
They will come trembling like birds from Egypt and like doves from the land of Assyria. Then I will settle them in their homes, declares the LORD.
12 “U-Efrayimi usengizingeleze ngamanga, lendlu ka-Israyeli ngenkohliso. LoJuda uluhlaza kuNkulunkulu, kanye lakuye othembekileyo oNgcwele.”
Ephraim surrounds Me with lies, the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah still walks with God and is faithful to the Holy One.
