< UHoseya 12 >
1 U-Efrayimi udla umoya; uxotshana lomoya wasempumalanga ilanga lonke andise amanga lodlakela. Wenza isivumelwano le-Asiriya, athumele amafutha e-oliva eGibhithe.
Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 Kulecala uThixo azalethesa uJuda; uzajezisa uJakhobe mayelana lezindlela zakhe aphindisele kuye mayelana lezenzo zakhe.
Jehovah also has a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways and according to his deeds he will repay him.
3 Esiswini wabamba isithende sikamfowabo; eseyindoda wabindana loNkulunkulu.
In the womb he took his brother by the heel; and in his manhood he contended with God.
4 Wabindana lengilosi wayehlula; wakhala wacela umusa kuyo. Wayifica eBhetheli wakhuluma layo khonapho,
Indeed, he struggled with the angel, and prevailed; he wept, and made petition to him. He found him at Bethel, and there he spoke with him,
5 uThixo uNkulunkulu uSomandla, uThixo yilo ibizo lakhe lodumo!
even Jehovah, the God of hosts; Jehovah is his name of renown.
6 Kodwa kumele ubuyele kuNkulunkulu wakho; ugcine uthando lokulunga, umlindele kokuphela uNkulunkulu wakho.
Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.
7 Umthengisi usebenzisa izikali zenkohliso; uthanda ukuqilibezela.
A merchant has dishonest scales in his hand. He loves to defraud.
8 U-Efrayimi uyazincoma esithi, “Nginothe kakhulu; sengiyisipatsha. Ngenotho yami kabayikufumana ububi loba isono kimi.”
Ephraim said, "Surely I have become rich, I have found myself wealth. In all my wealth they won't find in me any iniquity that is sin."
9 “Mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu owalikhupha eGibhithe; ngizalenza lihlale emathenteni futhi, njengasezinsukwini zemikhosi yenu emisiweyo.
"But I Jehovah your God brought you up from the land of Egypt. I will yet again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the solemn feast.
10 Ngakhuluma labaphrofethi, ngabatshengisa imibono eminengi ngakhuluma imizekeliso ngabo.”
I have also spoken to the prophets, and I have multiplied visions; and by the ministry of the prophets I have used parables.
11 IGiliyadi ixhwalile na? Abantu bakhona bakhohlakele! EGiligali bayanikela umhlatshelo wenkunzi na? Ama-alithare abo azakuba njengezinqwaba zamatshe ensimini elinyiweyo.
If Gilead is wicked, surely they are worthless. In Gilgal they sacrifice bulls. Indeed, their altars are like heaps in the furrows of the field.
12 UJakhobe wabalekela elizweni lase-Aramu; u-Israyeli wasebenzela ukuthola umfazi, njalo welusa izimvu ukuba amlobole.
Jacob fled into the country of Aram, and Israel served to get a wife, and for a wife he tended flocks and herds.
13 UThixo wasebenzisa umphrofethi ekukhupheni u-Israyeli eGibhithe; wamlondoloza ngomphrofethi.
By a prophet Jehovah brought Israel up out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved.
14 Kodwa u-Efrayimi umthukuthelise kabuhlungu; UThixo wakhe uzaliyekela liphezu kwakhe icala lokuchitha kwakhe igazi njalo uzaphindisela kuye ukudelela kwakhe.
Ephraim has bitterly provoked anger. Therefore his blood will be left on him, and his Lord will repay his contempt.