UHoseya 5
1 “Zwanini lokhu, lina baphristi! Lalelani, lina bako-Israyeli. Lalela, wena ndlu yobukhosi! Ukwahlulela lokhu kumelane lani: Kade lingumjibila eMizipha, umambule owendlalwe eThabhori.
Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over, and a net spread upon Thabor.
2 Abahlamuki batshonile ekubulaleni, ngizabalaya bonke.
And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all.
3 Mina ngazi konke ngo-Efrayimi; u-Israyeli kafihlakalanga kimi. Efrayimi, khathesi ususenza ubufebe; u-Israyeli uxhwalile.
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled.
4 Izenzo zabo kazibavumeli ukubuyela kuNkulunkulu wabo. Umoya wobufebe usezinhliziyweni zabo; kabamamukeli uThixo.
They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord.
5 Ukuzigqaja kuka-Israyeli kufakaza okubi ngaye; abako-Israyeli, kanye laye u-Efrayimi, bayakhubeka ezonweni zabo. LoJuda laye ukhubeka labo
And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them.
6 Lapho behamba lemihlambi yezimvu zabo leyenkomo ukuyadinga uThixo, kabayikumfumana; uzisusile kubo.
With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them.
7 Kabathembekanga kuThixo; bazala abantwana ngokungemthetho. Khathesi imikhosi yabo yokuThwasa Kwezinyanga izabaqothula kanye lamasimu abo.
They have transgressed against the Lord, for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions.
8 Khalisani icilongo eGibhiya, lophondo eRama. Hlabani umkhosi wempi eBhethi-Aveni; khokhela, wena Bhenjamini.
Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin.
9 U-Efrayimi uzachithwa ngosuku lokwahlulela. Phakathi kwezizwana zako-Israyeli ngimemezela okuliqiniso.
Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be.
10 Abakhokheli bakoJuda banjengalabo abatshedisa amatshe omngcele. Ngizathululela ulaka lwami phezu kwabo njengesikhukhula samanzi.
The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.
11 U-Efrayimi uncindezelwe, wanyathelwa ekwahluleleni, ehlose ukulandela izithombe.
Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness.
12 Mina nginjengenondo ku-Efrayimi, njengokubola ebantwini bakoJuda.
And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda.
13 Kwathi u-Efrayimi ebona umkhuhlane wakhe, loJuda ebona izilonda zakhe, u-Efrayimi waya e-Asiriya, wathumela ilizwi loncedo enkosini enkulu. Kodwa kayenelisi ukukwelapha, kayenelisi ukwelapha izilonda zakho.
And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you.
14 Ngoba ngizakuba njengesilwane ku-Efrayimi, lanjengesilwane esikhulu kuJuda. Ngizabadabudabula ngisuke ngihambe; ngizabathwala ngihambe labo, kungekho ozabahlenga.
For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion’s whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can rescue.
15 Ngizabuyela endaweni yami baze balivume icala labo. Njalo bazabudinga ubuso bami; esizini lwabo bazangidinga impela.”
I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face.
