UHoseya 6

1 “Wozani sibuyele kuThixo. Usesidabule saba yizicucu kodwa uzaselapha; usilimazile kodwa uzawabopha amanxeba ethu.

"Come, and let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us to pieces, and he will heal us; he has injured us, and he will bind up our wounds.

2 Emva kwensuku ezimbili uzasivuselela; ngosuku lwesithathu uzasibuyisela ukuze sihlale lapho akhona.

After two days he will revive us. On the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.

3 Kasimamukeleni uThixo; kasiqiniseni ukumamukela. Ngoqotho njengoba ilanga liphuma, uzabonakala; uzakuza kithi njengezulu lebusika, lanjengezulu lentwasa elithambisa umhlaba.”

Let us acknowledge the LORD. Let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, The LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth."

4 “Ngingenzani ngawe, Efrayimi na? Ngingenzani ngawe, Juda na? Uthando lwenu lunjengenkungu yekuseni, lunjengamazolo ekuseni anyamalalayo.

"Ephraim, what shall I do to you? Judah, what shall I do to you? For your love is like a morning cloud, and like the dew that disappears early.

5 Ngakho ngaliqumaquma ngabaphrofethi bami, ngalibulala ngamazwi omlomo wami; ukwahlulela kwami kwaphazima njengombane phezu kwenu.

Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.

6 Ngoba mina ngifuna isihawu, hatshi umhlatshelo, lokwamukela uNkulunkulu kuleminikelo yokutshiswa.

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7 Njengo-Adamu, sebesephule isivumelwano babengathembekanga khonale.

But they, like Adam, have broken the covenant. They were unfaithful to me, there.

8 IGiliyadi lidolobho labantu abaxhwalileyo. Lingcolile ngezinyathelo zegazi

Gilead is a city of evildoers; it is stained with blood.

9 Njengezigebenga zicathamela umuntu, zenzanjalo izigangi zabaphristi; zibulala abantu emgwaqweni oya eShekhemu zisenza izinto ezimbi.

As gangs of robbers wait to ambush a man, so the company of cohanim murder in the way toward Shechem, committing shameful crimes.

10 Sengibone into etshaqisayo endlini ka-Israyeli. U-Efrayimi uwela khonapho, lo-Israyeli ungcolisiwe.

In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.

11 Lakuwe futhi Juda, ukuvuna sekulungiselwe. Lapho ngingabuyisela inotho yabantu bami.

"For you also, Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you, when I restore the fortunes of my people.