UHoseya 7
1 Lapho engizakwelapha khona u-Israyeli, izono zika-Efrayimi ziyadalulwa lobubi beSamariya buyembulwa. Benza inkohliso, amasela agqekeza izindlu, izigebenga ziyaphanga emigwaqweni
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, [and] the troop of robbers spoileth without.
2 kodwa kabananzeleli ukuthi mina ngiyazikhumbula zonke izenzo zabo ezimbi. Izono zabo ziyabaminza; zihlezi ziphambi kwami.
And they consider not in their hearts [that] I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.
3 Bathokozisa inkosi ngobuxhwali babo, lababusi ngamanga abo.
They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.
4 Bonke bayizifebe, batshisa njengeziko elimlilo walo akudingeki ukuba umpheki wezinkwa awukhwezele kusukela ekuvoxeni inhlama ize ikhukhumale.
They [are] all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, [who] ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.
5 Ngosuku lomkhosi wenkosi yethu ababusi bathukutheliswa liwayini, inkosi izihlanganise labaklolodayo.
In the day of our king the princes have made [him] sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.
6 Inhliziyo zabo zinjengeziko, inkosi bayilanda ngamacebo ensitha. Ukufutheka kwabo kuyadeda ubusuku bonke; ekuseni kuyavutha njengomlilo obhebhayo.
For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.
7 Bonke batshisa njengeziko; batshwabadele ababusi babo. Wonke amakhosi abo ayawa, kayikho ekhuleka kimi.
They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: [there is] none among them that calleth unto me.
8 U-Efrayimi uxubana lezizwe; u-Efrayimi ulikhekhe eliyisicecedu elingaphendulwanga.
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
9 Abezizweni bacikiza amandla akhe, kodwa yena kakunanzeleli. Inwele zakhe sezilezimvu kodwa yena kakunanzeleli.
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.
10 Ubuqholo buka-Israyeli bufakaza okubi ngaye, kodwa phezu kwakho konke lokhu kabuyeli kuThixo uNkulunkulu wakhe loba amdinge.
And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.
11 U-Efrayimi unjengejuba, ukhohliseka lula kalangqondo ucela usizo eGibhithe, abuye alucele e-Asiriya.
Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.
12 Lapho sebehamba, ngizaphosa umambule wami phezu kwabo; ngizabadonsela phansi njengezinyoni zasemoyeni. Ngizabezwa behamba bonke, ngizababamba.
When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.
13 Maye kubo ngoba bedukile kimi! Akube lencithakalo kubo ngoba bangihlamukele! Ngiyafisa ukubahlenga kodwa bona bakhuluma amanga ngami.
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.
14 Kabakhalazi kimi ngezinhliziyo zabo kodwa bakhalela emibhedeni yabo. Babuthanela amabele lewayini elitsha kodwa mina basuka bangidele.
And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.
15 Ngabafundisa ngabaqinisa, kodwa baceba okubi ngami.
Though I have bound [and] strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.
16 Kabaphendukeli koPhezukonke banjengedandili elisolekayo. Abakhokheli babo bazabulawa ngenkemba ngenxa yamazwi abo okweyisa. Ngalokhu bazahlekwa elizweni laseGibhithe.”
They return, [but] not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this [shall be] their derision in the land of Egypt.
