UHoseya 1
1 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuHosiya indodana kaBheri ngezinsuku zemibuso yabo-Uziya, loJothamu, lo-Ahazi loHezekhiya amakhosi akoJuda, kanye lasezinsukwini zokubusa kukaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi inkosi yako-Israyeli.
The word of Yahweh which came unto Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, kings of Judah, —and in the days of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel.
2 Kwathi uThixo eseqalise ukukhuluma ngoHosiya, uThixo wathi kuye, “Hamba uyethatha umfazi oyisifebe ubelabantwana bobufebe, ngoba ilizwe lilecala lobufebe obubi kakhulu ngokweduka kuThixo.”
The beginning of the word of Yahweh with Hosea, was, —that Yahweh said unto Hosea, Go take thee a woman of unchastity, and the children of unchastity, for, unchastely indeed, hath the land been going away from following Yahweh.
3 Ngakho wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi, njalo wathatha isisu wamzalela indodana.
So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diblaim, —and she conceived and bare him a son.
4 UThixo wasesithi kuHoseya, “Methe ibizo uthi nguJezerili, ngoba masinyane nje ngizayijezisa indlu kaJehu ngenxa yesihluku sokubulala abantu abanengi eJezerili, njalo ngizawuqeda umbuso wako-Israyeli.
Then said Yahweh unto him, Call his name Jezreel: for, yet a little, and I will visit the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.
5 Ngalolosuku ngizakwephula idandili lika-Israyeli eSigodini saseJezerili.”
And it shall come to pass, in that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the vale of Jezreel.
6 UGomeri wathatha isisu futhi, wazala indodakazi. UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisoze ngibe lothando futhi endlini ka-Israyeli, ukuba ngibathethelele.
Then conceived she again and bare a daughter, and he said to him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah ["Uncompassionated"], —for, not again any more, will I have compassion upon the house of Israel, that I should, forgive, them;
7 Kodwa ngizakuba lothando endlini kaJuda, njalo ngizabakhulula, kungayisikho ngedandili, inkemba kumbe impi, loba ngamabhiza langabagadi bamabhiza, kodwa ngoThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.”
but, on the house of Judah, will I have compassion, and I will save them, as Yahweh their God, —but will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by battle, by horses, or by horsemen.
8 UGomeri eselumule uLo-Ruhama ebeleni, waba lenye indodana.
And, when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.
9 UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo lokuthi nguLo-Ami, ngoba lina kalisibo bantu bami, lami kangisuye uNkulunkulu wenu.
Then said he, Call his name Lo-ammi ["No people of mine"], —for ye are Lo-ammi ["No people of mine"], and, I, will not be yours.
10 Kodwa abako-Israyeli bazakuba njengetshebetshebe ekhunjini lolwandle elingeke lilinganiswe kumbe libalwe. Endaweni lapho okwakuthiwe khona kubo, ‘Kalisibo bantu bami,’ bazabizwa ngokuthi, ‘bantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’
Yet shall the number of the sons of Israel become like the sand of the sea, which can neither he measured, nor numbered, —and it shall come to pass, in the place where it used to be said to them, No people of mine, are ye, it shall be said to them, Sons of a Living God!
11 Abantu bakoJuda labantu bako-Israyeli bazamanyana, njalo bazakhetha umkhokheli oyedwa baphume elizweni, ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJezerili.”
Then shall the sons of Judah and the sons of Israel, gather themselves together, as one, and shall appoint them one head, and come up out of the earth, —for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
