U-Amosi 1
1 Amazwi kaAmosi owayephakathi kwabelusi beThekhowa, awabona ngoIsrayeli, ensukwini zikaUziya inkosi yakoJuda, lensukwini zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi inkosi yakoIsrayeli, iminyaka emibili ngaphambi kokuzamazama komhlaba.
This is the message that [Yahweh] gave to [me], Amos. I am a (shepherd/man who takes care of sheep). I am from [near] Tekoa [town south of Jerusalem]. I received this message about Israel in a vision two years before the [big] earthquake. It was when Uzziah was the king of Judah, and Jeroboam, the son of [King] Jehoash, was the king of Israel.
2 Wasesithi: INkosi izabhonga iseZiyoni, ikhuphe ilizwi layo iseJerusalema; lendawo zokuhlala zabelusi zizalila, lengqonga yeKharmeli ibune.
This is what Yahweh said: “I will roar [like a lion] [MET]; when I speak from Zion [Hill in] Jerusalem [DOU], my voice will [resemble the sound of] thunder. [When that happens], the pastures where you shepherds [take care of] your sheep will dry up, and [the grass] on top of Carmel [Mountain] will (wither/become brown) [because I will cause that no rain will fall].”
3 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeDamaseko, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba babhule iGileyadi ngembulo zensimbi.
This is [also] what Yahweh said [to me]: “[I will punish the people of] Damascus, [the capital of Syria, ] because of the many sins that they have committed; I will not [change my mind about punishing them] [MTY], because [the cruel things that they did to the people of the] Gilead [region] [were like] [MET] people threshing grain using sledges [that have (iron teeth/sharp iron nails) in them].
4 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo endlini kaHazayeli, ozaqeda izigodlo zikaBenihadadi.
I will cause a fire to burn the palace [that King] Hazael [built and lived in], the fortress where [his son King] Ben-Hadad [also] lived.
5 Njalo ngizakwephula umgoqo weDamaseko, ngiqume umhlali wegceke leAveni, lophethe intonga, esuka eBeti-Edeni; njalo abantu beSiriya bazathunjelwa eKiri, itsho iNkosi.
I will cause the gates of Damascus to be broken [down]; I will get rid of the king who rules in Aven Valley and the one who rules in Beth Eden. And the people of Syria will be captured and taken to the Kir [region where they originally lived].”
6 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeGaza, langenxa yezine, kangiyikukuphambula; ngoba babathumba ngokuthunjwa okupheleleyo, ukuthi babanikele e-Edoma.
Yahweh [also] said this [to me]: “[I will punish the people of the cities in Philistia]: [I will punish the people of] Gaza [city] because of the many sins that they have committed; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they captured large groups of people and took them to Edom and sold them to become the slaves of [the people of] Edom.
7 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo emdulini weGaza, ozaqeda izigodlo zayo.
I will cause a fire to completely burn the walls of Gaza and [also] destroy its fortresses.
8 Ngiqume umhlali eAshidodi, lophethe intonga eAshikeloni, ngiphendulele isandla sami ngimelene leEkhironi; njalo insali yamaFilisti izabhubha; itsho iNkosi uJehova.
I will get rid of the king of Ashdod [city] and the king who rules [MTY] in Ashkelon [city]. I will [also] strike/punish [the people of] Ekron [city], and [all] the people of Philistia who are still alive will be killed.”
9 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeTire, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba babathumba ngokuthunjwa okupheleleyo babanikela kuEdoma, kabakhumbulanga isivumelwano sabazalwane.
Yahweh [also] said this [to me]: “[I will punish the people of] Tyre [city] because of the many sins that they have committed; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they [also] captured large groups of our people and took them to Edom, disregarding the treaty of friendship that they had made [with your rulers].
10 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo emdulini weTire ozaqeda izigodlo zayo.
So I will cause a fire to completely burn the walls of Tyre and [also] destroy its fortresses.”
11 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeEdoma, langenxa yezine, kangiyikukuphambula, ngoba yaxotshana labafowabo ngenkemba, yonakalisa izihawu zayo, lolaka lwayo lwadabudabula njalonjalo, yagcina intukuthelo yayo kokuphela.
Yahweh [also] said this [to me]: “I will punish [the people of] Edom because of the many sins that they have committed; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they pursued the people [of Israel], who descended from Esau’s [brother Jacob, and killed them] with swords; they did not act mercifully toward them at all. They were extremely angry [with the people of Israel], and they continued to be angry [with them].
12 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo eThemani ozaqeda izigodlo zeBhozira.
I will cause a fire to burn Teman [district in Edom] and completely burn the fortresses of Bozrah, [the biggest city in Edom].”
13 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zabantwana bakoAmoni, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba baqhaqha abesifazana abazithweleyo beGileyadi, ukuze bandise umngcele wabo.
Yahweh [also] said this [to me]: “I will punish [the people of] Ammon because of the many sins that [they] have committed; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because [their soldiers even] ripped open [the bellies of] pregnant women [when their army attacked] the Gilead [region] to gain more territory.
14 Ngakho ngizaphemba umlilo emdulini weRaba, ozaqeda izigodlo zayo, ngokumemeza osukwini lwempi, ngesiphepho osukwini lwesivunguzane;
I will cause a fire to [completely] burn the walls around Rabbah [city] and completely burn its fortresses. During that battle, [their enemies] will shout loudly and the fighting will be [like] [MET] a fierce/raging wind/storm.
15 lenkosi yabo izakuya ekuthunjweni, yona kanye leziphathamandla zayo; itsho iNkosi.
[After the battle], the king [of Ammon] and his officials will be (exiled/forced to go to another country).”
