U-Amosi 3
1 Zwanini lelilizwi iNkosi elikhulume imelene lani, lina bantwana bakoIsrayeli, imelene losendo lonke engalwenyusa elizweni leGibhithe, isithi:
People of Israel, listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you—all of you, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.
2 Yini kuphela engilaziyo kuzo zonke izinsendo zomhlaba; ngakho-ke ngizaphindisela phezu kwenu bonke ububi benu.
I chose a special relationship with you alone out of all the families of the earth, and so I will punish you for your wrongdoing.
3 Ababili bangahamba kanyekanye yini ngaphandle kokuthi behlangene?
Can two people walk together unless they have arranged to meet?
4 Kambe isilwane singabhonga ehlathini singelampango? Ibhongo lesilwane lingakhupha ilizwi lalo ebhalwini lwalo lingabambanga lutho yini?
Does a lion roar in the forest before finding its prey? Does a young lion growl from its den if it has caught nothing?
5 Inyoni ingawela emjibileni emhlabeni lapho okungelasifu sayo khona yini? Umjibila ungathanya yini emhlabathini uba ungabambanga ulutho?
Does a bird fall into a trap and get caught unless the spring is set? Does a trap spring shut if there's nothing there to catch?
6 Uphondo lungavuthelwa yini emzini abantu bangethuki? Kulobubi yini emzini iNkosi engabenzanga?
When the trumpet sounds in the city, shouldn't the people be alarmed? When a disaster comes to a city, isn't it the Lord who does it?
7 Isibili iNkosi uJehova kayenzi lutho ngaphandle kokuthi yembule icebo layo eliyimfihlo encekwini zayo abaprofethi.
For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his intentions to his servants the prophets.
8 Isilwane sesibhongile, ngubani ongayikwesaba? INkosi uJehova isikhulumile, ngubani ongayikuprofetha?
The lion has roared—so who isn't scared? The Lord God has spoken—so who can refuse to speak for him?
9 Zwakalisani ezigodlweni zeAshidodi lezigodlweni zelizwe leGibhithe, lithi: Buthanani phezu kwezintaba zeSamariya, libone iziphithiphithi ezinkulu phakathi kwayo labacindezelwayo phakathi kwayo.
Announce this to the fortresses of Ashdod and to the fortresses in the land of Egypt: Assemble yourselves on Samaria's mountains and see all the turmoil and oppression happening in the country.
10 Ngoba kabakwazi ukwenza okuqondileyo, itsho iNkosi, ababuthelela udlakela lencithakalo ezigodlweni zabo.
They don't know how to do what is right, declares the Lord. They have stored up in their fortresses what they've taken by violence and robbery.
11 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Isitha, esizazingelezela ilizwe, esizakwehlisa amandla akho kuwe, lezigodlo zakho ziphangwe.
As a result, says the Lord, an enemy will surround you, break down your strongholds, and plunder your fortresses.
12 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Njengalokho umelusi esophula imilenze emibili emlonyeni wesilwane, loba isiqa sendlebe, ngokunjalo abantwana bakoIsrayeli abahlala eSamariya bazakophulwa egumbini lombheda ledamaseko yethala.
This is what the Lord says: Just as a shepherd tries to rescue a sheep from a lion's mouth, but only saves a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, so it will be for the people of Israel living in Samaria—all that will be “saved” will be the corner of a couch and a piece of a leg from a bed.
13 Zwanini lifakaze endlini kaJakobe, itsho iNkosi uJehova uNkulunkulu wamabandla,
Listen! Warn the house of Jacob, declares the Lord God of power.
14 ukuthi mhla ngizaphindisela iziphambeko zikaIsrayeli phezu kwakhe, ngizaphindisela futhi phezu kwamalathi eBhetheli, lempondo zelathi zizaqunywa ziwele emhlabathini.
For on that day I will punish Israel for their sins. I will destroy the altars of Bethel: the corners of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.
15 Ngizatshaya indlu yebusika kanye lendlu yehlobo, lezindlu zempondo zendlovu zizabhubha, lezindlu ezinkulu ziphele; itsho iNkosi.
I will tear down their winter houses and their summer houses as well, their houses filled with ivory will be ruined—their many houses will be destroyed.
