U-Amosi 3
1 Zwanini lelilizwi iNkosi elikhulume imelene lani, lina bantwana bakoIsrayeli, imelene losendo lonke engalwenyusa elizweni leGibhithe, isithi:
Listen to this message, Israelites, which the Lord has spoken against you, against the whole nation that I brought out of Egypt:
2 Yini kuphela engilaziyo kuzo zonke izinsendo zomhlaba; ngakho-ke ngizaphindisela phezu kwenu bonke ububi benu.
You alone have I cared for of all the nations of the world, this is why I will punish you for your crimes.
3 Ababili bangahamba kanyekanye yini ngaphandle kokuthi behlangene?
Do two walk together unless they agreed 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 when there is no prey for him? Does a young lion cry out in his den unless he has caught something?
5 Inyoni ingawela emjibileni emhlabeni lapho okungelasifu sayo khona yini? Umjibila ungathanya yini emhlabathini uba ungabambanga ulutho?
Does a bird swoop down into a trap if no bait is set for it? Does a trap spring up from the ground if nothing sets it off?
6 Uphondo lungavuthelwa yini emzini abantu bangethuki? Kulobubi yini emzini iNkosi engabenzanga?
Can a trumpet be blown in a city and the people not tremble? Can disaster strike a city and the Lord not have caused it?
7 Isibili iNkosi uJehova kayenzi lutho ngaphandle kokuthi yembule icebo layo eliyimfihlo encekwini zayo abaprofethi.
Surely the Lord God does nothing without revealing his purpose to his servants the prophets.
8 Isilwane sesibhongile, ngubani ongayikwesaba? INkosi uJehova isikhulumile, ngubani ongayikuprofetha?
The lion has roared; who does not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?
9 Zwakalisani ezigodlweni zeAshidodi lezigodlweni zelizwe leGibhithe, lithi: Buthanani phezu kwezintaba zeSamariya, libone iziphithiphithi ezinkulu phakathi kwayo labacindezelwayo phakathi kwayo.
Proclaim over the palaces in Ashdod, and over the palaces in the land of Egypt: Gather upon the mountain of Samaria, and see the violent turmoil, the acts of oppression in her midst.
10 Ngoba kabakwazi ukwenza okuqondileyo, itsho iNkosi, ababuthelela udlakela lencithakalo ezigodlweni zabo.
For they do not know how to do right. They are heaping up violence and oppression in their palaces, says the Lord.
11 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Isitha, esizazingelezela ilizwe, esizakwehlisa amandla akho kuwe, lezigodlo zakho ziphangwe.
Therefore the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land, he will strip your strength from you. and your palaces will be looted.
12 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Njengalokho umelusi esophula imilenze emibili emlonyeni wesilwane, loba isiqa sendlebe, ngokunjalo abantwana bakoIsrayeli abahlala eSamariya bazakophulwa egumbini lombheda ledamaseko yethala.
The Lord says: Just as a shepherd rescues from the jaws of a lion two shinbones or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites living in Sameria will be rescued – with the corner of a couch, and the damask of a divan!
13 Zwanini lifakaze endlini kaJakobe, itsho iNkosi uJehova uNkulunkulu wamabandla,
Listen and testify against the house of Jacob, says the Lord God, the God of hosts.
14 ukuthi mhla ngizaphindisela iziphambeko zikaIsrayeli phezu kwakhe, ngizaphindisela futhi phezu kwamalathi eBhetheli, lempondo zelathi zizaqunywa ziwele emhlabathini.
On the day when I punish Israel for their crimes, I will also visit in judgment the altars of Bethel, the horns of the altar will be hacked off, and they will fall to the ground.
15 Ngizatshaya indlu yebusika kanye lendlu yehlobo, lezindlu zempondo zendlovu zizabhubha, lezindlu ezinkulu ziphele; itsho iNkosi.
I will destroy the winter houses together with the summer houses and the houses of ivory will perish. Many great houses will be swept away, says the Lord.
