U-Amosi 3
1 Zwanini lelilizwi iNkosi elikhulume imelene lani, lina bantwana bakoIsrayeli, imelene losendo lonke engalwenyusa elizweni leGibhithe, isithi:
Hear this word that Yahweh has spoken against you, people of Israel, against the whole family that I brought up out of the land of Egypt:
2 Yini kuphela engilaziyo kuzo zonke izinsendo zomhlaba; ngakho-ke ngizaphindisela phezu kwenu bonke ububi benu.
“I have chosen only you from all the families of the earth. Therefore I will punish you for all your sins.”
3 Ababili bangahamba kanyekanye yini ngaphandle kokuthi behlangene?
Will two walk together unless they have agreed?
4 Kambe isilwane singabhonga ehlathini singelampango? Ibhongo lesilwane lingakhupha ilizwi lalo ebhalwini lwalo lingabambanga lutho yini?
Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no victim? Will a young lion growl from his den if he has caught nothing?
5 Inyoni ingawela emjibileni emhlabeni lapho okungelasifu sayo khona yini? Umjibila ungathanya yini emhlabathini uba ungabambanga ulutho?
Can a bird fall in a trap on the ground when no bait is set for him? Will a trap spring up from the ground when it has not caught anything?
6 Uphondo lungavuthelwa yini emzini abantu bangethuki? Kulobubi yini emzini iNkosi engabenzanga?
If a trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not tremble? If disaster overtakes a city, has Yahweh not sent it?
7 Isibili iNkosi uJehova kayenzi lutho ngaphandle kokuthi yembule icebo layo eliyimfihlo encekwini zayo abaprofethi.
Surely the Lord Yahweh will do nothing unless he reveals his plan to his servants the prophets.
8 Isilwane sesibhongile, ngubani ongayikwesaba? INkosi uJehova isikhulumile, ngubani ongayikuprofetha?
The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord Yahweh 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 this in the fortresses at Ashdod, and in the fortresses in the land of Egypt; say, “Assemble yourselves on the mountains of Samaria and see what great confusion is in her, and what oppression is in her.
10 Ngoba kabakwazi ukwenza okuqondileyo, itsho iNkosi, ababuthelela udlakela lencithakalo ezigodlweni zabo.
For they do not know how to do right —this is Yahweh's declaration— They store up violence and destruction in their fortresses.”
11 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Isitha, esizazingelezela ilizwe, esizakwehlisa amandla akho kuwe, lezigodlo zakho ziphangwe.
Therefore, this is what the Lord Yahweh says: “An enemy will surround the land, and pull 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 Yahweh says: “As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs only, or a piece of an ear; so will the people of Israel who live in Samaria be rescued; they will be left with only the corner of a couch or a piece of a bed.”
13 Zwanini lifakaze endlini kaJakobe, itsho iNkosi uJehova uNkulunkulu wamabandla,
Hear and testify against the house of Jacob —this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh, the God of hosts:
14 ukuthi mhla ngizaphindisela iziphambeko zikaIsrayeli phezu kwakhe, ngizaphindisela futhi phezu kwamalathi eBhetheli, lempondo zelathi zizaqunywa ziwele emhlabathini.
“For in the day that I punish the sins of Israel, I will also punish the altars of Bethel. The horns 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 destroy the winter house with the summer house. The houses of ivory will perish, and the large houses will vanish, —this is Yahweh's declaration.”
