U-Amosi 4
1 Zwanini lelilizwi, mankomokazi eBashani, elisentabeni yeSamariya, elicindezela abayanga, elichoboza abaswelayo, elithi emakhosini abo: Lethani sinathe.
Listen to this message, women of Sameria, you well-fed cows of Bashan, who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”
2 INkosi uJehova ifungile ngobungcwele bayo, ukuthi, khangelani, insuku zizafika phezu kwenu lapho abazalihudula ngezingwegwe, labalilandelayo ngengwegwe zokubamba inhlanzi.
The Lord God has sworn by his holiness: The time is coming when you will be carried away in baskets, your children carried away in fish-baskets,
3 Njalo lizaphuma ngezikhala, ngulowo lalowo phambi kwakhe, liziphosele ngasesigodlweni, itsho iNkosi.
and through the breaches in the city wall you will go, thrown out on the garbage dump, says the Lord.
4 Wozani eBhetheli, liphambeke, eGiligali landise iziphambeko; lilethe imihlatshelo yenu ekuseni, okwetshumi kwenu ngomnyaka wesithathu;
Come to Bethel and transgress, at Gilgald increase your transgression. Bring your sacrifices in the morning, every third day your tithes!
5 litshise umhlatshelo wokubonga ngokuvutshelweyo, limemezele iminikelo yesihle, lizwakalise; ngoba ngokunjalo likuthanda, bantwana bakoIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
Burn some leavened bread as a thank-offering, proclaim aloud your voluntary offerings, for you love to do this, Israelites! says the Lord God.
6 Ngakho mina ngilinikile futhi ukuhlanzeka kwamazinyo emizini yonke yenu, lenswelo yesinkwa endaweni zenu zonke; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
But it was I who gave to you empty stomachs in all your cities, and lack of bread in all your towns, yet you have not returned to me, says the Lord.
7 Futhi-ke mina ngaligodlela izulu, kuseselenyanga ezintathu kusiya ekuvuneni; ngalinisa komunye umuzi, kodwa kalinanga komunye umuzi; esinye isiqinti sanethwa, kodwa isiqinti esinganethwanga satsha.
It was I who withheld from you the rain, sending rain on one city, while on another I allowed no rain. One field received rain, while a field without rain withered.
8 Kwasekuzula imizi emibili loba emithathu yayanatha amanzi emzini owodwa, kodwa kayikholwanga; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
People from two or three cities ranged as far as another city for drinking water, and still they did not have enough, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
9 Ngalitshaya ngokuhanguka langengumane; ukwanda kwezivande zenu, lezivini zenu, lezihlahla zenu zemikhiwa, lezihlahla zenu zemihlwathi, kwadliwa zintethe; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
I struck you with blight and mildew, I laid waste your gardens and vineyards. The swarming locust devoured your fig and your olive trees, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
10 Ngathumela phakathi kwenu umatshayabhuqe wesifo, ngokwendlela yeGibhithe, ngabulala amajaha enu ngenkemba, kanye lokuthunjwa kwamabhiza enu; njalo ngenza ivumba lenkamba yenu lenyuka ngitsho emakhaleni enu; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
I sent plague among you like the plagues of Egypt, I slew your youths with the sword, your horses raided away, I caused the stench of your camps to rise in your nostrils, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
11 Ngachitha abanye phakathi kwenu njengalokho uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma leGomora, lalinjengesikhuni esophulwe ekutsheni; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
I wrought a destruction among you, as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a stick snatched from the fire, yet you did not return to me, says the Lord.
12 Ngakho ngizakwenza ngokunjalo kuwe, Israyeli; ngenxa yokuthi ngizakwenza lokhu kuwe, zilungiselele ukuhlangana loNkulunkulu wakho, Israyeli.
Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I am about to do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.
13 Ngoba khangela, obumba izintaba, lodala umoya, lotshela umuntu ukuthi umcabango wakhe uyini, owenza ukusakube mnyama, onyathela ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, iNkosi, uNkulunkulu wamabandla, libizo lakhe.
He is here! He who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to his thoughts to mortals, makes dawn and darkness, treads upon the heights of the earth, the Lord, the God of hosts, is his name!
