U-Amosi 4
1 Zwanini lelilizwi, mankomokazi eBashani, elisentabeni yeSamariya, elicindezela abayanga, elichoboza abaswelayo, elithi emakhosini abo: Lethani sinathe.
Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husbands, “Bring us drinks!”
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, “Behold, the days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks.
3 Njalo lizaphuma ngezikhala, ngulowo lalowo phambi kwakhe, liziphosele ngasesigodlweni, itsho iNkosi.
You will go out at the breaks in the wall, everyone straight before her; and you will cast yourselves into Harmon,” says the LORD.
4 Wozani eBhetheli, liphambeke, eGiligali landise iziphambeko; lilethe imihlatshelo yenu ekuseni, okwetshumi kwenu ngomnyaka wesithathu;
“Go to Bethel, and sin; to Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days,
5 litshise umhlatshelo wokubonga ngokuvutshelweyo, limemezele iminikelo yesihle, lizwakalise; ngoba ngokunjalo likuthanda, bantwana bakoIsrayeli, itsho iNkosi uJehova.
offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them; for this pleases you, you children of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.
6 Ngakho mina ngilinikile futhi ukuhlanzeka kwamazinyo emizini yonke yenu, lenswelo yesinkwa endaweni zenu zonke; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
“I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in every town; yet you haven’t 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.
“I also have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city. One field was rained on, and the field where it didn’t rain withered.
8 Kwasekuzula imizi emibili loba emithathu yayanatha amanzi emzini owodwa, kodwa kayikholwanga; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water, and were not satisfied; yet you haven’t returned 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 many times in your gardens and your vineyards, and the swarming locusts have devoured your fig trees and your olive trees; yet you haven’t returned 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 plagues among you like I did Egypt. I have slain your young men with the sword, and have carried away your horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you haven’t returned to me,” says the LORD.
11 Ngachitha abanye phakathi kwenu njengalokho uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma leGomora, lalinjengesikhuni esophulwe ekutsheni; kanti kaliphendukelanga kimi, itsho iNkosi.
“I have overthrown some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says the LORD.
12 Ngakho ngizakwenza ngokunjalo kuwe, Israyeli; ngenxa yokuthi ngizakwenza lokhu kuwe, zilungiselele ukuhlangana loNkulunkulu wakho, Israyeli.
“Therefore I will do this to you, Israel; because I will 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.
For, behold, he who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth: The LORD, the God of Hosts, is his name.”
