U-Amosi 7

1 INkosi uJehova yangibonisa kanje; khangela-ke, yabumba isikhonyane ekuqaleni kokuhluma kotshani bamuva, njalo khangela, kwakubutshani bamuva emva kokusika kwenkosi.

This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up.

2 Kwasekusithi lapho sesiqedile ukudla utshani belizwe, ngathi: Nkosi Jehova, ake uthethelele. UJakobe uzakuma njani? ngoba emncinyane.

And when the locusts had eaten every green plant in the land, I said, “Lord GOD, please forgive! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”

3 INkosi yazisola ngalokhu; kakuyikwenzeka, itsho iNkosi.

So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.

4 INkosi uJehova yangibonisa kanje; khangela-ke, iNkosi uJehova yabiza ukulwa ngomlilo, owaqothula ukujula okukhulu waqothula isabelo.

This is what the Lord GOD showed me: The Lord GOD was calling for judgment by fire. It consumed the great deep and devoured the land.

5 Ngasengisithi: Nkosi Jehova, ake ume. UJakobe uzakuma njani? ngoba emncinyane.

Then I said, “Lord GOD, please stop! How will Jacob survive, since he is so small?”

6 INkosi yazisola ngalokhu. Lalokhu kakuyikwenzeka, itsho iNkosi uJehova.

So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen either,” said the Lord GOD.

7 Yangibonisa kanje; khangela-ke, iNkosi yayimi emdulini owenziwa njengokwentambo yokuqondisa; kwakulentambo yokuqondisa esandleni sayo.

This is what He showed me: Behold, the Lord was standing by a wall true to plumb, with a plumb line in His hand.

8 INkosi yasisithi kimi: Ubonani, Amosi? Ngathi: Intambo yokuqondisa. INkosi yasisithi: Khangela, ngizabeka intambo yokuqondisa phakathi kwabantu bami uIsrayeli; kangisayikubedlula futhi.

“Amos, what do you see?” asked the LORD. “A plumb line,” I replied. “Behold,” said the Lord, “I am setting a plumb line among My people Israel; I will no longer spare them:

9 Kodwa indawo eziphakemeyo zikaIsaka zizakuba ngamanxiwa, lezindawo ezingcwele zakoIsrayeli zizadilizwa; ngiyivukele indlu kaJerobowamu ngenkemba.

The high places of Isaac will be deserted, and the sanctuaries of Israel will be laid waste; and I will rise up against the house of Jeroboam with My sword.”

10 UAmaziya umpristi weBhetheli wasethumela kuJerobhowamu inkosi yakoIsrayeli, esithi: UAmosi wenze ugobe emelene lawe phakathi kwendlu kaIsrayeli; ilizwe kalilakuwathwala wonke amazwi akhe.

Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words,

11 Ngoba utsho njalo uAmosi: UJerobhowamu uzakufa ngenkemba, loIsrayeli athunjwe lokuthunjwa aphume elizweni lakhe.

for this is what Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”

12 UAmaziya wasesithi kuAmosi: Wena mboni, hamba ubalekele elizweni lakoJuda, lapho udle isinkwa khona, lalapho uprofethe.

And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there.

13 Kodwa eBhetheli ungabe usaprofetha futhi, ngoba iyindawo engcwele yenkosi njalo iyindlu yombuso.

But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”

14 UAmosi wasephendula wathi kuAmaziya: Ngangingasumprofethi mina, futhi ngangingasindodana yomprofethi mina; kodwa ngangingumelusi wenkomo, lomvuni wemikhiwa yesikhamore.

“I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees.

15 Kodwa iNkosi yangithatha ekulandeleni umhlambi, iNkosi yathi kimi: Hamba uyeprofetha ebantwini bami uIsrayeli.

But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’

16 Ngakho-ke zwana ilizwi leNkosi. Wena uthi: Ungaprofethi umelene loIsrayeli, ungatshumayeli umelene lendlu kaIsaka.

Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’

17 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi: Umkakho uzawula phakathi komuzi, lamadodana akho lamadodakazi akho azakuwa ngenkemba, lelizwe lakini lizakwabiwa ngentambo, wena-ke uzafela elizweni elingcolileyo, loIsrayeli athunjwe lokuthunjwa aphume elizweni lakhe.

Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘Your wife will become a prostitute in the city, and your sons and daughters will fall by the sword. Your land will be divided by a measuring line, and you yourself will die on pagan soil. And Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’”