< U-Amosi 1 >
1 Amazwi kaAmosi owayephakathi kwabelusi beThekhowa, awabona ngoIsrayeli, ensukwini zikaUziya inkosi yakoJuda, lensukwini zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi inkosi yakoIsrayeli, iminyaka emibili ngaphambi kokuzamazama komhlaba.
Here is the message that was given to Amos, a shepherd from Tekoa in Judah. This is what he saw concerning Israel when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam, son of Jehoash, was king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2 Wasesithi: INkosi izabhonga iseZiyoni, ikhuphe ilizwi layo iseJerusalema; lendawo zokuhlala zabelusi zizalila, lengqonga yeKharmeli ibune.
And he said, The Lord roars from Zion, he shouts from Jerusalem. The shepherds' pastures wither, the top of Mount Carmel dries up.
3 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeDamaseko, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba babhule iGileyadi ngembulo zensimbi.
This is what the Lord says: The people of Damascus have repeatedly sinned and so I will not hesitate to punish them, for they beat the people of Gilead with sharp iron threshing tools.
4 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo endlini kaHazayeli, ozaqeda izigodlo zikaBenihadadi.
So I will send fire down on the house of Hazael and burn up Ben-Hadad's fortresses.
5 Njalo ngizakwephula umgoqo weDamaseko, ngiqume umhlali wegceke leAveni, lophethe intonga, esuka eBeti-Edeni; njalo abantu beSiriya bazathunjelwa eKiri, itsho iNkosi.
I will smash the gates of Damascus, I will cut down those who live in the Valley of Aven, and the ruler from Beth Eden. The people of Aram will be deported as prisoners to the land of Kir, says the Lord.
6 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeGaza, langenxa yezine, kangiyikukuphambula; ngoba babathumba ngokuthunjwa okupheleleyo, ukuthi babanikele e-Edoma.
This is what the Lord says: The people of Gaza have repeatedly sinned and so I will not hesitate to punish them, for they sent into exile whole communities, handing them over to Edom.
7 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo emdulini weGaza, ozaqeda izigodlo zayo.
So I will send down fire on the walls of Gaza and burn up its fortresses.
8 Ngiqume umhlali eAshidodi, lophethe intonga eAshikeloni, ngiphendulele isandla sami ngimelene leEkhironi; njalo insali yamaFilisti izabhubha; itsho iNkosi uJehova.
I will cut down those who live in Ashdod and the ruler of Ashkelon. I will turn to punish Ekron and the Philistines who remain will die, says the Lord God.
9 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeTire, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba babathumba ngokuthunjwa okupheleleyo babanikela kuEdoma, kabakhumbulanga isivumelwano sabazalwane.
This is what the Lord says: The people of Tyre have repeatedly sinned and so I will not hesitate to punish them, for they exiled whole communities, handing them over to Edom, and did not keep their agreement to help each other as members of the same family.
10 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo emdulini weTire ozaqeda izigodlo zayo.
So I will send down fire on the walls of Tyre and burn up its fortresses.
11 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zeEdoma, langenxa yezine, kangiyikukuphambula, ngoba yaxotshana labafowabo ngenkemba, yonakalisa izihawu zayo, lolaka lwayo lwadabudabula njalonjalo, yagcina intukuthelo yayo kokuphela.
This is what the Lord says: The people of Edom have repeatedly sinned and so I will not hesitate to punish them, for they hunted down the Israelites to whom they were related, killing them with swords. They attacked without mercy, tearing the Israelites to pieces in an angry rage that never stopped.
12 Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo eThemani ozaqeda izigodlo zeBhozira.
So I will send down fire on Teman, and I will burn up the fortresses of Bozrah.
13 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zabantwana bakoAmoni, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba baqhaqha abesifazana abazithweleyo beGileyadi, ukuze bandise umngcele wabo.
This is what the Lord says: The people of Ammon have repeatedly sinned and so I will not hesitate to punish them, because they ripped open pregnant women in Gilead as part of their war to enlarge their territory.
14 Ngakho ngizaphemba umlilo emdulini weRaba, ozaqeda izigodlo zayo, ngokumemeza osukwini lwempi, ngesiphepho osukwini lwesivunguzane;
I will set fire to the walls of Rabbah and burn up its fortresses. There will be shouts on the day of battle which will whirl with rage like a windstorm.
15 lenkosi yabo izakuya ekuthunjweni, yona kanye leziphathamandla zayo; itsho iNkosi.
Their king will be sent into exile together with his princes, says the Lord.