UHoseya 1

1 Ilizwi leNkosi elafika kuHoseya indodana kaBeyeri ensukwini zaboUziya, uJothamu, uAhazi, uHezekhiya, amakhosi akoJuda, lensukwini zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowasi inkosi yakoIsrayeli.

The word of the Lord which came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam, the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2 Ukuqala kwelizwi leNkosi ngoHoseya. INkosi yasisithi kuHoseya: Hamba uzithathele umfazi wobuwule, labantwana bobuwule; ngoba ilizwe liyawula kakhulu ngokungayilandeli iNkosi.

The start of the word of the Lord by Hosea: And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take for yourself a wife of loose ways, and children of the same, for the land has been untrue to the Lord.

3 Wasehamba wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi; wasekhulelwa, wamzalela indodana.

So he took as his wife Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she gave birth to a son.

4 INkosi yasisithi kuye: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguJizereyeli, ngoba kuseseyisikhatshana ngizaphindisela icala legazi leJizereyeli phezu kwendlu kaJehu, ngiwuqede umbuso wendlu kaIsrayeli.

And the Lord said to him, Give him the name of Jezreel, for after a little time I will send punishment for the blood of Jezreel on the line of Jehu, and put an end to the kingdom of Israel.

5 Kuzakuthi ngalolosuku ngephule idandili likaIsrayeli esigodini seJizereyeli.

And in that day I will let the bow of Israel be broken in the valley of Jezreel.

6 Wasebuya ekhulelwa, wazala indodakazi. UNkulunkulu wasesithi kuye: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisayikubuya ngihawukele indlu kaIsrayeli, kodwa ngizabasusa lokubasusa.

And after that she gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said, Give her the name Lo-ruhamah; for I will not again have mercy on Israel, to give them forgiveness.

7 Kodwa ngizayihawukela indlu yakoJuda, ngibasindise ngeNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo; njalo kangiyikubasindisa ngedandili, loba ngenkemba, loba ngempi, ngamabhiza, kumbe ngabagadi bamabhiza.

But I will have mercy on Judah and will give them salvation by the Lord their God, but not by the bow or the sword or by fighting or by horses or horsemen.

8 Esemlumulile uLo-Ruhama, wakhulelwa, wazala indodana.

Now when Lo-ruhamah had been taken from the breast, the woman gave birth to a son.

9 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguLo-Ami; ngoba kalisibo abantu bami, ngakho mina kangisuye owenu.

And the Lord said, Give him the name Lo-ammi; for you are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10 Kube kanti inani labantwana bakoIsrayeli lizakuba ngangetshebetshebe lolwandle elingeke lilinganiswe elingeke libalwe. Njalo kuzakuthi, endaweni yokuthi kuthiwe kubo: Kalisibo abantu bami; kuzakuthiwa kubo: Lingabantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.

But still the number of the children of Israel will be like the sand of the sea, which may not be measured or numbered; and in place of its being said to them, You are not my people, it will be said to them, You are the sons of the living God

11 Ngakho abantwana bakoJuda labantwana bakoIsrayeli bazabuthaniswa ndawonye, bazimisele inhloko eyodwa, benyuke baphume elizweni. Ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lweJizereyeli.

And the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together and take for themselves one head, and will go up from the land, for great will be the day of Jezreel.