< UHoseya 10 >

1 UIsrayeli ulivini elithululwayo, lizenzela izithelo; njengobunengi bezithelo zakhe wandisa amalathi akhe; ngobuhle belizwe lakhe wenza insika zakhe eziyizithombe zibe zinhle.
Israel was a luxuriant vine, which put forth fruit freely: as his fruit increased, he increased his altars; the more goodly his land was, the more goodly were his pillars.
2 Iyehlukanisile inhliziyo yabo; khathesi bazakuba lecala; yona izabhidliza amalathi abo, ichithe insika zabo eziyizithombe.
Their heart is divided; now shall they bear their guilt; He will break down their altars, He will spoil their pillars.
3 Ngoba khathesi bazakuthi: Kasilankosi; ngoba kasimesabanga uJehova; pho, inkosi izakwenzani kithi?
Surely now shall they say: 'We have no king; for we feared not the LORD; and the king, what can he do for us?'
4 Bakhulume amazwi, befunga amanga besenza isivumelwano; ngakho isahlulelo sizahluma njengokhula oluyitshefu emifolweni yensimu.
They speak words, they swear falsely, they make covenants; thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field.
5 Abahlali beSamariya bazakwesaba ngenxa yethole leBeti-Aveni; ngoba abantu bayo bazalililela, labapristi balo ababethokoza ngalo, ngodumo lwalo, ngoba lusukile kulo.
The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in dread for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the priests thereof shall tremble for it, for its glory, because it is departed from it.
6 Yebo, lizathwalelwa eAsiriya, libe yisipho enkosini uJarebhi. UEfrayimi uzakuba lenhloni, loIsrayeli ayangeke ngenxa yeseluleko sakhe.
It also shall be carried unto Assyria, for a present to King Contentious; Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.
7 ISamariya iqunyiwe, lenkosi yayo injengebazelo ebusweni bamanzi.
As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water.
8 Lendawo eziphakemeyo zeAveni, isono sikaIsrayeli, kuzachithwa; ameva lokhula oluhlabayo kuzamila phezu kwamalathi abo. Njalo bazakuthi ezintabeni: Sisibekeleni; lemaqaqeni: Welani phezu kwethu.
The high places also of Aven shall be destroyed, even the sin of Israel. The thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains: 'Cover us', and to the hills: 'Fall on us.'
9 Kusukela ensukwini zeGibeya wonile, Israyeli; lapho bema; impi eGibeya emelene labantwana bobubi kayibaficanga.
From the days of Gibeah thou hast sinned, O Israel; there they stood; no battle was to overtake them in Gibeah, nor the children of arrogancy.
10 Kusesiloyisweni sami ukubajezisa; izizwe zizabuthana zimelene labo, lapho ngizababopha ngenxa yeziphambeko zabo ezimbili.
When it is My desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are yoked to their two rings.
11 Njalo uEfrayimi ulithokazi elifundisiweyo, elithanda ukubhula, kodwa mina ngedlule phezu kwentamo yakhe yobuhle; ngigadise uEfrayimi, uJuda uzalima, uJakobe uzaziharela.
And Ephraim is a heifer well broken, that loveth to thresh, and I have passed over upon her fair neck; I will make Ephraim to ride, Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods.
12 Zihlanyeleleni ekulungeni, livune emuseni; qhathani ingqatho yenu; ngoba sekuyisikhathi sokuyidinga iNkosi, ize ifike, inise ukulunga phezu kwenu.
Sow to yourselves according to righteousness, reap according to mercy, break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and cause righteousness to rain upon you.
13 Lilime inkohlakalo, lavuna isiphambeko, lidle izithelo zamanga; ngoba lithembele endleleni yenu, ebunengini bamaqhawe enu.
Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity, ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
14 Ngalokho kuzakuba khona ukuxokozela phakathi kwabantu bakho, lenqaba zakho zonke zizachithwa, njengalokhu uShalimani wachitha iBeti-Aribeli ngosuku lwempi; unina wachotshozwa phezu kwabantwana.
Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy hosts, and all thy fortresses shall be spoiled, as Shalman spoiled Beth-arbel in the day of battle; the mother was dashed in pieces with her children.
15 Izakwenza njalo iBhetheli kini, ngenxa yobubi bobubi bakho; emadabukakusa inkosi yakoIsrayeli izaqunywa lokuqunywa.
So hath Beth-el done unto you because of your great wickedness; at daybreak is the king of Israel utterly cut off.

< UHoseya 10 >