< UHoseya 10 >

1 UIsrayeli ulivini elithululwayo, lizenzela izithelo; njengobunengi bezithelo zakhe wandisa amalathi akhe; ngobuhle belizwe lakhe wenza insika zakhe eziyizithombe zibe zinhle.
Israel is a luxuriant vine that produces his fruit. As his fruit increased, the more altars he built. As his land produced more, he improved his pillars.
2 Iyehlukanisile inhliziyo yabo; khathesi bazakuba lecala; yona izabhidliza amalathi abo, ichithe insika zabo eziyizithombe.
Their heart is deceitful; now they must bear their guilt. Yahweh will demolish their altars; he will destroy their pillars.
3 Ngoba khathesi bazakuthi: Kasilankosi; ngoba kasimesabanga uJehova; pho, inkosi izakwenzani kithi?
For then they will say, “We have no king, for we did not fear Yahweh, and a king—what could he do for us?”
4 Bakhulume amazwi, befunga amanga besenza isivumelwano; ngakho isahlulelo sizahluma njengokhula oluyitshefu emifolweni yensimu.
They speak empty words and make covenants by swearing falsely. So justice springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a 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 will be afraid because of the calves of Beth Aven. Its people mourned over them, as did those idolatrous priests who had rejoiced over them and their splendor, but they are no longer there.
6 Yebo, lizathwalelwa eAsiriya, libe yisipho enkosini uJarebhi. UEfrayimi uzakuba lenhloni, loIsrayeli ayangeke ngenxa yeseluleko sakhe.
They will be carried to Assyria as a present for the great king. Ephraim will be disgraced, and Israel will be ashamed of its idol.
7 ISamariya iqunyiwe, lenkosi yayo injengebazelo ebusweni bamanzi.
Samaria's king will be destroyed, like a chip of wood on the surface of 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 of wickedness will be destroyed. This is the sin of Israel! Thorns and thistles will grow over their altars. The people will 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.
“Israel, you have sinned since the days of Gibeah; there you have remained. Will not war overtake the sons of wrong in Gibeah?
10 Kusesiloyisweni sami ukubajezisa; izizwe zizabuthana zimelene labo, lapho ngizababopha ngenxa yeziphambeko zabo ezimbili.
When I desire it, I will discipline them. The nations will gather together against them and put them in bonds for their double iniquity.
11 Njalo uEfrayimi ulithokazi elifundisiweyo, elithanda ukubhula, kodwa mina ngedlule phezu kwentamo yakhe yobuhle; ngigadise uEfrayimi, uJuda uzalima, uJakobe uzaziharela.
Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh the grain, so I will put a yoke on her fair neck. I will put a yoke on Ephraim; Judah will plow; Jacob will pull the harrow by himself.
12 Zihlanyeleleni ekulungeni, livune emuseni; qhathani ingqatho yenu; ngoba sekuyisikhathi sokuyidinga iNkosi, ize ifike, inise ukulunga phezu kwenu.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, and reap the fruit of covenant faithfulness. Break up your unplowed ground, for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.
13 Lilime inkohlakalo, lavuna isiphambeko, lidle izithelo zamanga; ngoba lithembele endleleni yenu, ebunengini bamaqhawe enu.
You have plowed wickedness; you reaped injustice. You have eaten the fruit of deception because you trusted in your plans and in your many soldiers.
14 Ngalokho kuzakuba khona ukuxokozela phakathi kwabantu bakho, lenqaba zakho zonke zizachithwa, njengalokhu uShalimani wachitha iBeti-Aribeli ngosuku lwempi; unina wachotshozwa phezu kwabantwana.
So a tumult of war will rise among your people, and all your fortified cities will be destroyed. It will be as Shalman destroyed Beth Arbel on a day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces with their children.
15 Izakwenza njalo iBhetheli kini, ngenxa yobubi bobubi bakho; emadabukakusa inkosi yakoIsrayeli izaqunywa lokuqunywa.
So it will happen to you, Bethel, because of your great wickedness. At daybreak the king of Israel will be completely cut off.”

< UHoseya 10 >