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 an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit to himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath multiplied the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made beautiful images.
2 Iyehlukanisile inhliziyo yabo; khathesi bazakuba lecala; yona izabhidliza amalathi abo, ichithe insika zabo eziyizithombe.
Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.
3 Ngoba khathesi bazakuthi: Kasilankosi; ngoba kasimesabanga uJehova; pho, inkosi izakwenzani kithi?
For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us?
4 Bakhulume amazwi, befunga amanga besenza isivumelwano; ngakho isahlulelo sizahluma njengokhula oluyitshefu emifolweni yensimu.
They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: 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 fear because of the calves of Bethaven: for its people shall mourn over it, and its priests that rejoiced on 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 shall also be carried to Assyria for a present to king Jareb: 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 the 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, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: 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.
O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood: the battle in Gibeah against the children of iniquity did not overtake them.
10 Kusesiloyisweni sami ukubajezisa; izizwe zizabuthana zimelene labo, lapho ngizababopha ngenxa yeziphambeko zabo ezimbili.
It is in my desire that I should chastise them; and the people shall be gathered against them, when they shall bind themselves in their two furrows.
11 Njalo uEfrayimi ulithokazi elifundisiweyo, elithanda ukubhula, kodwa mina ngedlule phezu kwentamo yakhe yobuhle; ngigadise uEfrayimi, uJuda uzalima, uJakobe uzaziharela.
And Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught, and loveth to tread out the grain; but I passed over upon her fair neck: I will make Ephraim to ride; Judah shall plow, and 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 in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he shall come and rain righteousness 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: because thou hast trusted 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 people, and all thy fortresses shall be plundered, as Shalman plundered Betharbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces upon her children.
15 Izakwenza njalo iBhetheli kini, ngenxa yobubi bobubi bakho; emadabukakusa inkosi yakoIsrayeli izaqunywa lokuqunywa.
So shall Bethel do to you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off.
