UHoseya 11
1 UIsrayeli esengumntwana ngamthanda, ngayibiza indodana yami ukuthi iphume eGibhithe.
When Israel was a child he was dear to me; and I took my son out of Egypt.
2 Kwathi bebabiza, ngokunjalo basuka phambi kwabo; bahlabela oBhali, batshisela izithombe ezibaziweyo impepha.
When I sent for them, then they went away from me; they made offerings to the Baals, burning perfumes to images.
3 Mina-ke ngacathulisa uEfrayimi; ngababamba ngezingalo zabo; kodwa kabazanga ukuthi ngibelaphile.
But I was guiding Ephraim's footsteps; I took them up in my arms, but they were not conscious that I was ready to make them well.
4 Ngabadonsa ngamagoda omuntu, ngentambo zothando, ngaba kibo njengalabo abasusa ijogwe ezihlathini zabo, ngakhothama kubo, ngabanika ukudla.
I made them come after me with the cords of a man, with the bands of love; I was to them as one who took the yoke from off their mouths, putting meat before them.
5 Kayikubuyela elizweni leGibhithe, kodwa umAsiriya yena uzakuba yinkosi yakhe, ngoba balile ukuphenduka.
He will go back to the land of Egypt and the Assyrian will be his king, because they would not come back to me.
6 Inkemba izatheleka emizini yakhe, iqede imigoqo yakhe, ibadle, ngenxa yamacebo abo.
And the sword will go through his towns, wasting his children and causing destruction because of their evil designs.
7 Njalo abantu bami banamathela ekuhlehleleni muva kimi; lanxa bebabizela koPhezukonke, kakho ngitsho owayengamphakamisa.
My people are given up to sinning against me; though their voice goes up on high, no one will be lifting them up.
8 Ngizakunikela njani, Efrayimi? Ngikudele njani, Israyeli? Ngizakwenza njani ube njengeAdima? Ngikubeke njani njengeZeboyimi? Inhliziyo yami isiphendukile phakathi kwami, izihawu zami ziyakhudumala kanyekanye.
How may I give you up, O Ephraim? how may I be your saviour, O Israel? how may I make you like Admah? how may I do to you as I did to Zeboim? My heart is turned in me, it is soft with pity.
9 Kangiyikwenza ukuvutha kolaka lwami; kangiyikubuyela ngichithe uEfrayimi; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, kangisuye umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwakho; kangiyikungena emzini.
I will not put into effect the heat of my wrath; I will not again send destruction on Ephraim; for I am God and not man, the Holy One among you; I will not put an end to you.
10 Bazayilandela iNkosi; izabhonga njengesilwane; lapho yona isibhonga, khona abantwana bazavela entshonalanga beqhaqhazela.
They will go after the Lord; his cry will be like that of a lion; his cry will be loud, and the children will come from the west, shaking with fear;
11 Bazaqhaqhazela njengenyoni evela eGibhithe, lanjengejuba elivela elizweni leAsiriya; njalo ngizabenza bahlale ezindlini zabo, itsho iNkosi.
Shaking with fear like a bird, they will come out of Egypt, like a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will give them rest in their houses, says the Lord.
12 UEfrayimi ungizingelezele ngamanga, lendlu kaIsrayeli ngenkohliso; kodwa uJuda usabusa loNkulunkulu, uthembekile kanye labangcwele.
The deceit of Ephraim and the false words of Israel are about me on every side. ...
