UHoseya 11
1 UIsrayeli esengumntwana ngamthanda, ngayibiza indodana yami ukuthi iphume eGibhithe.
Early in the morning were they cast off, the king of Israel has been cast off: for Israel is a child, and I loved him, and out of Egypt have I called his children.
2 Kwathi bebabiza, ngokunjalo basuka phambi kwabo; bahlabela oBhali, batshisela izithombe ezibaziweyo impepha.
As I called them, so they departed from my presence: they sacrificed to Baalim, and burnt incense to graven images.
3 Mina-ke ngacathulisa uEfrayimi; ngababamba ngezingalo zabo; kodwa kabazanga ukuthi ngibelaphile.
Yet I bound the feet of Ephraim, I took him on my arm; but they knew not that I healed them.
4 Ngabadonsa ngamagoda omuntu, ngentambo zothando, ngaba kibo njengalabo abasusa ijogwe ezihlathini zabo, ngakhothama kubo, ngabanika ukudla.
When men were destroyed, I drew them with the bands of my love: and I will be to them as a man striking [another] on his cheek: and I will have respect to him, I will prevail with him.
5 Kayikubuyela elizweni leGibhithe, kodwa umAsiriya yena uzakuba yinkosi yakhe, ngoba balile ukuphenduka.
Ephraim lived in Egypt; and [as for] the Assyrian, he was his king, because he would not return.
6 Inkemba izatheleka emizini yakhe, iqede imigoqo yakhe, ibadle, ngenxa yamacebo abo.
And in his cities he prevailed not with the sword, and he ceased [to war] with his hands: and they shall eat [of the fruit] of their own devices:
7 Njalo abantu bami banamathela ekuhlehleleni muva kimi; lanxa bebabizela koPhezukonke, kakho ngitsho owayengamphakamisa.
and his people [shall] cleave fondly to their habitation; but God shall be angry with his precious things, and shall not at all exalt him.
8 Ngizakunikela njani, Efrayimi? Ngikudele njani, Israyeli? Ngizakwenza njani ube njengeAdima? Ngikubeke njani njengeZeboyimi? Inhliziyo yami isiphendukile phakathi kwami, izihawu zami ziyakhudumala kanyekanye.
How shall I deal with you, Ephraim? [how] shall I protect you, Israel? what shall I do with you? I will make you as Adama, and as Seboim; my heart is turned at once, my repentance is powerfully excited.
9 Kangiyikwenza ukuvutha kolaka lwami; kangiyikubuyela ngichithe uEfrayimi; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, kangisuye umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwakho; kangiyikungena emzini.
I will not act according to the fury of my wrath, I will not abandon Ephraim to be utterly destroyed: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One within you: and I will not enter into the city.
10 Bazayilandela iNkosi; izabhonga njengesilwane; lapho yona isibhonga, khona abantwana bazavela entshonalanga beqhaqhazela.
I will go after the Lord: he shall utter [his voice] as a lion: for he shall roar, and the children of the waters shall be amazed.
11 Bazaqhaqhazela njengenyoni evela eGibhithe, lanjengejuba elivela elizweni leAsiriya; njalo ngizabenza bahlale ezindlini zabo, itsho iNkosi.
They shall be amazed [and fly] as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of the Assyrians: and I will restore them to their houses, says the Lord.
12 UEfrayimi ungizingelezele ngamanga, lendlu kaIsrayeli ngenkohliso; kodwa uJuda usabusa loNkulunkulu, uthembekile kanye labangcwele.
Ephraim has compassed me with falsehood, and the house of Israel and Juda with ungodliness: [but] now God knows them, and they shall be called God's holy people.
