UHoseya 11
1 UIsrayeli esengumntwana ngamthanda, ngayibiza indodana yami ukuthi iphume eGibhithe.
“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
2 Kwathi bebabiza, ngokunjalo basuka phambi kwabo; bahlabela oBhali, batshisela izithombe ezibaziweyo impepha.
They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
3 Mina-ke ngacathulisa uEfrayimi; ngababamba ngezingalo zabo; kodwa kabazanga ukuthi ngibelaphile.
Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.
4 Ngabadonsa ngamagoda omuntu, ngentambo zothando, ngaba kibo njengalabo abasusa ijogwe ezihlathini zabo, ngakhothama kubo, ngabanika ukudla.
I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
5 Kayikubuyela elizweni leGibhithe, kodwa umAsiriya yena uzakuba yinkosi yakhe, ngoba balile ukuphenduka.
“They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
6 Inkemba izatheleka emizini yakhe, iqede imigoqo yakhe, ibadle, ngenxa yamacebo abo.
The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.
7 Njalo abantu bami banamathela ekuhlehleleni muva kimi; lanxa bebabizela koPhezukonke, kakho ngitsho owayengamphakamisa.
My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.
8 Ngizakunikela njani, Efrayimi? Ngikudele njani, Israyeli? Ngizakwenza njani ube njengeAdima? Ngikubeke njani njengeZeboyimi? Inhliziyo yami isiphendukile phakathi kwami, izihawu zami ziyakhudumala kanyekanye.
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
9 Kangiyikwenza ukuvutha kolaka lwami; kangiyikubuyela ngichithe uEfrayimi; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, kangisuye umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwakho; kangiyikungena emzini.
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
10 Bazayilandela iNkosi; izabhonga njengesilwane; lapho yona isibhonga, khona abantwana bazavela entshonalanga beqhaqhazela.
They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
11 Bazaqhaqhazela njengenyoni evela eGibhithe, lanjengejuba elivela elizweni leAsiriya; njalo ngizabenza bahlale ezindlini zabo, itsho iNkosi.
They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
12 UEfrayimi ungizingelezele ngamanga, lendlu kaIsrayeli ngenkohliso; kodwa uJuda usabusa loNkulunkulu, uthembekile kanye labangcwele.
Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
