UHoseya 14

1 Buyela, Israyeli, eNkosini, uNkulunkulu wakho; ngoba ukhubekile ngesiphambeko sakho.

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

2 Thathani amazwi lani, libuyele eNkosini, lithi kiyo: Susa bonke ububi, usemukele ngomusa; ngakho sizabhadala amajongosi endebe zethu.

Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.

3 IAsiriya kayiyikusisindisa, kasiyikugada amabhiza; kasisayikutsho kuyo imisebenzi yezandla zethu ukuthi: Lingonkulunkulu bethu; ngoba kuwe intandane izatshengiswa umusa.

Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4 Ngizakwelapha ukuhlehlela muva kwabo, ngizabathanda ngesihle, ngoba intukuthelo yami iphanjulwe kuye.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

5 Ngizakuba njengamazolo kuIsrayeli; uzakhahlela njengomduze, agxilise impande zakhe njengeLebhanoni.

I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 Amahlumela akhe azanaba, lenkazimulo yakhe ibe njengesihlahla somhlwathi, abe lephunga njengeLebhanoni.

His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.

7 Bazabuyela abahlala emthunzini wakhe, bavuseleleke njengamabele, bakhahlele njengevini, isikhumbuzo sakhe sibe njengewayini leLebhanoni.

They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive [as] the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof [shall be] as the wine of Lebanon.

8 Efrayimi, ngiseselani lezithombe? Mina ngimphendule, ngimnanzelele; ngibe njengefiri eliluhlaza; isithelo sakho sifunyanwa kimi.

Ephraim [shall say], What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard [him], and observed him: I [am] like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

9 Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo aqedisise lezizinto? Ngubani okhaliphileyo azazi? Ngoba indlela zeNkosi ziqondile, labalungileyo bazahamba ngazo, kodwa abaphambuki bazakhubeka kuzo.

Who [is] wise, and he shall understand these [things]? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD [are] right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.