UHoseya 14
1 Buyela, Israyeli, eNkosini, uNkulunkulu wakho; ngoba ukhubekile ngesiphambeko sakho.
Return, O Israel, to Jehovah 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 return to Jehovah, saying, “Forgive all our iniquity, and receive us graciously, And we will render to thee the sacrifices of our lips!
3 IAsiriya kayiyikusisindisa, kasiyikugada amabhiza; kasisayikutsho kuyo imisebenzi yezandla zethu ukuthi: Lingonkulunkulu bethu; ngoba kuwe intandane izatshengiswa umusa.
Assyria shall not help us; We will not ride on horses; And no more will we say to the work of our hands, Ye are our Gods! For from thee the fatherless obtaineth mercy.”
4 Ngizakwelapha ukuhlehlela muva kwabo, ngizabathanda ngesihle, ngoba intukuthelo yami iphanjulwe kuye.
“I will heal their rebellion; I will love them freely; For my anger is turned away from them.
5 Ngizakuba njengamazolo kuIsrayeli; uzakhahlela njengomduze, agxilise impande zakhe njengeLebhanoni.
I will be as the dew to Israel; He shall blossom as the lily, And strike his roots like Lebanon.
6 Amahlumela akhe azanaba, lenkazimulo yakhe ibe njengesihlahla somhlwathi, abe lephunga njengeLebhanoni.
His sprouts shall spread forth, And his beauty shall be as the olive-tree, And his fragrance as Lebanon.
7 Bazabuyela abahlala emthunzini wakhe, bavuseleleke njengamabele, bakhahlele njengevini, isikhumbuzo sakhe sibe njengewayini leLebhanoni.
They that dwell under his shadow Shall revive as the corn; They shall shoot forth as the vine; Their name shall be like the wine of Lebanon.
8 Efrayimi, ngiseselani lezithombe? Mina ngimphendule, ngimnanzelele; ngibe njengefiri eliluhlaza; isithelo sakho sifunyanwa kimi.
Ephraim shall say, What have I more to do with idols? I will hear him; I will care for him; I will be like a green cypress-tree; From me shall thy fruit be found.”
9 Ngubani ohlakaniphileyo aqedisise lezizinto? Ngubani okhaliphileyo azazi? Ngoba indlela zeNkosi ziqondile, labalungileyo bazahamba ngazo, kodwa abaphambuki bazakhubeka kuzo.
Who is wise, that he may understand these things, Prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Jehovah are right, And the righteous walk in them; But in them transgressors stumble.
