UHoseya 5
1 Zwanini lokhu, bapristi, lilalele, ndlu kaIsrayeli, libeke indlebe, lani ndlu yenkosi. Ngoba isahlulelo singakini, ngoba selibe ngumjibila eMizipa, lembule elendlalwe phezu kweThabhori.
“Hear this, O priests! Take heed, O house of Israel! Give ear, O royal house! For this judgment is against you because you have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
2 Labahlamuki batshonisa ukuhlaba, kodwa ngizakuba ngumlayi wabo bonke.
The rebels are deep in slaughter; but I will chastise them all.
3 Mina ngiyamazi uEfrayimi, loIsrayeli kafihlakalanga kimi; ngoba khathesi ufebile, wena Efrayimi, uIsrayeli uzingcolisile.
I know all about Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me. For now, O Ephraim, you have turned to prostitution; Israel is defiled.
4 Kabaqondisi izenzo zabo ukuze baphendukele kuNkulunkulu wabo, ngoba umoya wokuwula uphakathi kwabo, leNkosi kabayazi.
Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God, for a spirit of prostitution is within them, and they do not know the LORD.
5 Lokuzigqaja kukaIsrayeli kuyafakaza ebusweni bakhe; ngakho uIsrayeli loEfrayimi bazakhubeka esiphambekweni sabo, loJuda uzakhubeka kanye labo.
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity; even Judah stumbles with them.
6 Bazahamba lezimvu zabo lenkomo zabo ukuyadinga iNkosi, kodwa kabayikuyithola; imonyukile kubo.
They go with their flocks and herds to seek the LORD, but they do not find Him; He has withdrawn Himself from them.
7 Benze ngenkohliso ngakuyo iNkosi, ngoba bazele abantwana bezizweni. Khathesi inyanga ethwasayo izabaqeda lezabelo zabo.
They have been unfaithful to the LORD; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the New Moon will devour them along with their land.
8 Vuthelani uphondo lwenqama eGibeya, uphondo eRama, lihlabe umkhosi eBeti-Aveni lithi: Emva kwakho, wena Bhenjamini.
Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Ramah; raise the battle cry in Beth-aven: Lead on, O Benjamin!
9 UEfrayimi uzakuba yincithakalo ngosuku lokujeziswa; phakathi kwezizwe zakoIsrayeli ngikwazisile okuliqiniso.
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10 Iziphathamandla zakoJuda sezinjengalabo abatshedisa umngcele; ngizathululela phezu kwabo ulaka lwami njengamanzi.
The princes of Judah are like those who move boundary stones; I will pour out My fury upon them like water.
11 UEfrayimi ucindezelwe wachotshozwa ngesahlulelo, ngoba wavuma ukuhamba elandela umlayo.
Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, for he is determined to follow worthless idols.
12 Ngakho ngizakuba njengenundu koEfrayimi, lanjengokubola endlini yakoJuda.
So I am like a moth to Ephraim, and like decay to the house of Judah.
13 Kwathi uEfrayimi ebona umkhuhlane wakhe, loJuda isilonda sakhe, uEfrayimi waya eAsiriya, wathumela ilizwi enkosini yeJarebhi; kodwa yona kayiyikuba lakho ukulelapha, kayiyikupholisa isilonda senu.
When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his wound, then Ephraim turned to Assyria and sent to the great king. But he cannot cure you or heal your wound.
14 Ngoba ngizakuba njengesilwane koEfrayimi, lanjengebhongo lesilwane endlini yakoJuda. Mina, uqobo lwami, ngizadabudabula, besengihamba, ngisuse, kungabi lomophuli.
For I am like a lion to Ephraim and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and then go away. I will carry them off where no one can rescue them.
15 Ngizahamba ngibuyele endaweni yami, baze bavume icala labo, badinge ubuso bami; ekucindezelweni kwabo bazangidinga ngovivi.
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
