UHoseya 6

1 Wozani sibuyele eNkosini, ngoba yona idwengulile, njalo izaselapha; itshayile, njalo izasibopha.

“Come on! Let's go back to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but now he will heal us. He has struck us down, but now he will bind up our wounds.

2 Izasivuselela emva kwensuku ezimbili, ngosuku lwesithathu isivuse, njalo siphile phambi kwayo.

In two days he will heal us; after three days he will raise us up so we can live in his presence.

3 Khona sizakwazi, silandele ukuyazi iNkosi; ukuphuma kwayo kulungiswe njengokusa; njalo izafika kithi njengezulu, njengezulu lemuva lelokuqala emhlabeni.

Let's get to know the Lord, really strive to know him, and he will appear to us as surely as the sun will rise; he will come to us as certainly as the spring rains fall on the earth.”

4 Ngizakwenzani kuwe, Efrayimi? Ngizakwenzani kuwe, Juda? Ngoba umusa wenu unjengeyezi lekuseni, lanjengamazolo ovivi athintithekayo.

Ephraim, what shall I do with you? Judah, what shall I do with you? Your love disappears like mist at dawn; it vanishes like dew in the morning.

5 Ngenxa yalokhu ngibagamule ngabaprofethi, ngababulala ngamazwi omlomo wami; lezahlulelo zakho zinjengokukhanya okuphumayo.

So I cut you down through the prophets; I killed you with my words. My judgment shines out like a light.

6 Ngoba ngaloyisa umusa, hatshi-ke umhlatshelo, lolwazi lukaNkulunkulu kuleminikelo yokutshiswa.

I want your true love, not your sacrifices; I want you to know me, not your burnt offerings.

7 Kodwa bona njengoluntu baseqile isivumelwano; lapho benza ngenkohliso kimi.

But you, just like Adam, broke our agreement, there you were unfaithful to me.

8 IGileyadi ingumuzi wabenzi bokubi, ilemikhondo yegazi.

Gilead is a city of evil people where footprints are tracked in blood.

9 Njengamaviyo abaphangi acathamele umuntu, linjalo ixuku labapristi; bayabulala endleleni yeShekema; ngoba benza inkohlakalo.

Priests are like a gang of bandits, lying in wait to ambush travelers on the road. They commit murder in Shechem, carrying out wicked crimes.

10 Endlini yakoIsrayeli ngibone into eyesabekayo; lapho kulobuwule bukaEfrayimi, uIsrayeli ungcolisiwe.

I have seen in the house of Israel something totally disgusting: Ephraim engages in prostitution and Israel is sexually corrupt.

11 Lawe Juda, ukumisele isivuno, lapho ngibuyise ukuthunjwa kwabantu bami.

And as for you, Judah, your harvest-time has been set! When I restore the fortunes of my people,