UHoseya 6

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

saying, ‘Come let us return to the Lord, for he has torn us but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bandage our wounds,

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

he will revive in a couple of days, on the third day he will raise us up again, to live in his presence.

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

Let us know, let us eagerly seek to know the Lord. His coming is as sure as the sunrise. He will come to us like the winter rain, as the spring rain that waters the earth.’

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

What can I make of you, Ephraim! What can I make of you, Judah! Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew which early goes away.

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

That is why I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth. My judgment is like the light that goes forth,

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

for it is love that I delight in and not sacrifice, and knowledge of God and not burnt offerings.

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

But they after the manner of men have transgressed the covenant, there they have played me false.

8 IGileyadi ingumuzi wabenzi bokubi, ilemikhondo yegazi.

Gilead is a city of evildoers, tracked with bloody footprints,

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

and as bandits lie in wait for a man, so a band of priests murder on the way to Shechem. How terrible is the evil they do!

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

In Bethel I have seen a horrible thing. There Ephraim plays the prostitute, Israel is defiled.

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

Judah for you also a harvest is set. When I would restore the fortunes of my people,