< UHoseya 6 >
1 Wozani sibuyele eNkosini, ngoba yona idwengulile, njalo izaselapha; itshayile, njalo izasibopha.
“Come, let us return to Yahweh. For he has torn us to pieces, 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.
After two days he will revive us; he will raise us up on the third day, and we will live before him.
3 Khona sizakwazi, silandele ukuyazi iNkosi; ukuphuma kwayo kulungiswe njengokusa; njalo izafika kithi njengezulu, njengezulu lemuva lelokuqala emhlabeni.
Let us know Yahweh; let us press on to know Yahweh. His coming out is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the land.”
4 Ngizakwenzani kuwe, Efrayimi? Ngizakwenzani kuwe, Juda? Ngoba umusa wenu unjengeyezi lekuseni, lanjengamazolo ovivi athintithekayo.
Ephraim, what will I do with you? Judah, what will I do with you? Your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early.
5 Ngenxa yalokhu ngibagamule ngabaprofethi, ngababulala ngamazwi omlomo wami; lezahlulelo zakho zinjengokukhanya okuphumayo.
So I have cut them to pieces by the prophets, I have killed them with the words of my mouth. Your decrees are like the light that shines out.
6 Ngoba ngaloyisa umusa, hatshi-ke umhlatshelo, lolwazi lukaNkulunkulu kuleminikelo yokutshiswa.
For I desire faithfulness and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 Kodwa bona njengoluntu baseqile isivumelwano; lapho benza ngenkohliso kimi.
Like Adam they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me.
8 IGileyadi ingumuzi wabenzi bokubi, ilemikhondo yegazi.
Gilead is a city of evildoers with footprints of blood.
9 Njengamaviyo abaphangi acathamele umuntu, linjalo ixuku labapristi; bayabulala endleleni yeShekema; ngoba benza inkohlakalo.
As gangs of robbers wait for someone, so the priests band together to commit murder on the way to Shechem; they have committed shameful crimes.
10 Endlini yakoIsrayeli ngibone into eyesabekayo; lapho kulobuwule bukaEfrayimi, uIsrayeli ungcolisiwe.
In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing; Ephraim's prostitution is there, and Israel has become unclean.
11 Lawe Juda, ukumisele isivuno, lapho ngibuyise ukuthunjwa kwabantu bami.
For you also, Judah, a harvest has been appointed, when I will restore the fortunes of my people.