UHoseya 1
1 Ilizwi leNkosi elafika kuHoseya indodana kaBeyeri ensukwini zaboUziya, uJothamu, uAhazi, uHezekhiya, amakhosi akoJuda, lensukwini zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowasi inkosi yakoIsrayeli.
The Lord’s message to Hosea son of Beeri during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah of Judah and during the reign of King Jeroboam, son of Joash of Israel.
2 Ukuqala kwelizwi leNkosi ngoHoseya. INkosi yasisithi kuHoseya: Hamba uzithathele umfazi wobuwule, labantwana bobuwule; ngoba ilizwe liyawula kakhulu ngokungayilandeli iNkosi.
When the Lord began to speak through Hosea, he said to him: “Go marry an unfaithful woman who will bear you children by her adultery, for like an adulterous wife the land is unfaithful to the Lord.”
3 Wasehamba wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi; wasekhulelwa, wamzalela indodana.
So he married Gomer, the daughter of Dibliam, and when she conceived and bore him a son,
4 INkosi yasisithi kuye: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguJizereyeli, ngoba kuseseyisikhatshana ngizaphindisela icala legazi leJizereyeli phezu kwendlu kaJehu, ngiwuqede umbuso wendlu kaIsrayeli.
the Lord said: “Call him ‘Jezreel,’ for in a little while I will punish the dynasty of Jehu for the blood shed at the valley of Jezreel, I will cause the kingdom of Israel to cease.
5 Kuzakuthi ngalolosuku ngephule idandili likaIsrayeli esigodini seJizereyeli.
On that day, I will break Israel’s bows and arrows in the valley of Jezreel.”
6 Wasebuya ekhulelwa, wazala indodakazi. UNkulunkulu wasesithi kuye: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisayikubuya ngihawukele indlu kaIsrayeli, kodwa ngizabasusa lokubasusa.
When she conceived again and bore a daughter, the Lord said to Hosea: “Call her Lo-Ruhamah – ‘No-Compassion’ for I will no longer have compassion on Israel, certainly not spare them.
7 Kodwa ngizayihawukela indlu yakoJuda, ngibasindise ngeNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo; njalo kangiyikubasindisa ngedandili, loba ngenkemba, loba ngempi, ngamabhiza, kumbe ngabagadi bamabhiza.
But on Judah I will have compassion, I will deliver them by the Lord their God, but I will not deliver them by bow nor by sword, nor by battle nor by horses nor by horsemen.”
8 Esemlumulile uLo-Ruhama, wakhulelwa, wazala indodana.
After she had weaned No-Compassion, and when she conceived and bore a son, he said:
9 UNkulunkulu wasesithi: Biza ibizo layo uthi nguLo-Ami; ngoba kalisibo abantu bami, ngakho mina kangisuye owenu.
“Call him Lo-Ammi – ‘Not-My-People’ for you, Israel, are not my people, and I indeed am not your God.”
10 Kube kanti inani labantwana bakoIsrayeli lizakuba ngangetshebetshebe lolwandle elingeke lilinganiswe elingeke libalwe. Njalo kuzakuthi, endaweni yokuthi kuthiwe kubo: Kalisibo abantu bami; kuzakuthiwa kubo: Lingabantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.
Yet the number of the Israelites will be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted, and where they were told, “You are not my people,” they will be called, “children of the living God.”
11 Ngakho abantwana bakoJuda labantwana bakoIsrayeli bazabuthaniswa ndawonye, bazimisele inhloko eyodwa, benyuke baphume elizweni. Ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lweJizereyeli.
The Judeans and the Israelites will join together again, will appoint for themselves one leader, will return to their own land. Great will be the day of Jezreel!
