Hosea 11
1 “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
“U-Israyeli esesengumntwana, ngangimthanda njalo indodana yami ngayikhupha eGibhithe.
2 They called to them, so they went from them. They sacrificed to the Baals, and burned incense to engraved images.
Kodwa kwathi lapho u-Israyeli ngimbiza kanengi kwayikhona ehlehlela khatshana lami. Banikela imihlatshelo kuboBhali, batshisela lezifanekiso impepha.
3 Yet I taught Ephraim to walk. I took them by their arms, but they didn’t know that I healed them.
Yimi engafundisa u-Efrayimi ukuhamba, ngibabambe ngezingalo; kodwa kababonanga ukuthi yimi engabelaphayo.
4 I drew them with cords of a man, with ties of love; and I was to them like those who lift up the yoke on their necks; and I bent down to him and I fed him.
Ngabakhokhela ngentambo zomusa woluntu, ngezibopho zothando; ngaba njengomuntu osusa amajogwe entanyeni zabo, ngakhothamela phansi ukuba angiphe ukudla.
5 “They won’t return into the land of Egypt; but the Assyrian will be their king, because they refused to repent.
Kabayikubuyela eGibhithe na, njalo i-Asiriya kayiyikubabusa na njengoba besala ukuphenduka?
6 The sword will fall on their cities, and will destroy the bars of their gates, and will put an end to their plans.
Izinkemba zizaphazima emadolobheni abo, zizachitha imigoqo yamasango abo ziqede amacebo abo.
7 My people are determined to turn from me. Though they call to the Most High, he certainly won’t exalt them.
Abantu bami bazimisele ukungihlamukela. Lanxa bekhuleka koPhezukonke kasoze abaphakamise.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, my compassion is aroused.
Ngingakukhalela kanjani, Efrayimi? Ngingakunikela kanjani, Israyeli? Ngingakuphatha kanjani njengo-Adima na? Ngingakwenza kanjani, njengoZebhoyimi na? Inhliziyo yami iguqukile phakathi kwami; isihawu sami sonke siqubukile.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of my anger. I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man—the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath.
Kangiyikwenza okwentukuthelo yami eyesabekayo, kumbe ngiphenduke ngimqothule u-Efrayimi. Ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, hatshi umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwenu. Kangiyikuza ngolaka.
10 They will walk after Yahweh, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west.
Bazamlandela uThixo; uzabhonga njengesilwane. Lapho esebhonga, abantwana bakhe bazakuza beqhaqhazela bevela entshonalanga.
11 They will come trembling like a bird out of Egypt, and like a dove out of the land of Assyria; and I will settle them in their houses,” says Yahweh.
Bazakuza bevela eGibhithe beqhaqhazela njengezinyoni bevela e-Asiriya bephaphazela njengamajuba. Ngizabahlalisa emakhaya abo,” kutsho uThixo.
12 Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. Judah still strays from God, and is unfaithful to the Holy One.
“U-Efrayimi usengizingeleze ngamanga, lendlu ka-Israyeli ngenkohliso. LoJuda uluhlaza kuNkulunkulu, kanye lakuye othembekileyo oNgcwele.”
