< Amos 2 >

1 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will punish the people of] Moab because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they [dug up] the bones of the king of Edom and burned them completely, with the result that [the ashes became as white] as lime.
Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zikaMowabi, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba watshisa amathambo enkosi yeEdoma aba yikalaga.
2 So I will cause a fire to completely burn the fortresses of Kerioth [city in Moab]. [People will hear soldiers] shouting and blowing trumpets [loudly] while I am causing Moab to be destroyed
Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo koMowabi, ozaqeda izigodlo zeKeriyothi, uMowabi afele phakathi kokuxokozela, ngokumemeza, ngokukhala kophondo.
3 [and while] I am getting rid of its king and all its leaders. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it!”
Ngiqume umahluleli asuke phakathi kwakhe, ngibulale zonke iziphathamandla zakhe kanye laye, itsho iNkosi.
4 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will also punish the people of] Judah because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they have rejected what I taught them and they have not obeyed my commands. They have been deceived [and persuaded to worship false gods], the same [gods] that their ancestors [worshiped].
Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zakoJuda, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba bawalile umlayo weNkosi, kabagcinanga izimiso zayo, lamanga abo abaduhisile, oyise abawalandelayo.
5 So I will cause a fire to completely burn [everything in] Judah, including the fortresses in Jerusalem.”
Ngakho ngizathumela umlilo koJuda, futhi uzaqeda izigodlo zeJerusalema.
6 Yahweh [also] said this: “[I will punish the people of] Israel because of the many sins [that they have committed]; I will not change my mind about punishing them, because they sell righteous [people] to get [a small amount of] silver; they sell poor [people, causing them to become slaves], getting for [each of] them [only the amount of money with which they could buy] a pair of sandals.
Itsho njalo iNkosi: Ngenxa yeziphambeko ezintathu zakoIsrayeli, langenxa yezine, kangiyikuphambula isijeziso sabo, ngoba bathengisa olungileyo ngesiliva, loswelayo ngamanyathela amabili,
7 [It is as though] they trample the poor people into the dirt and do not allow those who are helpless to be treated fairly. Men and their fathers dishonor me [MTY] by both having sex [EUP] with the same [slave] girl.
abaphefuzelela uthuli lomhlaba oluphezu kwekhanda labayanga, baphambukisa indlela yabamnene; njalo umuntu loyise baya entombini, ukuze bangcolise ibizo lami elingcwele.
8 [When poor people borrow money], [the lenders force those people to give to them a piece of clothing] for them to keep until he can pay back the money. [But at the end of each day, instead of returning that garment as Yahweh had commanded them to], they lie down on that garment at the places where they worship [their gods]! They fine people, and with that money [they buy] wine and drink it in the temples of their gods!
Bacambalale ezembathweni zesibambiso eceleni kwalelo lalelo ilathi, banathe iwayini labalahliweyo endlini yabonkulunkulu babo.
9 [Long ago, ] to assist your ancestors, I got rid of the Amor people-group. They [seemed to be] as tall as cedar [trees] and as strong as oak [trees], but I got rid of them completely, [as easily as someone cuts off] [MET] the branches of a tree and then digs out all its roots.
Kanti mina ngachitha umAmori phambi kwabo, obude bakhe babunjengobude bamasedari, eqine njengama-okhi; kodwa ngachitha isithelo sakhe ngaphezulu, lempande zakhe ngaphansi.
10 I brought your [ancestors] out of Egypt, and [then] I led them through the desert for 40 years. And then I enabled them to conquer/possess the Amor area.
Futhi mina ngalenyusa elizweni leGibhithe, ngalikhokhela enkangala iminyaka engamatshumi amane, ukuze lidle ilifa lelizwe lomAmori.
11 I chose some of you Israelis to be prophets, and I chose others to be Nazir-men [who were completely dedicated to me]. You people of Israel certainly [RHQ] know that what I have said is true!
Ngavusa abanye emadodaneni enu babe ngabaprofethi, labanye emajaheni enu babe ngamaNaziri. Kakunjalo yini, lina bantwana bakoIsrayeli? itsho iNkosi.
12 But you commanded the prophets to not speak the messages that [I gave to] them, and you persuaded the Nazir-men to drink wine, [which I told them never to do].
Kodwa lawanathisa amaNaziri iwayini, lalaya abaprofethi lisithi: Lingaprofethi.
13 So I will crush you like [SIM] [the wheels of] a wagon that is loaded with grain crushes [whatever it rolls over].
Khangelani, ngizalicindezela phansi, njengenqola igcwele izithungo icindezela.
14 [Even] if you run fast, you will not escape; [even] if you are strong, [it will be as though] you are weak, and warriors will be unable to save themselves.
Ngakho isiphephelo sizabhubha kolejubane, lolamandla kayikuqinisa amandla akhe, leqhawe kaliyikukhulula impilo yalo.
15 [Even] if you are able to shoot arrows [well], you will be forced to retreat [LIT]; [even] if you run fast or if you ride [away] on a horse, you will not [be able to] save yourself.
Lophethe idandili kayikuma, lolenyawo ezilula kayikuzikhulula, logade ibhiza kayikukhulula impilo yakhe.
16 [Even] warriors who are very brave will drop their weapons when they try to flee on the day [that I get rid of them]. [That will surely happen because I], Yahweh, have said it.”
Lolenhliziyo eqinileyo phakathi kwamaqhawe uzabaleka eze ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi.

< Amos 2 >