U-Amosi 4
1 Zwanini ilizwi leli lina mankomokazi aseBhashani phezu kweNtaba iSamariya, lina besifazane elincindezela abayanga lichoboze abaswelayo beselisithi kubomkenu, “Siletheleni okunathwayo!”
Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husbands, “Bring us drinks!”
2 UThixo Wobukhosi usefunge ngobungcwele bakhe wathi: “Isikhathi sizafika impela lapho elizathathwa khona ngewuka, owokucina wenu ngewuka yenhlanzi.
The Lord Yahweh has sworn by his holiness, “Behold, the days shall come on you that they will take you away with hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks.
3 Lizaphuma ngamunye ngezikhala emdulini liqonde nta phandle, njalo lizalahlelwa ngaphandle ngokuya eHamoni,” kutsho uThixo.
You will go out at the breaks in the wall, everyone straight before her; and you will cast yourselves into Harmon,” says Yahweh.
4 “Hambani eBhetheli liyekwenza isono; hambani eGiligali liyekwenza isono ngokudlulayo. Lethani imihlatshelo yenu nsuku zonke ekuseni lokwetshumi kwenu minyaka yonke emithathu.
“Go to Bethel, and sin; to Gilgal, and sin more. Bring your sacrifices every morning, your tithes every three days,
5 Tshisani isinkwa esilemvubelo njengomnikelo wokubonga lintele ngeminikelo yenu yokuzithandela lizikhukhumeze ngayo, lina bako-Israyeli, ngoba lokhu yikho elithanda ukukwenza,” kutsho uThixo Wobukhosi.
offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving of that which is leavened, and proclaim free will offerings and brag about them; for this pleases you, you children of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.
6 “Ngalilethela indlala emadolobheni wonke lokusweleka kokudla emadolobheni wonke, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
“I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and lack of bread in every town; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
7 “Ngagodla izulu futhi kusasele inyanga ezintathu ukuba kuvunwe. Izulu ngalinisa kwelinye idolobho kodwa ngaligodla kwelinye. Enye insimu yaba lezulu, enye kayaze yaba lalo njalo yoma qha.
“I also have withheld the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest; and I caused it to rain on one city, and caused it not to rain on another city. One field was rained on, and the field where it didn’t rain withered.
8 Abantu babhadazela besuka kwelinye idolobho besiya kwelinye befuna amanzi kodwa kabawatholanga anele ukuba bakholwe, ikanti kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
So two or three cities staggered to one city to drink water, and were not satisfied; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
9 “Ezikhathini ezinengi ngahlasela izivande zenu lezivini zenu, ngizihlasela ngesona langengumane. Izintethe zadla imikhiwa yenu lezihlahla zenu zama-oliva, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
“I struck you with blight and mildew many times in your gardens and your vineyards, and the swarming locusts have devoured your fig trees and your olive trees; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
10 “Ngathumela izifo phakathi kwenu njengengakwenza kweleGibhithe. Ngabulala izinsizwa zenu ngenkemba ndawonye lamabhiza enu athunjwayo. Ngavimbanisa amakhala enu ngomnuko wezihonqo zenu, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
“I sent plagues among you like I did Egypt. I have slain your young men with the sword, and have carried away your horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
11 “Ngachitha abanye benu njengalokhu ngachitha iSodoma leGomora. Lalinjengesikhuni esitshayo esihluthunwe emlilweni, kodwa kalibuyelanga kimi,” kutsho uThixo.
“I have overthrown some of you, as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a burning stick plucked out of the fire; yet you haven’t returned to me,” says Yahweh.
12 “Ngakho-ke engizakwenza kuwe Israyeli yilokhu, njalo njengoba lokhu ngizakwenza kuwe, zilungisele ukuhlangana loNkulunkulu wakho, wena Israyeli.”
“Therefore I will do this to you, Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, Israel.
13 Yena obumba izintaba, udala umoya, aveze lemicabango yakhe ebantwini, yena oguqula ukusa kube ngumnyama, anyathele lezindawo eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, uThixo uNkulunkulu uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe.
For, behold, he who forms the mountains, creates the wind, declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the high places of the earth: Yahweh, the God of Armies, is his name.”
