UHoseya 1

1 Ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuHosiya indodana kaBheri ngezinsuku zemibuso yabo-Uziya, loJothamu, lo-Ahazi loHezekhiya amakhosi akoJuda, kanye lasezinsukwini zokubusa kukaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi inkosi yako-Israyeli.

The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2 Kwathi uThixo eseqalise ukukhuluma ngoHosiya, uThixo wathi kuye, “Hamba uyethatha umfazi oyisifebe ubelabantwana bobufebe, ngoba ilizwe lilecala lobufebe obubi kakhulu ngokweduka kuThixo.”

The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, [departing] from the LORD.

3 Ngakho wathatha uGomeri indodakazi kaDibilayimi, njalo wathatha isisu wamzalela indodana.

So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

4 UThixo wasesithi kuHoseya, “Methe ibizo uthi nguJezerili, ngoba masinyane nje ngizayijezisa indlu kaJehu ngenxa yesihluku sokubulala abantu abanengi eJezerili, njalo ngizawuqeda umbuso wako-Israyeli.

And the LORD said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little [while], and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 Ngalolosuku ngizakwephula idandili lika-Israyeli eSigodini saseJezerili.”

And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel.

6 UGomeri wathatha isisu futhi, wazala indodakazi. UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo uthi nguLo-Ruhama, ngoba kangisoze ngibe lothando futhi endlini ka-Israyeli, ukuba ngibathethelele.

And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And [God] said unto him, Call her name Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

7 Kodwa ngizakuba lothando endlini kaJuda, njalo ngizabakhulula, kungayisikho ngedandili, inkemba kumbe impi, loba ngamabhiza langabagadi bamabhiza, kodwa ngoThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.”

But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8 UGomeri eselumule uLo-Ruhama ebeleni, waba lenye indodana.

Now when she had weaned Lo-ruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

9 UThixo wasesithi, “Muphe ibizo lokuthi nguLo-Ami, ngoba lina kalisibo bantu bami, lami kangisuye uNkulunkulu wenu.

Then said [God], Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye [are] not my people, and I will not be your [God].

10 Kodwa abako-Israyeli bazakuba njengetshebetshebe ekhunjini lolwandle elingeke lilinganiswe kumbe libalwe. Endaweni lapho okwakuthiwe khona kubo, ‘Kalisibo bantu bami,’ bazabizwa ngokuthi, ‘bantwana bakaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’

Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people, [there] it shall be said unto them, [Ye are] the sons of the living God.

11 Abantu bakoJuda labantu bako-Israyeli bazamanyana, njalo bazakhetha umkhokheli oyedwa baphume elizweni, ngoba luzakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJezerili.”

Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great [shall be] the day of Jezreel.