UHoseya 11
1 UIsrayeli esengumntwana ngamthanda, ngayibiza indodana yami ukuthi iphume eGibhithe.
“When Israel was a young man I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
2 Kwathi bebabiza, ngokunjalo basuka phambi kwabo; bahlabela oBhali, batshisela izithombe ezibaziweyo impepha.
The more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to idols.
3 Mina-ke ngacathulisa uEfrayimi; ngababamba ngezingalo zabo; kodwa kabazanga ukuthi ngibelaphile.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk. It was I who lifted them up by their arms, but they did not know that I cared for them.
4 Ngabadonsa ngamagoda omuntu, ngentambo zothando, ngaba kibo njengalabo abasusa ijogwe ezihlathini zabo, ngakhothama kubo, ngabanika ukudla.
I led them with cords of humanity, with bands of love. I was to them like someone who eased the yoke on their jaws, and I bent down to them and fed them.
5 Kayikubuyela elizweni leGibhithe, kodwa umAsiriya yena uzakuba yinkosi yakhe, ngoba balile ukuphenduka.
Will they not return to the land of Egypt? Will Assyria not rule over them because they refuse to return to me?
6 Inkemba izatheleka emizini yakhe, iqede imigoqo yakhe, ibadle, ngenxa yamacebo abo.
The sword will fall on their cities and destroy the bars of their gates; it will destroy them because of their own plans.
7 Njalo abantu bami banamathela ekuhlehleleni muva kimi; lanxa bebabizela koPhezukonke, kakho ngitsho owayengamphakamisa.
My people are determined to turn away from me. Though they call to the Most High, no one will help them.
8 Ngizakunikela njani, Efrayimi? Ngikudele njani, Israyeli? Ngizakwenza njani ube njengeAdima? Ngikubeke njani njengeZeboyimi? Inhliziyo yami isiphendukile phakathi kwami, izihawu zami ziyakhudumala kanyekanye.
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 Zeboyim? My heart has changed within me; all my compassions have been stirred up.
9 Kangiyikwenza ukuvutha kolaka lwami; kangiyikubuyela ngichithe uEfrayimi; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, kangisuye umuntu, oNgcwele phakathi kwakho; kangiyikungena emzini.
I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim. For I am God and not a man; I am the Holy One among you, and I will not come in wrath.
10 Bazayilandela iNkosi; izabhonga njengesilwane; lapho yona isibhonga, khona abantwana bazavela entshonalanga beqhaqhazela.
They will follow Yahweh; and he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
11 Bazaqhaqhazela njengenyoni evela eGibhithe, lanjengejuba elivela elizweni leAsiriya; njalo ngizabenza bahlale ezindlini zabo, itsho iNkosi.
They will come trembling like a bird from Egypt, like a dove from the land of Assyria. I will make them live in their homes—this is the declaration of Yahweh.
12 UEfrayimi ungizingelezele ngamanga, lendlu kaIsrayeli ngenkohliso; kodwa uJuda usabusa loNkulunkulu, uthembekile kanye labangcwele.
Ephraim surrounds me with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit. But Judah is still going about with me, God, and is faithful to me, the Holy One.”
