Hosea 1
1 Izwi likaSimakade elafika kuHoziya indodana kaBheri ezinsukwini zokubusa kuka-Uziya, uJothamu, u-Ahazi noHezekiya amakhosi akwaJuda, nasezinsukwini zikaJerobhowamu indodana kaJowashi, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli.
2 Lapho uSimakade eqala ukukhuluma ngoHoziya, wathi kuHoseya: “Hamba uzithathele umfazi ophingayo nabantwana bokuphingwa, ngokuba izwe liyaphinga nokuphinga ngokungamlandeli uSimakade.”
3 Wahamba-ke, wathatha uGomeri, indodakazi kaDibhilayimi. Wakhulelwa, wamzalela indodana.
4 USimakade wathi kuye: “Iqambe igama uthi: ‘nguJizreyeli,’ ngokuba sekuseduze ngibajezise abendlu kaJehu ngenxa yegazi likaJizreyeli, futhi ngiyakuwuqenda nya umbuso wendlu ka-Israyeli.
5 Kuyakuthi ngalolo lusuku ngiwuphule umnsalo ka-Israyeli esigodini eJizreyeli.”
6 UGomeri wabuye wakhulelwa, wazala indodakazi. USimakade wathi kuHoziya: “Iqambe igama uthi: ‘uLo Ruhama,’ ngokuba angisayukuphinde futhi ngiyizwele indlu yakwa-Israyeli ukuba impela ngibathethelele.
7 Kepha indlu yakwaJuda ngiyakuyizwela, ngibasindise ngoSimakade uNkulunkulu wabo, angiyukubasindisa ngomnsalo, ngenkemba, ngempi, ngamahhashi nangabagibeli bamahhashi.”
8 Kwathi esemlumulile uLo Ruhama, wayesekhulelwa, wazala indodana.
9 Wayesethi: “Iqambe igama uthi: ‘uLo Ami,’ ngokuba aniseyibo abantu bami, nami angisenguye uNkulunkulu wenu.”
10 “Kepha abantu bakwa-Israyeli bayakuba ngangesihlabathi solwandle esingenakulinganiswa nakubalwa. Lapho bekuthiwa khona kubo: ‘Aniseyibo abantu bami,’ kuyakuthiwa kubo: ‘Ningamadodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’
11 Abantu bakwaJuda nabakwa-Israyeli bayakuhlangana ndawonye, bazikhethele inhloko ibe yodwa, bakhuphuke ezweni, ngokuba luyakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJizreyeli.”