UHoseya 1:1-11

Izwi likaJehova elafika kuHoseya indodana kaBeri ezinsukwini zawo-Uziya, noJothamu, no-Ahazi, noHezekiya, amakhosi akwaJuda, nasezinsukwini zikaJerobowamu indodana kaJowashi, inkosi yakwa-Israyeli. Lapho uJehova eqala ukukhuluma ngoHoseya, uJehova wathi kuHoseya: “Hamba uzithathele umfazi ophingayo nabantwana bophingayo, ngokuba izwe liyaphinga nokuphinga ngokungamlandeli uJehova.” Wayesehamba, wathatha uGomere indodakazi kaDibilayimi; wakhulelwa, wamzalela indodana. UJehova wathi kuye: “Qamba igama layo ngokuthi uJizreyeli, ngokuba kusezakuba yisikhashana ngize ngiphindisele igazi likaJizreyeli phezu kwendlu kaJehu, ngiqede umbuso wendlu ka-Israyeli. Kuyakuthi ngalolo suku ngaphule umnsalo ka-Israyeli esigodini saseJizreyeli.” Wabuye wakhulelwa, wazala indodakazi. Wayesethi uJehova kuye: “Qamba igama layo ngokuthi uLo Ruhama,* ngokuba angisayikuyihawukela indlu yakwa-Israyeli ukuba ngibathethelele. Kepha indlu yakwaJuda ngiyakuyihawukela, ngibasindise ngoJehova uNkulunkulu wabo, ngingabasindisi ngomnsalo, nangenkemba, nangokulwa, nangamahhashi, nangabamahhashi.” Esemlumulile uLo Ruhama,* wakhulelwa, wazala indodana. Wayesethi uJehova: “Qamba igama layo ngokuthi uLo-Ami,* ngokuba anisibo abantu bami, mina angiyikuba nguNkulunkulu wenu. “Nokho umumo wabantwana bakwa-Israyeli uyakuba ngangesihlabathi solwandle esingenakulinganiswa, singenakubalwa; kuyakuthi esikhundleni sokuba kuthiwe kubo: ‘Anisibo abantu bami,’ kuthiwe kubo: ‘Ningamadodana kaNkulunkulu ophilayo.’ Abantwana bakwaJuda nabantwana bakwa-Israyeli bayakubuthana ndawonye, bazimisele inhloko ibe nye, bakhuphuke ezweni, ngokuba luyakuba lukhulu usuku lukaJizreyeli.