< Isaiah 26 >
1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts.
Ngalolosuku ingoma le izahlatshelwa elizweni lakoJuda: Siledolobho eliqinileyo; uNkulunkulu wenza ukusindisa kube yimiduli yalo lezivikelo.
2 Open the gates so a righteous nation may enter— one that remains faithful.
Vulani amasango ukuze isizwe esilungileyo singene, isizwe esigcina ukuthembeka.
3 You will keep in perfect peace the steadfast of mind, because he trusts in You.
Lizamemeza abe lokuthula okupheleleyo lowo olengqondo ebambelelayo, ngoba wethemba kuwe.
4 Trust in the LORD forever, because GOD the LORD is the Rock eternal.
Thembani uThixo kokuphela, ngoba uThixo, uThixo ngokwakhe, uliDwala laphakade.
5 For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.
Ubehlisela phansi abahlala engqongeni; ulehlisela phansi idolobho eliphakemeyo, ulidilizela emhlabathini, aliphosele phansi othulini.
6 Feet trample it down— the feet of the oppressed, the steps of the poor.
Inyawo zilinyathelela phansi, inyawo zabancindezelweyo, amanyathelo abayanga.
7 The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.
Indlela yabalungileyo iqondile; awu wena oQotho, wenza indlela yabalungileyo ibe butshelezi.
8 Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.
Yebo, Thixo, sihamba endleleni yemithetho yakho, siyakulindela; ibizo lakho lodumo lwakho kulangathelelwa zinhliziyo zethu.
9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.
Umphefumulo wami uyakulangazelela ebusuku, ekuseni umoya wami uyakukhumbula. Lapho ukwahlulela kwakho kufika emhlabeni, abantu basemhlabeni bayakufunda ukulunga.
10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.
Lanxa ababi betshengiswa umusa, kabakufundi ukulunga; laselizweni lokulunga baqhubeka besenza okubi, bengabunaki ubukhosi bukaThixo.
11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!
Oh Thixo, isandla sakho siphakanyiselwe phezulu, kodwa kabasiboni. Babonise ukutshisekela kwakho abantu bakho bayangiswe; umlilo olungiselwe izitha zakho kawubaqede.
12 O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us.
Thixo, usilethela ukuthula; konke esesikufezile sikwenzelwe nguwe.
13 O LORD our God, other lords besides You have had dominion, but Your name alone do we confess.
Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wethu, amanye amakhosi ngaphandle kwakho ake asibusa, kodwa ibizo lakho yilo lodwa esilidumisayo.
14 The dead will not live; the departed spirits will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them; You have wiped out all memory of them.
Khathesi asafa, kawasaphili; imimoya leyana eyahambayo kayivuki. Wawajezisa, wawatshabalalisa; wesula konke ukukhunjulwa kwawo.
15 You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; You have extended all the borders of the land.
Usandisile isizwe, Oh Thixo; usandisile isizwe. Uzilethele udumo; uyiqhelisile yonke imikhawulo yelizwe.
16 O LORD, they sought You in their distress; when You disciplined them, they poured out a quiet prayer.
Thixo, beza kuwe ekuhluphekeni kwabo; kwathi lapho usubajezisile banelisa ukunyenyeza umkhuleko.
17 As a woman with child about to give birth writhes and cries out in pain, so were we in Your presence, O LORD.
Njengowesifazane okhulelweyo lapho esezabeletha uyabhinqika ekhaliswa yibuhlungu, lathi sabanjalo phambi kwakho, Oh Thixo.
18 We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world.
Sasikhulelwe, sabhinqika ebuhlungwini, kodwa sazala umoya. Kasilethanga nsindiso emhlabeni; kasibazalelanga lutho abantu basemhlabeni.
19 Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For your dew is like the dew of the morning, and the earth will bring forth her dead.
Kodwa abafileyo bakho bazaphila Thixo, imizimba yabo izavuka. Lina elihlala othulini, vukani lihlabelele ngentokozo. Amazolo enu afana lamazolo ekuseni; umhlaba uzabaveza abafileyo bawo.
20 Go, my people, enter your rooms and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourselves a little while until the wrath has passed.
Hambani bantu bami, ngenani ezindlini zenu, lizivalele phakathi; lizifihle okwesikhatshana ulaka lwakhe luze luphele.
21 For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.
Khangelani, uThixo uyaphuma lapho ahlala khona ukuba ajezise abantu basemhlabeni ngenxa yezono zabo. Umhlaba uzaveza igazi elachithwa kuwo; kawusayikubafihla ababulawayo bawo.