Jeremiah 50
1 This is the word that the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning Babylon and the land of the Chaldeans:
Leli yilizwi uThixo alikhuluma ngoJeremiya umphrofethi mayelana leBhabhiloni lelizwe lamaKhaladiya:
2 “Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’
“Memezelani libike phakathi kwezizwe, phakamisani uphawu lilubike; lingafihli lutho, kodwa lithi, ‘IBhabhiloni izathunjwa, iBheli izayangiswa, iMariduki ibe lokwesaba. Izifanekiso zayo zizayangiswa, izithombe zayo zibe lokwesaba.’
3 For a nation from the north will come against her; it will make her land a desolation. No one will live in it; both man and beast will flee.”
Isizwe esivela enyakatho sizayihlasela sitshabalalise ilizwe layo. Kakho ozahlala kuyo; abantu lezinyamazana kuzasuka kubaleke.
4 “In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, the children of Israel and the children of Judah will come together, weeping as they come, and will seek the LORD their God.
Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi, abantu bako-Israyeli ndawonye labantu bakoJuda bazahamba bekhala bedinga uThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.
5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it. They will come and join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.
Bazabuza indlela eya eZiyoni bakhangelise ubuso babo kuyo. Bazakuza bazibophele kuThixo ngesivumelwano esingapheliyo esingayikukhohlakala.
6 My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.
Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo, abelusi babo babebadukisile babenza bazulazula phezu kwezintaba. Bantula phezu kwezintaba laphezu kwamaqaqa bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokuphumula.
7 All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
Loba ngubani owabatholayo wabadla; izitha zabo zathi, ‘Kasilacala, ngoba benza okubi kuThixo, idlelo labo eliqotho, uThixo, ithemba laboyise.’
8 Flee from the midst of Babylon; depart from the land of the Chaldeans; be like the he-goats that lead the flock.
Balekelani ngaphandle kweBhabhiloni; sukani elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengembuzi ezikhokhela umhlambi.
9 For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed.
Ngoba iBhabhiloni ngizayivusela umanyano lwezizwe ezinkulu ezivela elizweni lasenyakatho. Bazaviva ezindaweni zabo bamelane layo. Njalo izathunjwa kuvelelwa enyakatho. Imitshoko yabo izakuba njengamabutho alolwazi angaphenduki engelalutho.
10 Chaldea will be plundered; all who plunder her will have their fill,”
Ngakho iBhabhiloni izaphangwa, bonke abayiphangayo bazasuthiseka,” kutsho uThixo.
11 “Because you rejoice, because you sing in triumph— you who plunder My inheritance— because you frolic like a heifer treading grain and neigh like stallions,
“Njengoba lithokoza njalo lithabile, lizaphanga ilifa lami ngoba liyaqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, njalo likhale njengamabhiza amaduna,
12 your mother will be greatly ashamed; she who bore you will be disgraced. Behold, she will be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
unyoko uzayangeka kakhulu, yena owalizalayo uzakuba lenhloni. Uzakuba ngowokucina phakathi kwezizwe, inkangala, ilizwe elomileyo, ugwadule.
13 Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will become completely desolate. All who pass through Babylon will be horrified and will hiss at all her wounds.
Ngenxa yolaka lukaThixo kayiyikuhlalwa muntu kodwa izachithwa ngokupheleleyo. Bonke abadlula eBhabhiloni bazakwesaba baklolode ngenxa yamanxeba ayo wonke.
14 Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD.
Vivani inhlangothi zonke zeBhabhiloni lonke lina eliphethe amadandili. Itshokeni! Lingatshiyi mitshoko ngoba yonile kuThixo.
15 Raise a war cry against her on every side! She has thrown up her hands in surrender; her towers have fallen; her walls are torn down. Since this is the vengeance of the LORD, take out your vengeance upon her; as she has done, do the same to her.
Klabalalani kuyo ezinhlangothini zonke! Iyazinikela, imiphotshongo yayo iyawa, imiduli yayo idilikela phansi. Njengoba lokhu kuyikuphindisela kukaThixo, phindiselani kuyo iBhabhiloni; yenzani kuyo njengalokhu eyakwenza kwabanye.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and the one who wields the sickle at harvest time. In the face of the oppressor’s sword, each will turn to his own people, each will flee to his own land.
Msuseni eBhabhiloni umhlanyeli, lomvuni lesikela yakhe ekuvuneni. Ngenxa yenkemba yomncindezeli, umuntu wonke kabuyele ebantwini bakibo; umuntu wonke kabalekele elizweni lakibo.
17 Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
U-Israyeli ungumhlambi ohlakazekileyo oxotshwe yizilwane. Owaqalayo ukumudla yinkosi yase-Asiriya; owacinayo ukuqhoba amathambo akhe nguNebhukhadineza inkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”
18 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.
Ngakho uThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi: “Ngizayijezisa inkosi yaseBhabhiloni lelizwe layo njengoba ngajezisa inkosi yase-Asiriya.
19 I will return Israel to his pasture, and he will graze on Carmel and Bashan; his soul will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and Gilead.
Kodwa u-Israyeli ngizambuyisela edlelweni lakhe, uzakudla eKhameli kanye laseBhashani; inkanuko yakhe izasuthiswa emaqaqeni ako-Efrayimi kanye leGiliyadi.
20 In those days and at that time, declares the LORD, a search will be made for Israel’s guilt, but there will be none, and for Judah’s sins, but they will not be found; for I will forgive the remnant I preserve.
Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo, “ukona kuka-Israyeli kuzadingwa, kodwa akuyikuba khona; kudingwe lezono zikaJuda kodwa kasikho esizafunyanwa, ngoba insalela engiyitshiyayo ngizayithethelela.
21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, and against the residents of Pekod. Kill them and devote them to destruction. Do all that I have commanded you,”
Hlaselani ilizwe laseMerathayimi lalabo abahlala ePhekhodi. Xotshanani labo libabulale libaqede du,” kutsho uThixo. “Yenzani konke engililaye khona.
22 “The noise of battle is in the land— the noise of great destruction.
Umsindo wempi uselizweni, umsindo wencithakalo enkulu!
23 How the hammer of the whole earth lies broken and shattered! What a horror Babylon has become among the nations!
Yeka ukwephuka lokucezuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukuchitheka kweBhabhiloni phakathi kwezizwe!
24 I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD.
Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, wena Bhabhiloni, wabanjwa ungakakwazi lokho; waficwa wathunjwa, ngoba wamelana loThixo.
25 The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
UThixo usevule indlu yakhe yezikhali wakhupha izikhali zolaka lwakhe, ngoba uThixo Wobukhosi, uSomandla ulomsebenzi okumele awenze elizweni lamaKhaladiya.
26 Come against her from the farthest border. Break open her granaries; pile her up like mounds of grain. Devote her to destruction; leave her no survivors.
Wozani kuyo limelane layo livela kude. Fohlelani eziphaleni zayo; liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi zamabele. Ichitheni okupheleleyo lingayitshiyeli nsalela.
27 Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come— the time of their punishment.
Bulalani zonke inkunzi zayo ezisesengamaguqa; ziwiseleni phansi ekuhlatshweni! Maye kubo! Ngoba usuku lwabo selufikile, isikhathi sabo sokujeziswa.
28 Listen to the fugitives and refugees from the land of Babylon, declaring in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance for His temple.
Lalelani ababalekayo labaphephileyo abavela eBhabhiloni bememezela eZiyoni ngokuphindisela uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu asekwenzile, ukuphindisela ngenxa yethempeli lakhe.
29 Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
Bizani abemitshoko bahlasele iBhabhiloni, bonke labo abaphatha amadandili. Ihanqeni inxa zonke; kungabikhona ophunyukayo. Iphindiseleni izenzo zayo; yenzani kuyo njengekwenzileyo. Ngoba idelele uThixo, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
30 Therefore, her young men will fall in the streets, and all her warriors will be silenced in that day,”
Ngakho izinsizwa zayo zizakuwa emigwaqweni; ngalolosuku wonke amabutho ayo azabulawa,” kutsho uThixo.
31 “Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one,” declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, “for your day has come, the time when I will punish you.
“Khangela, ngimelane lawe, wena oyisiqholo,” kutsho uThixo, uThixo uSomandla, “ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi sokujeziswa kwakho.
32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”
Oyisiqholo uzakhubeka awe, njalo kakho ozamsiza amvuse. Ngizabasa umlilo emadolobheni akhe ozaqothula bonke abakhelene laye.”
33 This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well. All their captors hold them fast, refusing to release them.
UThixo uSomandla uthi: “Abantu bako-Israyeli bancindezelwe, kanye labantu bakoJuda futhi. Bonke abathumbi babo babagagadlele, besala ukubadedela bahambe.
34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will fervently plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to those who live in Babylon.
Kodwa uMhlengi wabo ulamandla; uThixo uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe. Uzavikela imfanelo zabo ngamandla ukuze alethe ukuthula elizweni labo, kodwa ukuxokozela kulabo abahlala eBhabhiloni.
35 A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men.
Inkemba imelana lamaKhaladiya,” kutsho uThixo, “imelane lalabo abahlala eBhabhiloni kanye lezikhulu zayo lezihlakaniphi zayo!
36 A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.
Inkemba izamelana labaphrofethi balo bamanga! Bazakuba yizithutha. Inkemba izamelana lamabutho ayo! Azakuba lokwesaba okukhulu.
37 A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered.
Inkemba izamelana lamabhiza ayo lezinqola zempi labo bonke abezizweni abakuyo! Bazakuba ngabafazi. Inkemba izamelana lenotho yayo! Izaphangwa.
38 A drought is upon her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and the people go mad over idols.
Kuzakuba lokoma kwamanzi ayo! Azacitsha. Ngoba yilizwe lezithombe, izithombe ezizahlanya ngenxa yokwesaba.
39 So the desert creatures and hyenas will live there and ostriches will dwell there. It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.
Ngakho izidalwa zasenkangala lezimpisi zizahlala khona, lesikhova sizahlala khona. Akusayikwakhiwa kuyo lanini kumbe kuhlalwe kuyo kusukela kusizukulwane kusiya kusizukulwane.
40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighbors,” declares the LORD, “no one will dwell there; no man will abide there.
Njengalokhu uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma leGomora ndawonye lamadolobho ayeseduzane lawo,” kutsho uThixo, “ngokunjalo kakho ozahlala khona; akulamuntu ozahlala phakathi kwayo.
41 Behold, an army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are stirred up from the ends of the earth.
Khangelani! Ibutho liyeza livela enyakatho; isizwe esikhulu lamakhosi amanengi bayadungwa kusukela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.
42 They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon.
Bahlome ngamadandili langemikhonto; balesihluku, kabalasihawu. Bezwakala njengolwandle oluhlokomayo lapho begade amabhiza abo; beza njengabantu abalungele impi ukuba bakuhlasele, wena Ndodakazi yaseBhabhiloni.
43 The king of Babylon has heard the report, and his hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped him, pain like that of a woman in labor.
INkosi yaseBhabhiloni isiyizwile imibiko ngabo, njalo izandla zayo zilenga zingelamandla. Usizi seluyibambile, ubuhlungu obunjengowesifazane ohelelwayo.
44 Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
Njengesilwane siphuma emahlathini aseJodani sisiya emadlelweni amahle, iBhabhiloni ngizayixotsha elizweni layo ngesikhatshana. Ngubani okhethiweyo engizamkhethela lokhu na? Ngubani onjengami, ngubani ongamelana lami? Njalo nguphi umelusi ongajamelana lami na?”
45 Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Babylon and the strategies He has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.
Ngakho, zwanini lokho uThixo asecebe ukukwenza ngeBhabhiloni, asemise ukukwenza ngelizwe lamaKhaladiya: Amazinyane omhlambi azadonselwa le, amadlelo awo uzawatshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo ngenxa yabo.
46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake; a cry will be heard among the nations.
Ekuzwakaleni komsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uzagedezela; ukukhala kwayo kuzazwakala phakathi kwezizwe.
