Isaiah 26
1 In that day will this song be made in the land of Judah: We have a strong town; he will make salvation our walls and towers.
Ngalolosuku ingoma le izahlatshelwa elizweni lakoJuda: Siledolobho eliqinileyo; uNkulunkulu wenza ukusindisa kube yimiduli yalo lezivikelo.
2 Let the doors be open, so that the upright nation which keeps faith may come in.
Vulani amasango ukuze isizwe esilungileyo singene, isizwe esigcina ukuthembeka.
3 The man whose heart is unmoved you will keep in peace, because his hope is in you.
Lizamemeza abe lokuthula okupheleleyo lowo olengqondo ebambelelayo, ngoba wethemba kuwe.
4 Let your hope be in the Lord for ever: for the Lord Jah is an unchanging Rock.
Thembani uThixo kokuphela, ngoba uThixo, uThixo ngokwakhe, uliDwala laphakade.
5 For he has made low those who are lifted up, all the people of the town of pride: he makes it low, crushing it down to the earth; he makes it low in the dust.
Ubehlisela phansi abahlala engqongeni; ulehlisela phansi idolobho eliphakemeyo, ulidilizela emhlabathini, aliphosele phansi othulini.
6 It will be crushed under the feet of the poor and the steps of those who are in need.
Inyawo zilinyathelela phansi, inyawo zabancindezelweyo, amanyathelo abayanga.
7 The way of the good man is straight; the road of the upright is made smooth by you.
Indlela yabalungileyo iqondile; awu wena oQotho, wenza indlela yabalungileyo ibe butshelezi.
8 We have been waiting for you, O Lord; the desire of our soul is for the memory of your name.
Yebo, Thixo, sihamba endleleni yemithetho yakho, siyakulindela; ibizo lakho lodumo lwakho kulangathelelwa zinhliziyo zethu.
9 In the night the desire of my soul has been for you; early will my spirit be searching for you; for when your punishments come on the earth, the people of the world will get the knowledge of righteousness.
Umphefumulo wami uyakulangazelela ebusuku, ekuseni umoya wami uyakukhumbula. Lapho ukwahlulela kwakho kufika emhlabeni, abantu basemhlabeni bayakufunda ukulunga.
10 Even if you are kind to the evil-doer, he will not go after righteousness; even in the land of the upright he will still go on in his wrongdoing, and will not see the glory of the Lord.
Lanxa ababi betshengiswa umusa, kabakufundi ukulunga; laselizweni lokulunga baqhubeka besenza okubi, bengabunaki ubukhosi bukaThixo.
11 Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see: let them see ... yes, your haters will be burned up in the fire.
Oh Thixo, isandla sakho siphakanyiselwe phezulu, kodwa kabasiboni. Babonise ukutshisekela kwakho abantu bakho bayangiswe; umlilo olungiselwe izitha zakho kawubaqede.
12 Lord, you will give us peace: for all our works are the outcome of your purpose.
Thixo, usilethela ukuthula; konke esesikufezile sikwenzelwe nguwe.
13 O Lord, our God, other lords than you have had rule over us; but in you only is our salvation, and no other name will we take on our lips.
Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wethu, amanye amakhosi ngaphandle kwakho ake asibusa, kodwa ibizo lakho yilo lodwa esilidumisayo.
14 The dead will not come back to life: their spirits will not come back to earth; for this cause you have sent destruction on them, so that the memory of them is dead.
Khathesi asafa, kawasaphili; imimoya leyana eyahambayo kayivuki. Wawajezisa, wawatshabalalisa; wesula konke ukukhunjulwa kwawo.
15 You have made the nation great, O Lord, you have made it great; glory is yours: you have made wide the limits of the land.
Usandisile isizwe, Oh Thixo; usandisile isizwe. Uzilethele udumo; uyiqhelisile yonke imikhawulo yelizwe.
16 Lord, in trouble our eyes have been turned to you, we sent up a prayer when your punishment was on us.
Thixo, beza kuwe ekuhluphekeni kwabo; kwathi lapho usubajezisile banelisa ukunyenyeza umkhuleko.
17 As a woman with child, whose time is near, is troubled, crying out in her pain; so have we been before you, O Lord.
Njengowesifazane okhulelweyo lapho esezabeletha uyabhinqika ekhaliswa yibuhlungu, lathi sabanjalo phambi kwakho, Oh Thixo.
18 We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have given birth to wind; no salvation has come to the earth through us, and no children have come into the world.
Sasikhulelwe, sabhinqika ebuhlungwini, kodwa sazala umoya. Kasilethanga nsindiso emhlabeni; kasibazalelanga lutho abantu basemhlabeni.
19 Your dead will come back; their dead bodies will come to life again. Those in the dust, awaking from their sleep, will send out a song; for your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the shades.
Kodwa abafileyo bakho bazaphila Thixo, imizimba yabo izavuka. Lina elihlala othulini, vukani lihlabelele ngentokozo. Amazolo enu afana lamazolo ekuseni; umhlaba uzabaveza abafileyo bawo.
20 Come, my people, into your secret places, and let your doors be shut: keep yourself safe for a short time, till his wrath is over.
Hambani bantu bami, ngenani ezindlini zenu, lizivalele phakathi; lizifihle okwesikhatshana ulaka lwakhe luze luphele.
21 For the Lord is coming out of his place to send punishment on the people of the earth for their evil-doing: the earth will let the blood drained out on her be seen, and will keep her dead covered no longer.
Khangelani, uThixo uyaphuma lapho ahlala khona ukuba ajezise abantu basemhlabeni ngenxa yezono zabo. Umhlaba uzaveza igazi elachithwa kuwo; kawusayikubafihla ababulawayo bawo.
