Deuteronomy 32
1 “Listen, O heavens, to what I am saying. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
Bekani indlebe, mazulu, ngizakhuluma, njalo zwana, mhlaba, amazwi omlomo wami.
2 Let my doctrine accumulate like the rain. Let my eloquence form like the dew, like a mist upon the plants, and like water droplets upon the grass.
Imfundiso yami izathonta njengezulu, inkulumo yami izathonta njengamazolo, njengomkhizo phezu kohlaza, lanjengemifefezo emibhideni.
3 For I will invoke the name of the Lord. Acknowledge the magnificence of our God!
Ngoba ngizamemezela ibizo leNkosi. Mnikeni ubukhulu uNkulunkulu wethu.
4 The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments. God is faithful and without any iniquity. He is just and upright.
UliDwala, umsebenzi wakhe uphelele, ngoba zonke indlela zakhe ziyizahlulelo. UNkulunkulu weqiniso, ongelabubi, ulungile, uqondile.
5 They have sinned against him, and in their filth they are not his sons. They are a depraved and perverse generation.
Bonile kuye, kabasibo abantwana bakhe, isici ngesabo, bayisizukulwana esigobileyo lesiphambeneyo.
6 How can this be the return you would offer to the Lord, O foolish and senseless people? Is he himself not your Father, who has possessed you, and made you, and created you?
Lingahlawula lokho eNkosini yini, bantu abayizithutha labangahlakaniphanga? Kayisuye yini uyihlo owakuthengayo, wakwenza, wakumisa?
7 Remember the days of antiquity. Consider each generation. Question your father, and he will declare it to you. Question your elders, and they will tell it to you.
Khumbula insuku zendulo, unakane iminyaka yesizukulwana ngesizukulwana. Buza uyihlo, uzakulandisela, abadala bakho, bazakutshela.
8 When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he appointed the limits of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Israel.
Lapho oPhezukonke enika izizwe ilifa, lapho esehlukanisa amadodana kaAdamu, wamisa imingcele yezizwe njengenani labantwana bakoIsrayeli.
9 But the Lord’s portion is his people: Jacob, the lot of his inheritance.
Ngoba isabelo seNkosi ngabantu bayo, uJakobe uyinkatho yelifa layo.
10 He discovered him in a desert land, in a place of horror and a vast wilderness. He led him around and taught him, and he guarded him like the pupil of his eye,
Wamfica elizweni eliyinkangala, lenkangala engelalutho ebhongayo. Wamkhokhela wambhodisa, wamfundisa, wamgcina njengenhlamvu yelihlo lakhe.
11 just as an eagle encourages its young to fly, and, flying above them, stretches out its wings, and takes them up, and carries them on its shoulders.
Njengokhozi olunyakazisa isidleke salo, lundiza phezu kwamaphuphu alo, luselula impiko zalo, luwathatha, luwathwale ngezimpaphe zalo,
12 The Lord alone was his leader, and there was no strange god with him.
iNkosi yodwa yamkhokhela, njalo kwakungekho layo unkulunkulu wabezizwe.
13 He stood him upon an exalted land, so that he might eat the fruits of the fields, so that he might eat honey from the rock, and oil from the hardest stone,
Yamgadisa endaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, ukuze adle izithelo zensimu. Yamondla ngoluju oluvela edwaleni, lamafutha aphuma elitsheni elilukhuni ledwala,
14 butter from the herd, and milk from the sheep, with fat from the lambs, and with rams and goats from the sons of Bashan, with the kernel of the wheat, and so that he might drink the undiluted blood of the grape.
izankefu zenkomo, lochago lwembuzi, kanye lamafutha amawundlu, lezinqama zohlobo lweBashani, lezimpongo, kanye lamahwahwa ezinso zengqoloyi; wena wasunatha igazi lezithelo zesivini, iwayini.
15 The beloved grew fat, and he kicked. Having grown fat and thick and wide, he abandoned God, his Maker, and he withdrew from God, his Savior.
Kodwa uJeshuruni wazimuka wakhaba. Usuzimukile, wakhuluphala, wembeswa ngamahwahwa. Yena wadela uNkulunkulu owamenzayo, wadelela iDwala losindiso lwakhe.
16 They provoked him with strange gods, and they stirred him to anger by their abominations.
Bambangela ubukhwele ngokwezizwe, bamthukuthelisa ngezinengiso.
17 They immolated to demons and not to God, to gods whom they did not know, who were new and recent arrivals, whom their fathers did not worship.
Bahlabela amadimoni, hatshi uNkulunkulu, onkulunkulu ababengabazi, abatsha abavela eduze, oyihlo abangabesabanga.
18 You have forsaken the God who conceived you, and you have forgotten the Lord who created you.
IDwala elakuzalayo ulikhohliwe, wamkhohlwa uNkulunkulu owakuzalayo.
19 The Lord saw, and he was stirred to anger. For his own sons and daughters provoked him.
Kwathi iNkosi ikubona, yanengwa yibo, ngenxa yentukuthelo yamadodana ayo lamadodakazi ayo.
20 And he said: ‘I will hide my face from them, and I will consider their very end. For this is a perverse generation, and they are unfaithful sons.
Yasisithi: Ngizabafihlela ubuso bami, ngibone ukuthi ukuphela kwabo kuzakuba yini; ngoba bayisizukulwana esiphambeneyo, abantwana okungelakuthembeka kibo.
21 They have provoked me with that which was not God, and they have angered me with their emptiness. And so, I will provoke them with that which is not a people, and I will anger them with a foolish nation.
Bona bangenze ngaba lobukhwele ngokungesuye uNkulunkulu; bangithukuthelisile ngezinto zabo eziyize. Ngakho ngizabenza babe lobukhwele ngabangeyisibo abantu; ngibathukuthelise ngesizwe esiyisithutha.
22 A fire has been kindled in my fury, and it will burn even to the deepest Hell, and it will devour the earth with its produce, and it will burn the foundations of the mountains. (Sheol h7585)
Ngoba umlilo usubasiwe entukuthelweni yami, uyavutha kuze kube sesihogweni esingaphansi kakhulu; uzaqeda umhlaba lezithelo zawo, ulumathise izisekelo zezintaba. (Sheol h7585)
23 I will heap evils upon them, and I will expend my arrows among them.
Ngizabuthelela ububi phezu kwabo, ngiqedele imitshoko yami kubo.
24 They will be consumed by famine, and birds with a very bitter bite will devour them. I will send forth the teeth of wild beasts among them, along with the fury of creatures that scurry across the ground, and of serpents.
Bazamunywa yindlala, baqedwe yikutshisa lencithakalo ebabayo; njalo ngizathumela phakathi kwabo amazinyo ezilo, lobuhlungu bezihuquzelayo zothuli.
25 Outside, the sword will devastate them; and inside, there will be dread, as much for the young man as for the maiden, and as much for the newborn as for the old man.
Ngaphandle inkemba izabenza bafelwe, ngokunjalo uvalo ezindlini ezingaphakathi, ijaha lalo lentombi emsulwa, omunyayo kanye lendoda eyimpunga.
26 I said: Where are they? I will cause their memory to cease from among men.
Ngathi: Ngizabahlakaza, ngenze ukukhunjulwa kwabo kuphele phakathi kwabantu;
27 But because of the wrath of the enemies, I have delayed it. Otherwise, perhaps their enemies would be arrogant and would say: “Our exalted hand, and not the Lord, has done all these things.”
uba bengingesabi intukuthelo yesitha, hlezi abazondi babo bahlanekele, hlezi bathi: Isandla sethu siphakeme; leNkosi kakusiyo eyenze konke lokhu.
28 They are a nation without counsel and without prudence.
Ngoba bayisizwe esingelakwelulekwa, njalo kakukho ukuqedisisa kubo.
29 I wish that they would be wise and understanding, and would provide for the very end.’
Kwangathi ngabe bebehlakaniphile, bebengaqedisisa lokhu, bazwisise isiphetho sabo!
30 How is it that one pursues a thousand, and two chases ten thousand? Is it not because their God has sold them, and because the Lord has enclosed them?
Oyedwa angaxotsha njani abayinkulungwane, lababili babalekise abayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi, ngaphandle kokuthi iDwala labo libathengisile, leNkosi ibanikele?
31 For our God is not like their gods. And our enemies are judges.
Ngoba idwala labo kalinjengeDwala lethu; njengoba izitha zethu zingabahluleli.
32 Their vines are of the vines of Sodom, but from the suburbs of Gomorrah. Their grapes are the grapes of gall, and their grape clusters are most bitter.
Ngoba ivini labo livela evinini leSodoma, lemasimini eGomora; izithelo zabo zesivini ziyizithelo zesivini zenyongo; zilamahlukuzo ababayo.
33 Their wine is the gall of snakes, and it is the incurable venom of asps.
Iwayini labo liyibuhlungu bemigobho, lobuhlungu obulesihluku bamabululu.
34 ‘Have not these things been stored up with me, and sealed up amid my treasures?
Lokho kakubekiwe kimi yini, kunanyekiwe emagugwini ami?
35 Vengeance is mine, and I will repay them in due time, so that their foot may slip and fall. The day of perdition is near, and the time rushes to appear.’
Ngeyami impindiselo lokubuyisela, ngesikhathi sokutshelela konyawo lwabo; ngoba usuku lwengozi yabo selusondele, lezinto abazilungiselweyo ziyaphangisa.
36 The Lord will judge his people, and he will take pity on his servants. He will see that their hand has been weakened, and that those who have been enclosed have likewise failed, and that those who have been left behind have been consumed.
Ngoba iNkosi izabahlulela abantu bayo, izisole ngenceku zayo, lapho ibona ukuthi amandla asehambile, lokuthi kakho ovalelweyo lokhululekileyo.
37 And he shall say: ‘Where are their gods, in whom they had confidence?
Khona izakuthi: Bangaphi onkulunkulu babo, idwala ababephephela kulo,
38 They ate the fat of their victims, and they drank the wine of their libations. So let these rise up, and bring relief to you, and protect you in your distress.
abadla amafutha emihlatshelo yabo, banatha iwayini lomnikelo wabo wokuthululwa? Kabavuke, balisize, babe yisivikelo senu.
39 See that I am alone, and there is no other god beside me. I will kill, and I will cause to live. I will strike, and I will heal. And there is no one who is able to rescue from my hand.
Bonani khathesi ukuthi mina, nginguye, njalo kakho unkulunkulu olami; mina ngiyabulala, njalo ngiphilise; ngiyatshaya, njalo mina ngelaphe; njalo kakho ongahluthuna esandleni sami.
40 I will lift up my hand to heaven, and I will say: I live in eternity.
Ngoba ngiphakamisela isandla sami emazulwini, ngithi: Ngiyaphila kuze kube phakade,
41 When I sharpen my sword like lightning, and my hand takes hold of judgment, then I will render vengeance to my enemies, and I will repay those who hate me.
nxa ngilola inkemba yami ephazimayo, lesandla sami sibambelela ekwahluleleni, ngizabuyisela impindiselo ezitheni zami, ngibavuze abangizondayo.
42 I will inebriate my arrows with blood, and my sword will devour flesh: from the blood of the slain and from the captive, from the exposed head of the enemies.’
Ngizadakisa imitshoko yami ngegazi, lenkemba yami izakudla inyama, ngegazi labagwaziweyo labathunjiweyo, ekuqaliseni kwezimpindiselo ngimelene lesitha.
43 You nations, praise his people! For he will avenge the blood of his servants. And he will distribute vengeance to their enemies. And he will be merciful to the land of his people.”
Thokozani zizwe, bantu bayo; ngoba izaphindisela igazi lenceku zayo, ibuyisele impindiselo kuzitha zayo, yenzele ilizwe layo, abantu bayo, inhlawulo yokuthula.
44 Therefore, Moses went and spoke all the words of this canticle to the ears of the people, both he and Joshua, the son of Nun.
UMozisi wasesiza, wakhuluma wonke amazwi alingoma endlebeni zabantu, yena loHoseya indodana kaNuni.
45 And he completed all these words, speaking to all of Israel.
UMozisi eseqedile ukukhuluma wonke lamazwi kuIsrayeli wonke,
46 And he said to them: “Set your hearts upon all the words which I am testifying to you this day. So shall you command your sons, to keep, and to do, and to fulfill all the things that have been written in this law.
wathi kubo: Bekani inhliziyo yenu kuwo wonke amazwi engiwafakaza phakathi kwenu lamuhla, ukuthi libalaye abantwana benu bagcine ukuwenza wonke amazwi alumlayo.
47 For these things have not been entrusted to you to no purpose, but so that each one would live by them, and so that, in doing these, you may continue for a long time in the land, which you will enter upon crossing the Jordan in order to possess it.”
Ngoba kakusiyo into eyize kini, ngoba kuyimpilo yenu; ngalinto lizakwelula izinsuku elizweni elichapha iJordani ukuya kulo ukudla ilifa lalo.
48 And the Lord spoke to Moses on the same day, saying:
INkosi yasikhuluma kuMozisi ngalona lolosuku isithi:
49 “Ascend this mountain, Abarim, (that is, of crossings) onto Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho, and look upon the land of Canaan, which I will deliver to the sons of Israel to obtain it. And you shall die upon the mountain.
Yenyukela kule intaba yeAbarimi, intaba yeNebo, eselizweni lakoMowabi emaqondana leJeriko, ubone ilizwe leKhanani engilinika abantwana bakoIsrayeli ukuba yilifa,
50 After climbing it, you will be joined to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor, and was placed with his people.
ufele entabeni owenyukela kuyo, ubuthelwe ebantwini bakini, njengoAroni umnewenu efela entabeni yeHori, wabuthelwa ebantwini bakibo.
51 For you trespassed against me in the midst of the sons of Israel, at the Waters of Contradiction, in Kadesh, in the desert of Sin. And you did not sanctify me among the sons of Israel.
Ngenxa yokuthi laphambana lami phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli emanzini eMeriba-Kadeshi enkangala yeZini; ngoba kalingingcwelisanga phakathi kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli.
52 You shall see the land opposite you, which I will give to the sons of Israel, but you shall not enter into it.”
Ngoba unganeno uzalibona ilizwe, kodwa kawuyikungena khona, elizweni engilinika abantwana bakoIsrayeli.
