Jeremiah 50
1 The word that the Lord has spoken about Babylon and about the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet.
Ilizwi iNkosi eyalikhuluma imelene leBhabhiloni, imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya, ngesandla sikaJeremiya umprofethi, lisithi:
2 “Announce it among the Gentiles, and make it known. Lift up a sign. Proclaim it and do not conceal it. Say this: ‘Babylon has been captured. Bel has been confounded. Merodach has been conquered. Their graven things have been confounded. Their idols have not survived.’
Memezani phakathi kwezizwe, lizwakalise; misani uphawu, lizwakalise, lingakufihli, lithi: IBhabhiloni ithunjiwe, uBheli uyangekile, uMerodaki ubhidliziwe; izithombe zayo ziyangisiwe, imifanekiso yayo ibhidliziwe.
3 For a nation has ascended against her from the north, which will set her land in desolation. And there will be no one who may live within it, from man even to beast. For they have been removed and have gone away.
Ngoba isizwe senyuka simelene layo esivela enyakatho, esizakwenza ilizwe layo libe lunxiwa, ukuze kungabi lomhlali kulo; kusukela emuntwini kusiya enyamazaneni kuyabaleka kuhambile.
4 In those days and in that time, says the Lord, the sons of Israel will advance, they and the sons of Judah together. Weeping as they walk, they will hurry on, and they will seek the Lord their God.
Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, abantwana bakoIsrayeli bazakuza, bona labantwana bakoJuda kanyekanye; behamba bekhala inyembezi, bazahamba, bedinga iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo.
5 They will ask the way to Zion; their faces will be set toward this place. They will arrive and will be joined to the Lord by an everlasting covenant, which nothing will wipe away into oblivion.
Bazabuza indlela eZiyoni, ubuso babo bukhangele ngakuyo; wozani, lizihlanganise leNkosi ngesivumelwano esiphakade esingayikukhohlakala.
6 My people have become a lost flock. Their shepherds have led them astray and have caused them to wander in the mountains. They have crossed from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo; abelusi babo babaduhisile, bebaphendulela ezintabeni; bahamba besuka entabeni besiya eqaqeni, bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokulala.
7 All whom they have found, they have devoured. And their enemies have said: ‘We have not sinned. For it is they who have sinned against the Lord, the beauty of justice, and against the Lord, the hope of their fathers.’
Bonke ababatholayo babadla, lezitha zabo zathi: Kasiyikuba lacala, ngenxa yokuthi bonile eNkosini, ikhaya lokulunga, ngitsho iNkosi, ithemba laboyise.
8 Withdraw from the midst of Babylon, and go forth from the land of the Chaldeans. And be like young goats before the flock.
Balekani liphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, liphume elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengezimpongo phambi komhlambi.
9 For behold, I am raising up, and I will lead against Babylon, a congregation of great nations from the land of the north. And they will be prepared against her, and from there she will be taken. Their arrows, like those of a strong man, a killer, will not return empty.
Ngoba khangela, ngizavusa ngenze ukuthi kwenyukele eBhabhiloni ixuku lezizwe ezinkulu zivela elizweni lenyakatho, zizihlele zimelene layo; kusukela lapho zithunjwe; imitshoko yakhe njengeqhawe elilamandla kayiyikubuyela ize.
10 And Chaldea will become a prey. All who lay waste to her will be filled, says the Lord.
Njalo iKhaladiya izakuba yimpango; bonke abayiphangayo bazasutha, itsho iNkosi.
11 For you exult and you speak great things, plundering my inheritance. For you have spread out like calves upon the grass, and you have bellowed like bulls.
Ngoba lalijabula, ngoba lathokoza, lina bachithi belifa lami, ngoba liqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, likhonye njengamabhiza amaduna;
12 Your mother has been exceedingly shamed, and she who bore you has become equal to the dust. Behold, she will be the last among the nations, a desert, impassable and dry.
unyoko ulenhloni kakhulu, owalizalayo uyangekile. Khangela, ingemuva yezizwe iyinkangala eyomileyo lelugwadule.
13 By the wrath of the Lord, it will not be inhabited. Instead, it will be entirely desolate. Everyone who passes by Babylon will be stupefied and will hiss over all her wounds.
Ngenxa yolaka lweNkosi kayiyikuhlalwa, kodwa izakuba yincithakalo yonke; wonke owedlula eBhabhiloni uzamangala kakhulu, ancife ngenxa yazo zonke inhlupheko zayo.
14 Prepare yourselves against Babylon, on every side, all you who bend the bow. Make war against her! You should not spare the arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord.
Zihleleleni ukumelana leBhabhiloni inhlangothi zonke, lina lonke eligobisa idandili, litshoke kuyo, lingagodli mtshoko, ngoba yonile eNkosini.
15 Cry out against her! For where she has put forth a hand, her foundations have fallen, her walls have been destroyed. For it is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance against her! Just as she has done, do so to her.
Memezani limelene layo inhlangothi zonke; isinike isandla sayo, izisekelo zayo ziwile, imiduli yayo idiliziwe; ngoba lokho kuyimpindiselo yeNkosi; phindiselani kuyo, lenze kuyo njengokwenza kwayo.
16 Destroy the founder from Babylon, and the one who holds the sickle in the time of harvest. Before the face of the sword of the dove, each one will turn back to his people, and every one will flee to his own land.
Qumani umhlanyeli asuke eBhabhiloni, laye ophatha isikela ngesikhathi sokuvuna; ngenxa yenkemba ecindezelayo bazaphenduka, ngulowo lalowo kwabakibo, babaleke, ngulowo lalowo elizweni lakibo.
17 Israel is a scattered flock. The lions have driven him away. First, the king of Assyria devoured him. And last, this Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, has taken away his bones.
UIsrayeli uyimvu ehlakazekileyo; izilwane zimxotshile; kuqala inkosi yeAsiriya yamudla, emva kwalokho lo uNebhukadirezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni wephule amathambo akhe.
18 Because of this, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, just as I have visited the king of Assyria.
Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizayijezisa inkosi yeBhabhiloni lelizwe layo, njengalokho ngayijezisa inkosi yeAsiriya.
19 And I will lead back Israel to his habitation. And he will pasture on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul will be satiated at mount Ephraim and Gilead.
Njalo ngizabuyisela uIsrayeli endaweni yakhe yokuhlala, njalo uzadlisa eKharmeli leBashani, lomphefumulo wakhe usuthe entabeni yakoEfrayimi leGileyadi.
20 In those days and at that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel will be sought, and there will be none. And the sin of Judah will be sought, and none will be found. For I will be forgiving to them, whom I will leave behind.
Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, kuzadingwa ububi koIsrayeli, kodwa bungabi khona, lezono zikaJuda, kodwa zingatholwa; ngoba ngizabathethelela labo engibenza babe yinsali.
21 Ascend against the land of the rulers, and visit against its inhabitants! Scatter and destroy whatever has been left behind them, says the Lord, and act according to all that I have instructed you.
Umelene lelizwe leMerathayimi, yenyuka umelene layo, njalo umelene labahlali bePhekhodi; uchithe, utshabalalise emva kwabo, itsho iNkosi, wenze njengakho konke engikulaye khona.
22 A voice of war in the land, and great destruction!
Umsindo wempi uselizweni, lokuchitheka okukhulu.
23 How has the mallet of the entire earth been broken and crushed? How has Babylon been turned into a desert among the nations?
Yeka ukuganyulwa lokwephuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukwenziwa kweBhabhiloni unxiwa phakathi kwezizwe!
24 I have ensnared you, and you have been captured, O Babylon, and you did not realize it. You have been discovered and seized, because you provoked the Lord.
Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, futhi lawe wathunjwa, Bhabhiloni, lawe wawungazi; watholwa, futhi wabanjwa, ngoba waphikisana leNkosi.
25 The Lord has opened his storehouse, and he has brought forth the instruments of his wrath. For there is work for the Lord, the God of hosts, within the land of the Chaldeans.
INkosi ivulile isiphala sayo, yakhupha izikhali zolaka lwayo, ngoba lokhu kungumsebenzi weNkosi uJehova wamabandla elizweni lamaKhaladiya.
26 Advance against her from the furthest regions! Open, so that those who will trample her may go out! Take stones from the road, and gather them into piles, and destroy her. And let there be nothing left of her.
Wozani limelane layo livela ephethelweni, livule izibuya zayo, liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi, liyitshabalalise, ingabi lansali.
27 Scatter all her strong ones. Let them descend to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has arrived, the time of their visitation.
Bulalani amajongosi ayo wonke, kawehlele ekuhlatshweni. Maye kuwo! Ngoba usuku lwawo lufikile, isikhathi sempindiselo yawo.
28 It is the voice of those who are fleeing and of those who have escaped from the land of Babylon: to announce in Zion the revenge of the Lord our God, the revenge of his Temple.
Ilizwi lababalekayo labaphunyukayo bevela elizweni leBhabhiloni, ukuze bamemeze eZiyoni impindiselo yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, impindiselo yethempeli layo.
29 Announce it to the many in Babylon, to all who bend the bow. Stand together against her all around, and let no one escape. Repay her according to her work. In accord with all that she has done, do to her. For she has raised herself up against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.
Bizani abatshoki bamelane leBhabhiloni, bonke abagobisa idandili, limise inkamba limelane layo inhlangothi zonke; kayingabi lokuphunyuka; liyiphindisele njengomsebenzi wayo, lenze kuyo njengakho konke ekwenzileyo; ngoba yenze ngokuziqhenya imelene leNkosi, imelene loNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
30 For this reason, her young men will fall in her streets. And all her men of war will be silenced, in that day, says the Lord.
Ngakho amajaha ayo azakuwa ezitaladeni zayo, lawo wonke amadoda ayo empi azabhujiswa ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi.
31 Behold, I am against you, O proud one, says the Lord, the God of hosts. For your day has arrived, the time of your visitation.
Khangela, ngimelana lawe, wena oziqhenyayo, itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla; ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi engizakuhambela ngaso.
32 And the proud one will fall and be ruined. And there will be no one who may lift him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour everything around him.”
Khona oziqhenyayo ezakhubeka awe, njalo kungekho ozamvusa; njalo ngizaphemba umlilo emizini yakhe ozakudla konke okumhanqileyo.
33 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “The sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have endured calumny together. All who have seized them are holding them and refusing to release them.
Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla: Babecindezelwe abantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoJuda ndawonye; njalo bonke ababathumbileyo babagagadlele; bala ukubayekela bahambe.
34 Their redeemer is strong. The Lord of hosts is his name. He will defend their case in judgment, so that he may terrify the land and disturb the inhabitants of Babylon.
Umhlengi wabo ulamandla, iNkosi yamabandla libizo layo; isibili izamela udaba lwabo, ukuze inike umhlaba ukuphumula, kodwa inyakazise abahlali beBhabhiloni.
35 A sword is for the Chaldeans, says the Lord, and for the inhabitants of Babylon, and for her leaders, and for her wise ones.
Inkemba iphezu kwamaKhaladiya, itsho iNkosi, laphezu kwabahlali beBhabhiloni, laphezu kweziphathamandla zayo, laphezu kwabahlakaniphileyo bayo.
36 A sword is for her diviners, who will be fooled. A sword is for her strong ones, who will be afraid.
Inkemba iphezu kwabaqambimanga ukuze benze ngobuthutha; inkemba iphezu kwamaqhawe ayo ukuze adilizwe.
37 A sword is for their horses, and for their chariots, and for all the common people who are in her midst. And they will be like women. A sword is for her storehouses, and they will be plundered.
Inkemba iphezu kwamabhiza ayo, laphezu kwenqola zayo, laphezu kwayo yonke ingxube yexuku ephakathi kwayo, ukuze babe ngabesifazana; inkemba iphezu kokuligugu kwayo, ukuze kuphangwe.
38 A drought is over her waters, and they will be dried up. For it is a land of graven images, and they glory in portents.
Imbalela iphezu kwamanzi ayo, ukuze ome, ngoba iyilizwe lezithombe ezibaziweyo; bayahlanya ngenxa yezithombe ezesabekayo.
39 Because of this, dragons will live there with the fig fauns, and ostriches will live in it. And it will no longer be inhabited, even in perpetuity, nor will it be raised up, even from generation to generation.
Ngakho izilo zenkangala lamakhanka kuzahlala khona, lamadodakazi ezintshe azahlala kuyo, kakusayikuhlala muntu kuyo kuze kube nininini, kakuyikwakhelwa kuyo esizukulwaneni kusiya esizukulwaneni.
40 Just as the Lord overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighboring towns, says the Lord, no man will live there, and a son of man will not tend it.
Njengoba uNkulunkulu wagenqula iSodoma leGomora labomakhelwane bayo, itsho iNkosi, ngokunjalo kakuyikuhlala muntu khona, njalo kakulandodana yomuntu ezahlala njengowezizwe kuyo.
41 Behold, a people arrives from the north, and a great nation. And many kings will rise up from the ends of the earth.
Khangela, abantu bazavela enyakatho, lesizwe esikhulu, lamakhosi amanengi azavuswa evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.
42 They will take up the bow and the shield. They are cruel and merciless. Their voice will sound out, like the sea, and they will ride upon horses, like a man prepared for battle against you, O daughter of Babylon.
Bazabamba idandili lomkhonto; balesihluku, kabayikuba lomusa; ilizwi labo lizahlokoma njengolwandle, bagade amabhiza, ngulowo lalowo ehleliwe njengomuntu wempi emelene lawe, ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni.
43 The king of Babylon has heard the report about them, and his hands have been weakened. Anguish has overtaken him, like the pains of a woman giving birth.
Inkosi yeBhabhiloni izwile umbiko wabo, lezandla zayo zaba buthakathaka; ucindezelo lwayibamba, umhelo njengowobelethayo.
44 Behold, he will ascend like a lion from the arrogance of the Jordan to the robust beauty. For I will cause him to rush upon her suddenly. And who will be the elect one, whom I may appoint over her? For who is like me? And who can endure me? And who is that pastor who can withstand my countenance?”
Khangela, njengesilwane esivela ekukhukhumaleni kweJordani uzakwenyuka emelene lendawo yokuhlala okungapheliyo, kodwa ngizahle ngimgijimise asuke kuyo; njalo ngubani okhethiweyo engingammisa phezu kwayo? Ngoba ngubani onjengami? Ngubani-ke ozangibizela ukulandisa? Njalo nguwuphi lowomelusi ongema phambi kwami?
45 Because of this, listen to the counsel of the Lord, which he has conceived in his mind against Babylon, and to his thoughts, which he has devised against the land of the Chaldeans: “Certainly the little ones of the flocks will pull them down, unless their habitation will have been destroyed with them.
Ngakho, zwanini icebo leNKOSI elicebe imelene leBhabhiloni, lemicabango yayo eyicabange imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya: Isibili abancinyane bomhlambi bazabadonsa; isibili izachitha indawo yokuhlala phezu kwabo.
46 At the voice of the captivity of Babylon, the earth has been moved, and an outcry has been heard among the nations.”
Ngomsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uyazamazama, lokukhala kuzwakala phakathi kwezizwe.
