< Haggai 2 >

1 In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying:
Ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lanye lwenyanga yesikhombisa ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngoHagayi umphrofethi lisithi:
2 'Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying:
“Khuluma loZerubhabheli indodana kaSheyalithiyeli, umbusi wakoJuda, loJoshuwa indodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu kanye lensalela yabantu. Babuze uthi,
3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is not such a one as nothing in your eyes?
‘Ngubani kini owasalayo owabona indlu le enkazimulweni yayo yakuqala na? Khathesi ikhangeleka injani kini na? Kayikhangeleki njengeze na?
4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work; for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts.
Kodwa khathesi qina wena Zerubhabheli,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Qina wena Joshuwa ndodana kaJozadaki, umphristi omkhulu. Qinani, lonke lina bantu belizwe,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Lisebenze, ngoba ngilani,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
5 The word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt have I established, and My spirit abideth among you; fear ye not.
‘Lokhu yikho engakuvumelana lani ekuphumeni kwenu eGibhithe. UMoya wami uhlala phakathi kwenu. Lingesabi.’
6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: ‘Ngesikhatshana nje ngizaphinda nginyikinye amazulu lomhlaba, ulwandle lelizwe elomileyo.
7 and I will shake all nations, and the choicest things of all nations shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.
Ngizanyikinya izizwe zonke, abathandwayo kuzozonke izizwe bazakuza, njalo indlu le ngizayigcwalisa ngenkazimulo,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla,
8 Mine is the silver, and Mine the gold, saith the LORD of hosts.
‘Isiliva ngesami legolide ngelami,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, saith the LORD of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.'
‘Inkazimulo yale indlu yakhathesi izakuba nkulu kuleyendlu yakuqala,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla. ‘Njalo indawo le ngizayipha ukuthula,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.”
10 In the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying:
Ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesificamunwemunye, ngomnyaka wesibili kaDariyu, ilizwi likaThixo lafika kuHagayi umphrofethi lisithi:
11 'Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Ask now the priests for instruction, saying:
“Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla uthi: ‘Buza abaphristi ukuthi umthetho uthini:
12 If one bear hallowed flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any food, shall it be holy?' And the priests answered and said: 'No.'
Nxa umuntu ethwele inyama engcwele ngomphetho wesigqoko sakhe, umphetho lowo uthinte isinkwa loba inyama ephekiweyo, iwayini, amafutha loba okunye ukudla, kuba ngcwele na?’” Abaphristi baphendula bathi, “Hatshi.”
13 Then said Haggai: 'If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean?' And the priests answered and said: 'It shall be unclean.'
UHagayi wasesithi, “Nxa umuntu ongcoliswe yikuthinta isidumbu ethinta okunye kwalezizinto, kuyangcola na?” “Ye,” kwaphendula abaphristi, “kuyangcola.”
14 Then answered Haggai, and said: 'So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
UHagayi wasesithi, “‘Kunjalo-ke emehlweni ami ngabantu laba langesizwe lesi,’ kutsho uThixo. ‘Lokho abakwenzayo loba abakunikelayo lapho kungcolile.
15 And now, I pray you, consider from this day and forward — before a stone was laid upon a stone in the temple of the LORD,
Khathesi cabangani kuhle ngalokhu kusukela ngalolusuku kusiya phambili, khumbulani ukuthi izinto zazinjani kungakabekwa elinye ilitshe phezu kwelinye ethempelini likaThixo.
16 through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten; when one came to the winevat to draw out fifty press-measures, there were but twenty;
Kwakusithi lapho umuntu efika enqunjini yezilinganiso ezingamatshumi amabili, kwakulezilitshumi kuphela. Kuthi lapho umuntu eye efatshini lewayini ukuba akhe izilinganiso ezingamatshumi amahlanu, kwakulezingamatshumi amabili kuphela.
17 I smote you with blasting and with mildew and with hail in all the work of your hands; yet ye turned not to Me, saith the LORD —
Wonke umsebenzi wezandla zenu ngawutshaya ngomkhuhlane, ngesikhwekhwe langesiqhotho, kodwa kaliphendukelanga kimi,’ kutsho uThixo.
18 consider, I pray you, from this day and forward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the LORD'S temple was laid, consider it;
‘Kusukela lamhla kusiya phambili, kusukela ngalolusuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga yesificamunwemunye, cabangani kuhle ngosuku okwabekwa ngalo isisekelo sethempeli likaThixo. Cabangani kuhle:
19 is the seed yet in the barn? yea, the vine, and the fig-tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive-tree hath not brought forth — from this day will I bless you.'
Kuselenhlanyelo eseleyo esiphaleni na? Kuze kube khathesi, ivini lomkhiwa, iphomegranathi lesihlahla se-Oliva asikatheli izithelo. Kusukela ngalolusuku kusiya phambili ngizalibusisa.’”
20 And the word of the LORD came the second time unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying:
Ilizwi likaThixo lafika ngokwesibili kuHagayi ngosuku lwamatshumi amabili lane lwenyanga lisithi:
21 'Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: I will shake the heavens and the earth;
“Tshela uZerubhabheli umbusi wakoJuda ukuthi ngizanyikinya amazulu lomhlaba.
22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.
Ngizagenqula izihlalo zobukhosi ngichithe amandla emibuso yezizweni. Ngizagenqula izinqola zempi labagadi bazo; amabhiza labagadi bawo bazakuwa, ngamunye ngenkemba yomfowabo.
23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.'
‘Ngalolosuku,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla, ‘ngizakuthatha wena nceku yami Zerubhabheli ndodana kaSheyalithiyeli,’ kutsho uThixo, ‘njalo ngizakwenza ube njengesongo eliluphawu lwami, ngoba sengikukhethile,’ kutsho uThixo uSomandla.”

< Haggai 2 >