Isaiah 31
1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are exceeding mighty; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Maye kulabo abaya eGibhithe ukuyafuna usizo, abathemba amabhiza, abathembe ubunengi bezinqola zabo zempi lamandla amakhulu abagadi bamabhiza abo, kodwa bengathembeli koNgcwele ka-Israyeli, kumbe bacele usizo kuThixo.
2 Yet He also is wise, and bringeth evil, and doth not call back His words; but will arise against the house of the evil-doers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
Ikanti laye uhlakaniphile njalo angaletha incithakalo; ilizwi lakhe kalibuyeli emuva. Uzavukela abendlu yababi lalabo abasiza abenza okubi.
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit; so when the LORD shall stretch out His hand, both he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together.
Kodwa amaGibhithe ngabantu kawasiNkulunkulu; amabhiza awo yinyama kawasimoya. Lapho uThixo eselula isandla sakhe, lowo osizayo uzakhubeka, lowo osizwayo uzakuwa, bobabili bazabhubha.
4 For thus saith the LORD unto me: Like as the lion, or the young lion, growling over his prey, though a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them; so will the LORD of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
Lokhu yikho okutshiwo nguThixo kimi, ukuthi: “Njengesilwane sihwabha; isilwane esikhulu sibhongela esikubambileyo, lanxa ixuku lonke labelusi libizwa ukuba lisihlasele, kasethuswa yikuklabalala kwabo kumbe sithikanyezwe ngumsindo wabo, unjalo-ke uThixo uSomandla uzakwehla ukuba alwe entabeni iZiyoni laseziqongweni zayo.
5 As birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.
Njengezinyoni zitshaya amaphiko emoyeni, uThixo uSomandla uzavikela iJerusalema, uzalivikela alikhulule, uzadlula ‘ngaphezu’ kwalo alihlenge.”
6 Turn ye unto Him against whom ye have deeply rebelled, O children of Israel.
Awu bantu bako-Israyeli, buyelani kulowo elamhlamukela kakubi.
7 For in that day they shall cast away every man his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
Ngoba ngalolosuku lonke lizazilahla izithombe zenu zesiliva lezegolide elizenze ngezandla zenu ezonayo.
8 Then shall Asshur fall with the sword, not of man, and the sword, not of men, shall devour him; and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become tributary.
“I-Asiriya izachithwa ngenkemba engesiyabantu, inkemba engasiyo yabantu izababhubhisa. Bazayibalekela inkemba, izinsizwa zabo zizakwenziwa izigqili.
9 And his rock shall pass away by reason of terror, and his princes shall be dismayed at the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and His furnace in Jerusalem.
Inqaba yabo izadilika ngenxa yokwesaba; lapho bebona uphawu lwempi izinduna zabo zempi zizatshaywa luvalo,” kutsho uThixo omlilo wakhe useZiyoni, osithando sakhe siseJerusalema.
