Jeremiah 31
1 At that time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
“Ngalesosikhathi ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wezizwana zonke zako-Israyeli, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami,” kutsho uThixo.
2 Thus saith the LORD: The people that were left of the sword have found grace in the wilderness, even Israel, when I go to cause him to rest.
UThixo uthi: “Abantu abasilayo enkembeni bazathola umusa enkangala; ngizakuzanika u-Israyeli ukuphumula.”
3 'From afar the LORD appeared unto me.' 'Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with affection have I drawn thee.
UThixo wabonakala kithi kudala esithi: “Ngikuthandile ngothando olungapheliyo; ngikuhole ngesisa esikhulu.
4 Again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; again shalt thou be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
Ngizakwakha njalo uzakwakhiwa kutsha futhi, wena Israyeli Ntombi emsulwa. Uzathatha amagedla akho futhi uphume uyegida labathokozayo.
5 Again shalt thou plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall have the use thereof.
Uzalima izivini zakho futhi emaqaqeni aseSamariya; abalimi bazazilima badle izithelo zazo.
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen shall call upon the mount Ephraim: arise ye, and let us go up to Zion, unto the LORD our God.'
Kuzakuba losuku lapho abalindi bezamemeza phezu kwamaqaqa ako-Efrayimi bathi, ‘Wozani, kasiyeni eZiyoni, kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu.’”
7 For thus saith the LORD: Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout at the head of the nations; announce ye, praise ye, and say: 'O LORD, save Thy people, The remnant of Israel.'
UThixo uthi: “Mhlabeleleni uJakhobe ngokuthokoza; nqongolozelani izizwe ezidumileyo. Yenzani ukudumisa kwenu kuzwakale, lisithi, ‘Awu Thixo, bahlenge abantu bakho, insalela ka-Israyeli.’
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together; a great company shall they return hither.
Khangelani, ngizababuyisa bevela elizweni lasenyakatho, ngibaqoqe emikhawulweni yomhlaba. Phakathi kwabo kuzakuba leziphofu labaqhulayo; abesifazane abazithweleyo labahelelwayo; ixuku elikhulu lizabuya.
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born.
Bazabuya bekhala; bazakhuleka lapho ngibabuyisa. Ngizabaholela ezihotsheni zamanzi endleleni eyendlalekileyo lapho abangayikukhubeka khona, ngoba nginguyise ka-Israyeli, njalo u-Efrayimi yindodana yami elizibulo.
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say: 'He that scattered Israel doth gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.'
Zwanini ilizwi likaThixo, lina zizwe; limemezeleni emazweni angaselwandle khatshana lithi: ‘Yena owahlakaza u-Israyeli uzamqoqa njalo uzakwelusa umhlambi wakhe njengomelusi.’
11 For the LORD hath ransomed Jacob, and He redeemeth him from the hand of him that is stronger than he.
Ngoba uThixo uzamhlenga uJakhobe, abakhulule ezandleni zalabo abalamandla kulabo.
12 And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of the LORD, to the corn, and to the wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd; and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not pine any more at all.
Bazakuza banqongoloze ngentokozo ezingqongeni zeZiyoni; bazathokoza ngokuphana kukaThixo, ngamabele, langewayini elitsha kanye lamafutha e-oliva, ngamazinyane ezimvu langamathole enkomo. Bazakuba njengesivande esithelelwa kuhle, njalo kabasayikuba losizi futhi.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Izintombi zizagida njalo futhi zithabe, enzenjalo amajaha labadala. Ngizaguqula ukukhala kwabo kube yikuthaba; ngizabapha induduzo lentokozo esikhundleni sosizi.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, saith the LORD.
Ngizasuthisa abaphristi ngokunengi, labantu bami bazasutha ngokuphana kwami,” kutsho uThixo.
15 Thus saith the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ilizwi lizwakala eRama, lesililo lokukhala okukhulu, uRasheli ukhalela abantwabakhe njalo esala ukududuzwa, ngoba kabasekho.”
16 Thus saith the LORD: Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
Nanku akutshoyo uThixo: “Bamba ilizwi lakho ungakhali, lamehlo akho angehlisi inyembezi ngoba umsebenzi wakho uzathola umvuzo,” kutsho uThixo. “Bazabuya bevela elizweni lesitha.
17 And there is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return to their own border.
Ngakho kulethemba ensukwini zakho ezizayo,” kutsho uThixo. “Abantwabakho bazabuyela elizweni labo.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf untrained; turn thou me, and I shall be turned, for Thou art the LORD my God.
Ngikuzwile impela ukukhala kuka-Efrayimi esithi: ‘Wangitshaya njengethole elingathambanga, njalo sengajeziseka. Ngibuyisa, njalo ngizabuya, ngoba unguThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.'
Emva kokweduka kwami, ngaphenduka; emva kokuba sengizwisisile, ngazitshaya isifuba. Ngaba lenhloni ngadumazeka ngoba ngangilehlazo lasebutsheni bami.’
20 Is Ephraim a darling son unto Me? Is he a child that is dandled? For as often as I speak of him, I do earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearneth for him, I will surely have compassion upon him, saith the LORD.
U-Efrayimi kasindodana yami ethandekayo, umntanami engithokoza ngaye na? Lanxa ngihlala ngikhuluma kubi ngaye ngisamkhumbula. Ngakho inhliziyo yami iyamlangatha; ngiyamzwela kakhulu, kutsho uThixo.
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the high-way, even the way by which thou wentest; Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these thy cities.
Beka izitshengiso zomgwaqo; umise lezinsika zeziqondiso. Nanzelela umgwaqo, indlela ozahamba ngayo. Phenduka, wena Ntombi egcweleyo Israyeli, buyela emadolobheni akho.
22 How long wilt thou turn away coyly, O thou backsliding daughter? For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall court a man.
Koze kube nini ulokhu uzulazula, wena ndodakazi engathembekanga na? UThixo uzadala into entsha emhlabeni, owesifazane uzavikela indoda.”
23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall turn their captivity: 'The LORD bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.'
UThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi, “Lapho ngibabuyisa bevela ekuthunjweni, abantu abaselizweni lakoJuda lasemadolobheni alo bazawasebenzisa futhi amazwi la athi, ‘UThixo akubusise wena ndawo yokuhlala elungileyo, wena ntaba engcwele.’
24 And Judah and all the cities thereof shall dwell therein together: the husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
Abantu bazahlala ndawonye koJuda lasemadolobheni akhona wonke, abalimi kanye lalabo abazulazulayo lemihlambi yabo.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and every pining soul have I replenished.
Ngizaqinisa abadiniweyo ngisuthise abangelamandla.”
26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
Lapho-ke ngaphaphama ngakhangela indawana yonke. Ubuthongo bami babubemnandi kimi.
27 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
“Insuku ziyeza, lapho engizahlanyela khona indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda lenzalo yabantu lezinyamazana.
28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down, and to overthrow and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them to build and to plant, saith the LORD.
Njengoba ngabalinda ukusiphuna lokudiliza, ukuchitha lokubhubhisa kanye lokuletha umonakalo, ngokunjalo ngizabalinda ukwakha lokuhlanyela,” kutsho uThixo.
29 In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
“Ngalezonsuku abantu kabasayikutsho ukuthi, ‘Abazali badle amavini amunyu, ngakho amazinyo abantwana asetshelela.’
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man that eateth the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Esikhundleni salokho, umuntu wonke uzafela izono zakhe; loba ngubani odla amavini amunyu amazinyo akhe azatshelela.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah;
Isikhathi siyeza, lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu ka-Israyeli kanye lekaJuda,” kutsho uThixo.
32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; forasmuch as they broke My covenant, although I was a lord over them, saith the LORD.
“Kasiyikufana lesivumelwano engasenza labokhokho babo lapho engababamba khona ngesandla ukuba ngibakhuphe eGibhithe, ngoba bephula isivumelwano sami, lanxa ngangingumyeni wabo,” kutsho uThixo.
33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people;
“Lesi yiso isivumelwano engizasenza lendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo. “Ngizafaka umthetho wami ezingqondweni zabo, ngiwulobe lasezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami.
34 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying: 'Know the LORD'; for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.
Umuntu kasayikufundisa umakhelwane wakhe, kumbe umfowabo esithi, ‘Mazi uThixo,’ ngoba bonke bazangazi, kusukela komncinyane wabo kusiya komkhulu, kutsho uThixo. Ngoba ngizabathethelela ububi babo, njalo angiyikukhumbula izono zabo futhi.”
35 Thus saith the LORD, Who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirreth up the sea, that the waves thereof roar, the LORD of hosts is His name:
Nanku akutshoyo uThixo, yena obeka ilanga ukuba likhanyise emini, omisa inyanga lezinkanyezi ukuba kukhanye ebusuku, onyakazisa ulwandle ukuze amagagasi alo ahlokome, uThixo uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe, uthi:
36 If these ordinances depart from before Me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before Me for ever.
“Nxa izimiso lezi zinganyamalala ebusweni bami,” kutsho uThixo, “kulapho lenzalo ka-Israyeli ezacina khona ukuba yisizwe phambi kwami.”
37 Thus saith the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
UThixo uthi: “Nxa amazulu phezulu engalinganiswa lezisekelo zomhlaba ngaphansi zihlolwe, kulapho engingayilahla khona yonke inzalo ka-Israyeli ngenxa yakho konke abakwenzileyo,” kutsho uThixo.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner.
“Insuku ziyeza,” kutsho uThixo, “lapho idolobho leli ngizalakhelwa kutsha kusukela eMphotshongweni waseHananeli kusiya eSangweni leNgosi.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go out straight forward unto the hill Gareb, and shall turn about unto Goah.
Intambo yokulinganisa izasukela lapho iqonde eqaqeni lweGarebi ibe isijikela eGowa.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
Isigodi sonke lapho okulahlelwa khona izidumbu zabafileyo lomlotha, lawo wonke amasimu kusiyafika esigodini seKhidironi ngasempumalanga kusiyafika ejikweni leSango leBhiza, kuzakuba ngcwele kuThixo. Idolobho kaliyikusitshunwa futhi loba lidilizwe.”
