< Isaiah 61 >

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on me; because the LORD has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Umoya kaThixo Wobukhosi uphezu kwami, ngoba uThixo ungigcobile ukuba ngitshumayele izindaba ezinhle kwabampofu. Ungithumile ukuba ngibophe inhliziyo ezidabukileyo, ngimemezele ukukhululwa kwabathunjiweyo, lokukhululwa kwezibotshwa emnyameni,
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
lokumemezela umnyaka womusa kaThixo, losuku lokuphindisela kukaNkulunkulu wethu; ukududuza abalilayo,
3 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
lokunakekela labo abadabukileyo eZiyoni, ukubapha umqhele wobuhle esikhundleni somlotha, amafutha okujabula esikhundleni sokulila, lengubo yokudumisa esikhundleni somoya wokulahla ithemba. Bazabizwa ngokuthi yimʼokhi yokulunga, ehlanyelwe nguThixo ukuba abonakalise inkazimulo yakhe.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Bazavuselela njalo amanxiwa asendulo bavuse lezindawo ezadilizwa kudala. Bazavuselela amadolobho adilikayo aleminyaka eminengi adilika.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Abezizwe bazakwelusa imihlambi yenu; abezizwe bazalima amasimu enu lezivini zenu.
6 But you shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: you shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves.
Lizabizwa ngokuthi abaphristi bakaThixo, kuzathiwa liyizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu. Lizakudla inotho yezizwe, lizincome ngenotho yazo.
7 For your shame you shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be to them.
Esikhundleni sehlazo labo abantu bami bazaphiwa isabelo esiphindwe kabili, njalo esikhundleni sokuyangeka bazathokoza ngelifa labo; ngakho isabelo selifa labo elizweni sizaphindwa kabili, lentokozo engapheliyo izakuba ngeyabo.
8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
“Ngoba mina, uThixo, ngithanda ukulunga, ngizonda ubugebenga lobubi. Ngobuqotho bami ngizabanika umvuzo ngenze isivumelwano esingapheliyo labo.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD has blessed.
Izizukulwane zabo zizakwaziwa phakathi kwezizwe, lenzalo yabo yaziwe phakathi kwabantu. Bonke abababonayo bazavuma ukuthi bangabantu ababusiswe nguThixo.”
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Ngiyathokoza kakhulu kuThixo; umphefumulo wami uyajabula ngoNkulunkulu wami. Ngoba ungigqokise izigqoko zokusindiswa, wangicecisa ngezembatho zokulunga, njengomyeni ececisa ikhanda lakhe njengomphristi, lanjengomlobokazi ezicecise ngamatshe akhe aligugu.
11 For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Ngoba njengomhlabathi owenza ihlumela limile, lesivande esenza inhlanyelo ikhule, ngokunjalo uThixo Wobukhosi uzakwenza ukulunga lodumo kuvele phambi kwezizwe zonke.

< Isaiah 61 >