Jeremiah 50

1 The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

Leli yilizwi uThixo alikhuluma ngoJeremiya umphrofethi mayelana leBhabhiloni lelizwe lamaKhaladiya:

2 Declare you among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.

“Memezelani libike phakathi kwezizwe, phakamisani uphawu lilubike; lingafihli lutho, kodwa lithi, ‘IBhabhiloni izathunjwa, iBheli izayangiswa, iMariduki ibe lokwesaba. Izifanekiso zayo zizayangiswa, izithombe zayo zibe lokwesaba.’

3 For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

Isizwe esivela enyakatho sizayihlasela sitshabalalise ilizwe layo. Kakho ozahlala kuyo; abantu lezinyamazana kuzasuka kubaleke.

4 In those days, and in that time, says the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi, abantu bako-Israyeli ndawonye labantu bakoJuda bazahamba bekhala bedinga uThixo uNkulunkulu wabo.

5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

Bazabuza indlela eya eZiyoni bakhangelise ubuso babo kuyo. Bazakuza bazibophele kuThixo ngesivumelwano esingapheliyo esingayikukhohlakala.

6 My people has been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place.

Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo, abelusi babo babebadukisile babenza bazulazula phezu kwezintaba. Bantula phezu kwezintaba laphezu kwamaqaqa bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokuphumula.

7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.

Loba ngubani owabatholayo wabadla; izitha zabo zathi, ‘Kasilacala, ngoba benza okubi kuThixo, idlelo labo eliqotho, uThixo, ithemba laboyise.’

8 Remove out of the middle of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.

Balekelani ngaphandle kweBhabhiloni; sukani elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengembuzi ezikhokhela umhlambi.

9 For, see, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

Ngoba iBhabhiloni ngizayivusela umanyano lwezizwe ezinkulu ezivela elizweni lasenyakatho. Bazaviva ezindaweni zabo bamelane layo. Njalo izathunjwa kuvelelwa enyakatho. Imitshoko yabo izakuba njengamabutho alolwazi angaphenduki engelalutho.

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, says the LORD.

Ngakho iBhabhiloni izaphangwa, bonke abayiphangayo bazasuthiseka,” kutsho uThixo.

11 Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you destroyers of my heritage, because you are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

“Njengoba lithokoza njalo lithabile, lizaphanga ilifa lami ngoba liyaqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, njalo likhale njengamabhiza amaduna,

12 Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bore you shall be ashamed: behold, the last of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

unyoko uzayangeka kakhulu, yena owalizalayo uzakuba lenhloni. Uzakuba ngowokucina phakathi kwezizwe, inkangala, ilizwe elomileyo, ugwadule.

13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

Ngenxa yolaka lukaThixo kayiyikuhlalwa muntu kodwa izachithwa ngokupheleleyo. Bonke abadlula eBhabhiloni bazakwesaba baklolode ngenxa yamanxeba ayo wonke.

14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all you that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against the LORD.

Vivani inhlangothi zonke zeBhabhiloni lonke lina eliphethe amadandili. Itshokeni! Lingatshiyi mitshoko ngoba yonile kuThixo.

15 Shout against her round about: she has given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her.

Klabalalani kuyo ezinhlangothini zonke! Iyazinikela, imiphotshongo yayo iyawa, imiduli yayo idilikela phansi. Njengoba lokhu kuyikuphindisela kukaThixo, phindiselani kuyo iBhabhiloni; yenzani kuyo njengalokhu eyakwenza kwabanye.

16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.

Msuseni eBhabhiloni umhlanyeli, lomvuni lesikela yakhe ekuvuneni. Ngenxa yenkemba yomncindezeli, umuntu wonke kabuyele ebantwini bakibo; umuntu wonke kabalekele elizweni lakibo.

17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria has devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.

U-Israyeli ungumhlambi ohlakazekileyo oxotshwe yizilwane. Owaqalayo ukumudla yinkosi yase-Asiriya; owacinayo ukuqhoba amathambo akhe nguNebhukhadineza inkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”

18 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

Ngakho uThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi: “Ngizayijezisa inkosi yaseBhabhiloni lelizwe layo njengoba ngajezisa inkosi yase-Asiriya.

19 And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on mount Ephraim and Gilead.

Kodwa u-Israyeli ngizambuyisela edlelweni lakhe, uzakudla eKhameli kanye laseBhashani; inkanuko yakhe izasuthiswa emaqaqeni ako-Efrayimi kanye leGiliyadi.

20 In those days, and in that time, says the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.

Ngalezonsuku, ngalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo, “ukona kuka-Israyeli kuzadingwa, kodwa akuyikuba khona; kudingwe lezono zikaJuda kodwa kasikho esizafunyanwa, ngoba insalela engiyitshiyayo ngizayithethelela.

21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded you.

Hlaselani ilizwe laseMerathayimi lalabo abahlala ePhekhodi. Xotshanani labo libabulale libaqede du,” kutsho uThixo. “Yenzani konke engililaye khona.

22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

Umsindo wempi uselizweni, umsindo wencithakalo enkulu!

23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!

Yeka ukwephuka lokucezuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukuchitheka kweBhabhiloni phakathi kwezizwe!

24 I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, O Babylon, and you were not aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have striven against the LORD.

Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, wena Bhabhiloni, wabanjwa ungakakwazi lokho; waficwa wathunjwa, ngoba wamelana loThixo.

25 The LORD has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

UThixo usevule indlu yakhe yezikhali wakhupha izikhali zolaka lwakhe, ngoba uThixo Wobukhosi, uSomandla ulomsebenzi okumele awenze elizweni lamaKhaladiya.

26 Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.

Wozani kuyo limelane layo livela kude. Fohlelani eziphaleni zayo; liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi zamabele. Ichitheni okupheleleyo lingayitshiyeli nsalela.

27 Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe to them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

Bulalani zonke inkunzi zayo ezisesengamaguqa; ziwiseleni phansi ekuhlatshweni! Maye kubo! Ngoba usuku lwabo selufikile, isikhathi sabo sokujeziswa.

28 The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.

Lalelani ababalekayo labaphephileyo abavela eBhabhiloni bememezela eZiyoni ngokuphindisela uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu asekwenzile, ukuphindisela ngenxa yethempeli lakhe.

29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all you that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she has done, do to her: for she has been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

Bizani abemitshoko bahlasele iBhabhiloni, bonke labo abaphatha amadandili. Ihanqeni inxa zonke; kungabikhona ophunyukayo. Iphindiseleni izenzo zayo; yenzani kuyo njengekwenzileyo. Ngoba idelele uThixo, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.

30 Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the LORD.

Ngakho izinsizwa zayo zizakuwa emigwaqweni; ngalolosuku wonke amabutho ayo azabulawa,” kutsho uThixo.

31 Behold, I am against you, O you most proud, says the Lord GOD of hosts: for your day is come, the time that I will visit you.

“Khangela, ngimelane lawe, wena oyisiqholo,” kutsho uThixo, uThixo uSomandla, “ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi sokujeziswa kwakho.

32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.

Oyisiqholo uzakhubeka awe, njalo kakho ozamsiza amvuse. Ngizabasa umlilo emadolobheni akhe ozaqothula bonke abakhelene laye.”

33 Thus says the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

UThixo uSomandla uthi: “Abantu bako-Israyeli bancindezelwe, kanye labantu bakoJuda futhi. Bonke abathumbi babo babagagadlele, besala ukubadedela bahambe.

34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Kodwa uMhlengi wabo ulamandla; uThixo uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe. Uzavikela imfanelo zabo ngamandla ukuze alethe ukuthula elizweni labo, kodwa ukuxokozela kulabo abahlala eBhabhiloni.

35 A sword is on the Chaldeans, says the LORD, and on the inhabitants of Babylon, and on her princes, and on her wise men.

Inkemba imelana lamaKhaladiya,” kutsho uThixo, “imelane lalabo abahlala eBhabhiloni kanye lezikhulu zayo lezihlakaniphi zayo!

36 A sword is on the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is on her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.

Inkemba izamelana labaphrofethi balo bamanga! Bazakuba yizithutha. Inkemba izamelana lamabutho ayo! Azakuba lokwesaba okukhulu.

37 A sword is on their horses, and on their chariots, and on all the mingled people that are in the middle of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is on her treasures; and they shall be robbed.

Inkemba izamelana lamabhiza ayo lezinqola zempi labo bonke abezizweni abakuyo! Bazakuba ngabafazi. Inkemba izamelana lenotho yayo! Izaphangwa.

38 A drought is on her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad on their idols.

Kuzakuba lokoma kwamanzi ayo! Azacitsha. Ngoba yilizwe lezithombe, izithombe ezizahlanya ngenxa yokwesaba.

39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelled in from generation to generation.

Ngakho izidalwa zasenkangala lezimpisi zizahlala khona, lesikhova sizahlala khona. Akusayikwakhiwa kuyo lanini kumbe kuhlalwe kuyo kusukela kusizukulwane kusiya kusizukulwane.

40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities thereof, says the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.

Njengalokhu uNkulunkulu wachitha iSodoma leGomora ndawonye lamadolobho ayeseduzane lawo,” kutsho uThixo, “ngokunjalo kakho ozahlala khona; akulamuntu ozahlala phakathi kwayo.

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Khangelani! Ibutho liyeza livela enyakatho; isizwe esikhulu lamakhosi amanengi bayadungwa kusukela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.

42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride on horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against you, O daughter of Babylon.

Bahlome ngamadandili langemikhonto; balesihluku, kabalasihawu. Bezwakala njengolwandle oluhlokomayo lapho begade amabhiza abo; beza njengabantu abalungele impi ukuba bakuhlasele, wena Ndodakazi yaseBhabhiloni.

43 The king of Babylon has heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.

INkosi yaseBhabhiloni isiyizwile imibiko ngabo, njalo izandla zayo zilenga zingelamandla. Usizi seluyibambile, ubuhlungu obunjengowesifazane ohelelwayo.

44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan to the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

Njengesilwane siphuma emahlathini aseJodani sisiya emadlelweni amahle, iBhabhiloni ngizayixotsha elizweni layo ngesikhatshana. Ngubani okhethiweyo engizamkhethela lokhu na? Ngubani onjengami, ngubani ongamelana lami? Njalo nguphi umelusi ongajamelana lami na?”

45 Therefore hear you the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.

Ngakho, zwanini lokho uThixo asecebe ukukwenza ngeBhabhiloni, asemise ukukwenza ngelizwe lamaKhaladiya: Amazinyane omhlambi azadonselwa le, amadlelo awo uzawatshabalalisa ngokupheleleyo ngenxa yabo.

46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

Ekuzwakaleni komsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uzagedezela; ukukhala kwayo kuzazwakala phakathi kwezizwe.