Esias 46
1 Bel has fallen, Nabo is broken to pieces, their graven images are gone to the wild beasts and the cattle: you take them packed up as a burden to the weary, exhausted, hungry, and [at the same time] helpless man;
UBheli uyakhothama, uNebho uyaguqa; izithombe zabo zithwelwe yizifuyo zokuthwala. Izifanekiso ezithwelweyo ziyasinda, umthwalo osindayo kodiniweyo.
2 who will not be able to save themselves from war, but they themselves are led [away] captive.
Bayakhothama baguqe ndawonye; benganelisi ukuhlenga umthwalo, labo uqobo baya khona ekuthunjweni.
3 Hear me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of Israel, who are borne [by me] from the womb, and taught [by me] from infancy, [even] to old age:
“Ngilalela wena ndlu kaJakhobe, lonke lina eliseleyo abendlu ka-Israyeli, lina engalisekelayo selokhu lemulwayo, ngalithwala selokhu lazalwayo.
4 I am [he]; and until you shall have grown old, I am [he]: I bear you, I have made, and I will relieve, I will take up and save you.
Lasebudaleni benu, inwele zenu sezimhlophe, mina nginguye, nginguye ozaliqinisa. Sengilenzile njalo ngizalithwala; ngizaliqinisa ngilihlenge.
5 To whom have you compared me? see, consider, you that go astray.
Ngubani elingangilinganisa laye kumbe limbale njengolingana lami na? Ngubani elingangifananisa laye ukuba siqathaniswe na?
6 They that furnish gold out of a purse, and silver by weight, will weigh it in a scale, and they hire a goldsmith and make idols, and bow down, and worship them.
Abanye bathulula igolide emigodleni yabo balinganise isiliva ezikalini; baqhatshe abakhandi begolide ukuba benze unkulunkulu ngalo, bakhothame, bamkhonze.
7 They bear it upon the shoulder, and go; and if they put it upon its place, it remains, it can’t move: and whoever shall cry to it, it can’t hear; it can’t save him from trouble.
Bayamphakamisela emahlombe abo bamthwale; bayambeka endaweni yakhe, ame khonapho. Angeke asuke kuleyondawo. Lanxa umuntu ememeza, kaphenduli; angeke amsize ekuhluphekeni kwakhe.
8 Remember you these things, and groan: repent, you that have gone astray, return in your heart;
Khumbulani lokhu, likufake ezingqondweni zenu, kukhumbuleni lina bahlamuki.
9 and remember the former things [that were] of old: for I am God, and there is none other beside me,
Khumbulani izinto zakuqala ezendulo. Mina nginguNkulunkulu, kakho omunye; mina nginguNkulunkulu, kakho onjengami.
10 telling beforehand the latter events before they come to pass, and they are accomplished together: and I said, all my counsel shall stand, and I will do all things that I have planned:
Mina ngenza isiphetho sazakale kusukela ekuqaleni lokuzakwenzakala, kusukela ezikhathini zasendulo. Ngithi: ‘Injongo yami izakuma kokuphela, njalo ngizakwenza konke engikufunayo.’
11 calling a bird from the east, and from a land afar off, for the things which I have planned: I have spoken, and brought [him]; I have created and made [him]; I have brought him, and prospered his way.
Empumalanga ngibiza inyoni edla ezinye; elizweni elikhatshana ngibiza umuntu ukuba afeze injongo yami. Lokho engikutshiloyo ngizakufeza; lokho engikucebileyo ngizakwenza.
12 Listen to me, you senseless ones, that are far from righteousness:
Ngilalelani lina elilezinhliziyo ezilukhuni, lina elikhatshana lokulunga.
13 I have brought near my righteousness, and I will not be slow with the salvation that is from me: I have given salvation in Sion to Israel for glory.
Ngiletha ukulunga kwami eduzane, akukho khatshana; lokusindisa kwami akuyikuphuziswa. IZiyoni ngizayinika ukusindiswa, u-Israyeli inkazimulo yami.”
