< Jeremiah 50 >
1 The word that YHWH has spoken concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet:
Ilizwi iNkosi eyalikhuluma imelene leBhabhiloni, imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya, ngesandla sikaJeremiya umprofethi, lisithi:
2 “Declare among nations, and sound, And lift up an ensign, sound, do not hide, Say, Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Merodach has been broken, Her grievous things have been put to shame, Her idols have been broken.
Memezani phakathi kwezizwe, lizwakalise; misani uphawu, lizwakalise, lingakufihli, lithi: IBhabhiloni ithunjiwe, uBheli uyangekile, uMerodaki ubhidliziwe; izithombe zayo ziyangisiwe, imifanekiso yayo ibhidliziwe.
3 For a nation from the north has come up against her, It makes her land become a desolation, And there is not an inhabitant in it. From man even to beast, They have moved, they have gone.
Ngoba isizwe senyuka simelene layo esivela enyakatho, esizakwenza ilizwe layo libe lunxiwa, ukuze kungabi lomhlali kulo; kusukela emuntwini kusiya enyamazaneni kuyabaleka kuhambile.
4 In those days, and at that time,” A declaration of YHWH, “Sons of Israel come in, They and sons of Judah together, Going on and weeping they go, And they seek their God YHWH.
Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, abantwana bakoIsrayeli bazakuza, bona labantwana bakoJuda kanyekanye; behamba bekhala inyembezi, bazahamba, bedinga iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo.
5 They ask the way [to] Zion, Their faces [are] toward that place: Come in, and we are joined to YHWH, A perpetual covenant—never forgotten.
Bazabuza indlela eZiyoni, ubuso babo bukhangele ngakuyo; wozani, lizihlanganise leNkosi ngesivumelwano esiphakade esingayikukhohlakala.
6 My people have been a perishing flock, Their shepherds have caused them to err, Causing them to go back [on] the mountains, They have gone from mountain to hill, They have forgotten their crouching-place.
Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo; abelusi babo babaduhisile, bebaphendulela ezintabeni; bahamba besuka entabeni besiya eqaqeni, bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokulala.
7 All finding them have devoured them, And their adversaries have said: We are not guilty, Because that they sinned against YHWH, The habitation of righteousness, And the hope of their fathers—YHWH.
Bonke ababatholayo babadla, lezitha zabo zathi: Kasiyikuba lacala, ngenxa yokuthi bonile eNkosini, ikhaya lokulunga, ngitsho iNkosi, ithemba laboyise.
8 Move from the midst of Babylon, And go out from the land of the Chaldeans; And be as male goats before a flock.
Balekani liphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, liphume elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengezimpongo phambi komhlambi.
9 For behold, I am stirring up, And am causing to come up against Babylon, An assembly of great nations from [the] land of the north, And they have set in array against her, From there she is captured, Its arrow—as a skillful hero—does not return empty,
Ngoba khangela, ngizavusa ngenze ukuthi kwenyukele eBhabhiloni ixuku lezizwe ezinkulu zivela elizweni lenyakatho, zizihlele zimelene layo; kusukela lapho zithunjwe; imitshoko yakhe njengeqhawe elilamandla kayiyikubuyela ize.
10 And Chaldea has been for a spoil, All her spoilers are satisfied,” A declaration of YHWH.
Njalo iKhaladiya izakuba yimpango; bonke abayiphangayo bazasutha, itsho iNkosi.
11 “Because you rejoice, because you exult, O spoilers of My inheritance, Because you increase as a heifer [at] the tender grass, And cry aloud as bulls,
Ngoba lalijabula, ngoba lathokoza, lina bachithi belifa lami, ngoba liqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, likhonye njengamabhiza amaduna;
12 Your mother has been greatly ashamed, She who bore you has been confounded, Behold, the last of nations [is] a wilderness, A dry land, and a desert.
unyoko ulenhloni kakhulu, owalizalayo uyangekile. Khangela, ingemuva yezizwe iyinkangala eyomileyo lelugwadule.
13 Because of the wrath of YHWH it is not inhabited, And it has been a desolation—all of it. Everyone passing by at Babylon is astonished, And hisses because of all her plagues.
Ngenxa yolaka lweNkosi kayiyikuhlalwa, kodwa izakuba yincithakalo yonke; wonke owedlula eBhabhiloni uzamangala kakhulu, ancife ngenxa yazo zonke inhlupheko zayo.
14 Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, All you treading a bow, Shoot at her, have no pity on the arrow, For she has sinned against YHWH.
Zihleleleni ukumelana leBhabhiloni inhlangothi zonke, lina lonke eligobisa idandili, litshoke kuyo, lingagodli mtshoko, ngoba yonile eNkosini.
15 Shout against her all around, She has given forth her hand, Her foundations have fallen, Her walls have been thrown down, For it [is] the vengeance of YHWH, Be avenged of her, as she did—do to her.
Memezani limelene layo inhlangothi zonke; isinike isandla sayo, izisekelo zayo ziwile, imiduli yayo idiliziwe; ngoba lokho kuyimpindiselo yeNkosi; phindiselani kuyo, lenze kuyo njengokwenza kwayo.
16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, And him handling the sickle in the time of harvest, Because of the oppressing sword, Each to his people—they turn, And each to his land—they flee.
Qumani umhlanyeli asuke eBhabhiloni, laye ophatha isikela ngesikhathi sokuvuna; ngenxa yenkemba ecindezelayo bazaphenduka, ngulowo lalowo kwabakibo, babaleke, ngulowo lalowo elizweni lakibo.
17 Israel [is as] a scattered sheep, Lions have driven [him] away, At first, the king of Asshur devoured him, And now, at last, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bone.
UIsrayeli uyimvu ehlakazekileyo; izilwane zimxotshile; kuqala inkosi yeAsiriya yamudla, emva kwalokho lo uNebhukadirezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni wephule amathambo akhe.
18 Therefore, thus said YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel: Behold, I am seeing after the king of Babylon, And after his land, As I have seen after the king of Asshur;
Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizayijezisa inkosi yeBhabhiloni lelizwe layo, njengalokho ngayijezisa inkosi yeAsiriya.
19 And I have brought Israel back to his habitation, And he has fed on Carmel and on Bashan; And his soul is satisfied on Mount Ephraim and on Gilead.
Njalo ngizabuyisela uIsrayeli endaweni yakhe yokuhlala, njalo uzadlisa eKharmeli leBashani, lomphefumulo wakhe usuthe entabeni yakoEfrayimi leGileyadi.
20 In those days, and at that time,” A declaration of YHWH, “The iniquity of Israel is sought, and it is not, And the sin of Judah, and it is not found, For I am propitious to those whom I leave!
Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, kuzadingwa ububi koIsrayeli, kodwa bungabi khona, lezono zikaJuda, kodwa zingatholwa; ngoba ngizabathethelela labo engibenza babe yinsali.
21 Against the land of Merathaim, go up against it, And to the inhabitants of Pekod, Dry up and devote their posterity,” A declaration of YHWH, “And do according to all that I have commanded you.
Umelene lelizwe leMerathayimi, yenyuka umelene layo, njalo umelene labahlali bePhekhodi; uchithe, utshabalalise emva kwabo, itsho iNkosi, wenze njengakho konke engikulaye khona.
22 A noise of battle [is] in the land, And of great destruction.
Umsindo wempi uselizweni, lokuchitheka okukhulu.
23 How it has been cut and broken, The hammer of the whole earth! How Babylon has been for a desolation among nations!
Yeka ukuganyulwa lokwephuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukwenziwa kweBhabhiloni unxiwa phakathi kwezizwe!
24 I have laid a snare for you, And you are also captured, O Babylon, And you have known, You have been found, and are also caught, For you have stirred yourself up against YHWH.
Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, futhi lawe wathunjwa, Bhabhiloni, lawe wawungazi; watholwa, futhi wabanjwa, ngoba waphikisana leNkosi.
25 YHWH has opened His treasury, And He brings out the weapons of His indignation, For a work [is] to Lord YHWH of Hosts, In the land of the Chaldeans.
INkosi ivulile isiphala sayo, yakhupha izikhali zolaka lwayo, ngoba lokhu kungumsebenzi weNkosi uJehova wamabandla elizweni lamaKhaladiya.
26 Come in to her from the extremity, Open her storehouses, Raise her up as heaps, and devote her, Let her have no remnant.
Wozani limelane layo livela ephethelweni, livule izibuya zayo, liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi, liyitshabalalise, ingabi lansali.
27 Slay all her cows, they go down to slaughter, Woe [is] on them, for their day has come, The time of their inspection.
Bulalani amajongosi ayo wonke, kawehlele ekuhlatshweni. Maye kuwo! Ngoba usuku lwawo lufikile, isikhathi sempindiselo yawo.
28 A voice of fugitives and escaped ones [Is] from the land of Babylon, To declare in Zion the vengeance of our God YHWH, The vengeance of His temple.
Ilizwi lababalekayo labaphunyukayo bevela elizweni leBhabhiloni, ukuze bamemeze eZiyoni impindiselo yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, impindiselo yethempeli layo.
29 Summon archers to Babylon, all treading the bow, Encamp against her all around, Let [her] have no escape; Repay to her according to her work, According to all that she did—do to her, For she has been proud against YHWH, Against the Holy One of Israel.
Bizani abatshoki bamelane leBhabhiloni, bonke abagobisa idandili, limise inkamba limelane layo inhlangothi zonke; kayingabi lokuphunyuka; liyiphindisele njengomsebenzi wayo, lenze kuyo njengakho konke ekwenzileyo; ngoba yenze ngokuziqhenya imelene leNkosi, imelene loNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
30 Therefore her young men fall in her broad places, And all her men of war are cut off in that day,” A declaration of YHWH.
Ngakho amajaha ayo azakuwa ezitaladeni zayo, lawo wonke amadoda ayo empi azabhujiswa ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi.
31 “Behold, I [am] against you, O pride,” A declaration of Lord YHWH of Hosts, “For your day has come, the time of your inspection.
Khangela, ngimelana lawe, wena oziqhenyayo, itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla; ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi engizakuhambela ngaso.
32 And pride has stumbled, And he has fallen, and has none raising up, And I have kindled a fire in his cities, And it has devoured all around him.
Khona oziqhenyayo ezakhubeka awe, njalo kungekho ozamvusa; njalo ngizaphemba umlilo emizini yakhe ozakudla konke okumhanqileyo.
33 Thus said YHWH of Hosts: The sons of Israel are oppressed, And the sons of Judah together, And all their captors have kept hold on them, They have refused to send them away.
Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla: Babecindezelwe abantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoJuda ndawonye; njalo bonke ababathumbileyo babagagadlele; bala ukubayekela bahambe.
34 Their Redeemer [is] strong, YHWH of Hosts [is] His Name, He thoroughly pleads their cause, So as to cause the land to rest, And He has given trouble to the inhabitants of Babylon.
Umhlengi wabo ulamandla, iNkosi yamabandla libizo layo; isibili izamela udaba lwabo, ukuze inike umhlaba ukuphumula, kodwa inyakazise abahlali beBhabhiloni.
35 A sword [is] for the Chaldeans,” A declaration of YHWH, “And it [is] on the inhabitants of Babylon, And on her heads, and on her wise men;
Inkemba iphezu kwamaKhaladiya, itsho iNkosi, laphezu kwabahlali beBhabhiloni, laphezu kweziphathamandla zayo, laphezu kwabahlakaniphileyo bayo.
36 A sword [is] on the princes, And they have become foolish; A sword [is] on her mighty ones, And they have been broken down;
Inkemba iphezu kwabaqambimanga ukuze benze ngobuthutha; inkemba iphezu kwamaqhawe ayo ukuze adilizwe.
37 A sword [is] on his horses and on his chariot, And on all the rabble who [are] in her midst, And they have become women; A sword [is] on her treasuries, And they have been spoiled;
Inkemba iphezu kwamabhiza ayo, laphezu kwenqola zayo, laphezu kwayo yonke ingxube yexuku ephakathi kwayo, ukuze babe ngabesifazana; inkemba iphezu kokuligugu kwayo, ukuze kuphangwe.
38 A sword [is] on her waters, and they have been dried up, For it [is] a land of carved images, And they boast themselves in idols.
Imbalela iphezu kwamanzi ayo, ukuze ome, ngoba iyilizwe lezithombe ezibaziweyo; bayahlanya ngenxa yezithombe ezesabekayo.
39 Therefore desert-dwellers dwell with howlers, Indeed, daughters of the ostrich have dwelt in her, And it is not inhabited anymore forever, Nor dwelt in from generation to generation.
Ngakho izilo zenkangala lamakhanka kuzahlala khona, lamadodakazi ezintshe azahlala kuyo, kakusayikuhlala muntu kuyo kuze kube nininini, kakuyikwakhelwa kuyo esizukulwaneni kusiya esizukulwaneni.
40 As the overthrow by God of Sodom, And of Gomorrah, and of its neighbors,” A declaration of YHWH, “None dwell there, Nor does a son of man sojourn in her.
Njengoba uNkulunkulu wagenqula iSodoma leGomora labomakhelwane bayo, itsho iNkosi, ngokunjalo kakuyikuhlala muntu khona, njalo kakulandodana yomuntu ezahlala njengowezizwe kuyo.
41 Behold, a people has come from the north, Even a great nation, And many kings are stirred up from the sides of the earth.
Khangela, abantu bazavela enyakatho, lesizwe esikhulu, lamakhosi amanengi azavuswa evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.
42 They seize bow and javelin, They [are] cruel, and they have no mercy, Their voice sounds as a sea, and they ride on horses, Set in array as a man for battle, Against you, O daughter of Babylon.
Bazabamba idandili lomkhonto; balesihluku, kabayikuba lomusa; ilizwi labo lizahlokoma njengolwandle, bagade amabhiza, ngulowo lalowo ehleliwe njengomuntu wempi emelene lawe, ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni.
43 The king of Babylon has heard their report, And his hands have been feeble, Distress has seized him; pain as a travailing woman.
Inkosi yeBhabhiloni izwile umbiko wabo, lezandla zayo zaba buthakathaka; ucindezelo lwayibamba, umhelo njengowobelethayo.
44 Behold, he comes up as a lion, Because of the rising of the Jordan, To the enduring habitation, But I cause to rest, I cause them to run from off her. And who is chosen? I lay a charge on her, For who [is] like Me? And who convenes Me? And who [is] this shepherd who stands before Me?
Khangela, njengesilwane esivela ekukhukhumaleni kweJordani uzakwenyuka emelene lendawo yokuhlala okungapheliyo, kodwa ngizahle ngimgijimise asuke kuyo; njalo ngubani okhethiweyo engingammisa phezu kwayo? Ngoba ngubani onjengami? Ngubani-ke ozangibizela ukulandisa? Njalo nguwuphi lowomelusi ongema phambi kwami?
45 Therefore, hear the counsel of YHWH, That He counseled concerning Babylon, And His plans that He has devised Concerning the land of the Chaldeans; Do little ones of the flock not drag them out, Does He not make the habitation desolate over them?
Ngakho, zwanini icebo leNKOSI elicebe imelene leBhabhiloni, lemicabango yayo eyicabange imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya: Isibili abancinyane bomhlambi bazabadonsa; isibili izachitha indawo yokuhlala phezu kwabo.
46 From the sound of Babylon having been captured, The earth has been shaken, And a cry has been heard among nations!”
Ngomsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uyazamazama, lokukhala kuzwakala phakathi kwezizwe.