Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of Yahweh [our] Lord is on me; he has appointed [MTY] me to bring good news to those who are oppressed, to comfort those who are discouraged, to free [all] those who are [as though they are chained/tied] [DOU] [by the wrong things that they continually do].
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 He has sent me to tell those who mourn [about the members of their families who died] (OR, [who are still in Babylonia)] that now is the time when Yahweh will act kindly [toward his people]; now is the time when our God will (get revenge on/punish) [their enemies].
lokumemezela umnyaka womusa kaThixo, losuku lokuphindisela kukaNkulunkulu wethu; ukududuza abalilayo,
3 To [all] those in Jerusalem who mourn, he will give flower necklaces [to wear]; instead of ashes [that they put on their heads to show that they are sad]; he will cause them to rejoice [MTY] instead of being sad; he will enable them to be [MET] happy instead of being discouraged. They will be called “people who continually do what is right, people who are [like tall/strong] oak [trees] that Yahweh has planted” to show others that he is very great.
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 [Those who return from Babylon] will rebuild the cities that [the soldiers from Babylon] tore down. [Even though] those cities have been destroyed and abandoned for many years, they will be restored/rebuilt.
Bazavuselela njalo amanxiwa asendulo bavuse lezindawo ezadilizwa kudala. Bazavuselela amadolobho adilikayo aleminyaka eminengi adilika.
5 Foreigners will be the ones who will take care of your flocks [of sheep and goats], and plow your fields and take care of your grapevines.
Abezizwe bazakwelusa imihlambi yenu; abezizwe bazalima amasimu enu lezivini zenu.
6 But you [are the ones who] will be like the priests to serve Yahweh, to work for God. You will enjoy valuable goods [that are brought] from other nations, and you will be happy that those things have become yours.
Lizabizwa ngokuthi abaphristi bakaThixo, kuzathiwa liyizikhonzi zikaNkulunkulu. Lizakudla inotho yezizwe, lizincome ngenotho yazo.
7 Previously you were shamed and disgraced, but now you will have great blessings; previously [your enemies] humbled you, but now you will have many good things; you will be happy because of being in your land again, and you will rejoice forever.
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 “I, Yahweh, am very pleased with those/judges who decide matters fairly; I hate [those who illegally] take things from other people. I will surely repay my people (for/because of) all that they have suffered [in the past]. And I will make an everlasting agreement with them.
“Ngoba mina, uThixo, ngithanda ukulunga, ngizonda ubugebenga lobubi. Ngobuqotho bami ngizabanika umvuzo ngenze isivumelwano esingapheliyo labo.
9 Their descendants will be honored by people of other nations [DOU]. Everyone who sees them will know that they are a nation that [I], Yahweh, have blessed.”
Izizukulwane zabo zizakwaziwa phakathi kwezizwe, lenzalo yabo yaziwe phakathi kwabantu. Bonke abababonayo bazavuma ukuthi bangabantu ababusiswe nguThixo.”
10 I greatly rejoice because of what Yahweh [has done]! I am happy, because he has saved me and declared that I am righteous; [those blessings are like] [MET] a robe that he has put on me. I am [as happy as] [SIM] a bridegroom in his wedding suit, or a bride wearing 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 Just as [seeds sown in] a garden sprout from the soil and grow [DOU], Yahweh [our] God will cause [people of] all nations to act righteously, with the result that they will praise him for doing that.
Ngoba njengomhlabathi owenza ihlumela limile, lesivande esenza inhlanyelo ikhule, ngokunjalo uThixo Wobukhosi uzakwenza ukulunga lodumo kuvele phambi kwezizwe zonke.
