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 weNkosi uJehova uphezu kwami, ngoba iNkosi ingigcobile ukuthi ngitshumayele indaba ezinhle kwabamnene; ingithumile ukubopha abalenhliziyo ezidabukileyo, ukumemezela inkululeko kwabathunjiweyo, lokuvulwa kwentolongo kwababotshiweyo;
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].
ukumemezela umnyaka owemukelekayo weNkosi, losuku lwempindiselo lukaNkulunkulu wethu; ukududuza bonke 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.
ukumisa kwabalilayo beZiyoni, ukubanika ubuhle esikhundleni somlotha, amafutha enjabulo endaweni yokulila, isembatho sendumiso endaweni yomoya obuthakathaka; ukuze babizwe ngokuthi yizihlahla ezinkulu zokulunga, ukuhlanyelwa kweNkosi, ukuze idunyiswe.
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.
Njalo bazakwakha amanxiwa amadala, bavuse izincithakalo zakuqala, balungise imizi engamanxiwa, izincithakalo zezizukulwana ngezizukulwana.
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.
Labezizwe bazakuma beluse imihlambi yenu, lamadodana awemzini abe ngabalimi benu labaphathi benu bezivini.
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.
Kodwa lina lizabizwa ngokuthi lingabaPristi beNkosi; lithiwe liyiziKhonzi zikaNkulunkulu wethu; lizakudla inotho yabezizwe, lizincome ngodumo lwazo.
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 lenu lizakuba lokuphindwe kabili; langokuyangeka bazajabula ngesabelo sabo; ngakho elizweni labo bazafuya okuphindwe kabili, intokozo elaphakade ibe 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 Nkosi ngithanda isahlulelo; ngizonda impango emhlatshelweni otshiswayo; njalo ngizanika umvuzo wabo ngeqiniso, ngenze labo isivumelwano esilaphakade.
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.”
Lenzalo yabo izakwaziwa phakathi kwabezizwe, lembewu yabo phakathi kwabantu; bonke abababonayo bazabazi ukuthi bayinzalo iNkosi eyibusisileyo.
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.
Ngizathokoza lokuthokoza eNkosini; umphefumulo wami uzajabula kuNkulunkulu wami; ngoba ungigqokise izembatho zosindiso; ungembese ngebhatshi lokulunga, njengomyeni ezicecise ngesiceciso sobukhosi, lanjengomakoti ezicecise ngokuligugu kwakhe.
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 njengomhlaba uveza ihlumela lawo, lanjengesivande sikhulisa okuhlanyelweyo kiso, ngokunjalo iNkosi uJehova izakwenza ukulunga lodumo kuhlume phambi kwezizwe zonke.
