< Jeremiah 48 >

1 This is a message about Moab. The Commander of the armies of angels said: “Terrible things will happen to Nebo [town]; it will [soon] be ruined. Kiriathaim [city] will be captured and [all its people will be] humiliated; the high wall around their city will be ruined, and [its people] will become ashamed.
Mayelana leMowabi: UThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi: “Maye kuyo iNebho ngoba izachithwa. IKhiriyathayimi izayangeka njalo ithunjwe; inqaba izayangeka ibhidlizwe.
2 No one will boast about Moab again; the [enemies of Moab] will plan to destroy [the capital city, ] Heshbon. [They will say, ] ‘Come, let’s cause Moab to no longer be a nation.’ You people in Madmen [town], you also will be silenced; enemy armies [MTY] will pursue you.
IMowabi kayiyikudunyiswa futhi; eHeshibhoni abantu bazaceba ukumbhidliza: besithi, ‘Wozani sitshabalalise isizwe lesiyana.’ Lawe, wena Madimeni uzathuliswa; inkemba izaxotshana lawe.
3 Listen to the people of Horonaim [town] screaming; [they will be wailing because their town will have been] devastated and destroyed [DOU].
Zwanini ukukhala okuvela eHoronayimi; ukukhala komonakalo omkhulu lencithakalo.
4 [All of] Moab will be ruined; [even] the little children will cry [loudly].
IMowabi izachitheka; abancinyane bayo bazakhala.
5 They will cry bitterly as they climb up Luhith [Hill]. [Others will wail] on the road down to Horonaim, being very sad because of [their town being] destroyed.
Baqansa ngendlela eya eLuhithi, bahamba belila kabuhlungu, emgwaqweni owehlela eHoronayimi, kuzwakala ukukhala okulosizi ngenxa yokuchitheka.
6 [Someone will say to them], ‘Flee! Hide in the desert!’
Balekani! Gijimani lizivikele ekufeni; wobani njengesihlahla enkangala.
7 But you trusted that because you were rich and powerful, [you would be safe]; so you will be captured. [The statue of your god] Chemosh and all his priests and officials will be taken away to distant lands.
Njengoba lithembe izenzo zenu lenotho yenu, lani futhi lizathunjwa, loKhemoshi uzakuya ekuthunjweni, kanye labaphristi bakhe lezikhulu zakhe.
8 All the towns [in Moab] will be destroyed; none of them will escape. [Towns in] the valleys and on the plateau will [all] be destroyed, because [I, ] Yahweh, have said that is what will happen.
Umchithi uzafika emadolobheni wonke, njalo akukho dolobho elizaphepha. Isigodi sizatshabalaliswa, lamagceke azaqothulwa ngoba uThixo usekhulumile.
9 Spread salt on the ground in order that it will become a wasteland with [nothing growing there any more], and no one will be living in it!”
Fakani itswayi kuyo iMowabi ngoba izachitheka; amadolobho ayo azakuba ngamanxiwa angayikuba lamuntu ozahlala kuwo.
10 Yahweh will curse anyone who will not eagerly do what he desires, anyone who refrains from using his sword to kill [MTY] others [in Moab].
Yeka isithuko kulowo oyekethisayo ekwenzeni umsebenzi kaThixo! Yeka isithuko kulowo ogodla inkemba yakhe ekuchitheni igazi!
11 [The people of] Moab have always felt secure; they have never been (exiled/forced [by their enemies] to go to other countries). They are like [MET] wine that has been left undisturbed [in a container for many days to give it good flavor], so now it smells good, and it tastes good.
IMowabi ibiphumule kusukela ebutsheni bayo njengewayini elisele phezu kwezinsipho zalo, elingathelwanga kwenye imbiza lisuswa kwenye kayithunjwanga. Ngakho inambitheka njengakuqala, iphunga layo kaliguqukanga.
12 But Yahweh says that there will be a time when he will send [enemies to attack them]; they will get rid of the people of Moab like people pour out wine [on the ground] and then smash the wine jar.
Kodwa insuku ziyeza, lapho ngizathuma abantu abathulula okusembizeni, njalo bazayithululela phandle; bazachitha okusezimbizeni zayo bazimahlaze imbiza zayo.
13 Then [the people of] Moab will be ashamed of [their god/idol] Chemosh [because it did not help them], like the Israeli people were ashamed because their gold statue of a calf [was smashed] at Bethel.
Lapho-ke iMowabi izayangeka ngoKhemoshi njengokuyangeka kwendlu ka-Israyeli lapho babethembe iBhetheli.
14 [The soldiers of Moab previously] said, “We are warriors; we have fought bravely in battles!”
Lingatsho kanjani na ukuthi, ‘Singamabutho, amadoda alesibindi empini na’?
15 But now our King, who is Yahweh, who is called ‘the Commander of the armies of angels’, says that [the country of] Moab and all the towns in it will be destroyed. Their fine young men will [all] be slaughtered.
IMowabi izachithwa, amadolobho ayo ahlaselwe; amajaha ayo aqinileyo azacakazelwa phansi abulawe,” kutsho iNkosi, obizo layo nguThixo uSomandla.
16 Moab will very soon be destroyed. It will soon experience disaster.
“Ukuwa kweMowabi sekuseduze; umonakalo wayo uzafika ngokuphangisa.
17 You [people who live in nations] near Moab, who know that it is very famous, should mourn for Moab, and say, “Its glorious power [MTY, DOU] is [completely] ended/broken.”
Ikhaleleni lonke lina elakhelene layo, bonke abalwaziyo udumo lwayo, lithi, ‘Yeka ukwephuka kwentonga yobukhosi elamandla, yeka ukwephuka kodondolo oluhle kakhulu!’
18 You people of Dibon [city], stop being proud because of being honored, and sit in the dust/dirt, because those who will destroy other places in Moab will attack your [city] and destroy your high walls.
Yehlani ebukhosini benu lihlale emhlabathini owomileyo, lina elihlala eNdodakazini yaseDibhoni. Ngoba lowo ochitha iMowabi uzakuzalihlasela adilize amadolobho enu avikelweyo.
19 You people of Aroer [town], stand along the road and watch. Shout to the men and women who will be fleeing [from Moab], “What has happened [there]?”
Manini emgwaqweni lilinde, lina elihlala e-Aroweri. Buzani indoda ebalekayo lowesifazane obalekayo; babuzeni lithi, ‘Kwenzakaleni na?’
20 [They will reply], “Moab is ruined and [we are] disgraced!” [So] weep and wail [DOU]. Proclaim at the Aroer [River] that Moab has been destroyed.
IMowabi iyangekile, ngoba ichithekile. Lilani likhale! Bikani ngase-Arinoni ukuthi iMowabi itshabalalisiwe.
21 [Yahweh] will have punished [the towns in Moab that are on] the (plateau/high level): Holon and Jahaz and Mephaath,
Ukwehlulela sekufikile emagcekeni eHoloni, leJahazi laseMefahathi,
22 Dibon and Nebo and Beth-Diblathaim,
eDibhoni, leNebho laseBhethi-Dibhilathayimi,
23 Kiriathaim and Beth-Gamul and Beth-Meon,
eKhiriyathayimi, leBhethi-Gamuli laseBhethi Meyoni,
24 Kerioth and Bozrah, cities that are near [each other] and towns that are far away [from each other].
eKheriyothi kanye laseBhozira kuwo wonke amadolobho aseMowabi, aseduze lakhatshana.
25 Yahweh says, “The power [MTY] of Moab will be ended; [it is as though] [MET] Moab will have a broken arm.
Uphondo lweMowabi luqunyiwe, ingalo yalo yephuliwe,” kutsho uThixo.
26 [You people of] Moab have rebelled against [me, ] Yahweh; so [now] I will cause you all to [stagger like] [SIM] drunken people. [You people of] will wallow in your own vomit and be ridiculed.
“Idakiseni ngoba idelele uThixo. IMowabi kayizibhixe ngamahlanzo ayo; kayibe yinto yokuhlekwa.
27 You [people of Moab] ridiculed [the people of] Israel [RHQ]. You treated them as though they were thieves [RHQ]. You shook your head at them scornfully and despised them [RHQ].
U-Israyeli wayengasinto yokuhlekisa kuwe na? Watholakala ephakathi kwamasela na, ukuba unikine ikhanda lakho ngokweyisa ngasosonke isikhathi lapho ukhuluma ngaye?
28 You people who live in Moab, you should abandon your towns and go and live in caves. Be like [SIM] doves that make their nests in the entrances of caves.”
Tshiyani amadolobho enu lihlale emadwaleni, lina elihlala eMowabi. Wobani njengejuba elakhela isidleke salo emlonyeni wobhalu.
29 We have [all] heard that [the people of] are very proud; they are extremely proud and conceited/arrogant. [IDM, DOU]
Sizwile ngokuzigqaja kweMowabi, ukuziqakisa kwayo lokuzazisa kwayo! Ukuzigqaja lokuzikhukhumeza kwayo, kanye lokuziphakamisa kwenhliziyo yayo.
30 But Yahweh says, “I know about that, but it is useless for them to boast [because] it will accomplish nothing.
Ngiyakwazi ukudelela kwayo, kodwa kuyize, lokuzincoma kwayo akusizi lutho,” kutsho uThixo
31 So [now] I will wail for Moab; I will cry about all its people. I will moan for the men of Kir-Hareseth [city], [the old capital of Moab].
“Ngakho-ke ngiyalila ngeMowabi, ngikhalela iMowabi yonke, ngililela abantu baseKhiri-Haresethi.
32 You people of Sibmah [city], you have many vineyards. [It is as though] the branches of your vines extend across the [Dead] Sea to Jazer [city].
Ngiyalikhalela njengokulila kweJazeri, lina zivini zaseSibhima. Ingatsha zenu zinaba zifike olwandle, zafika olwandle lwaseJazeri. Umchithi usehlele phezu kwezithelo zakho ezivuthiweyo laphezu kwamavini.
33 But no one will be joyful or happy in Moab now; your fruit and grapes that ripen in the (summer/hot season) will soon be destroyed. There will be no grape juice coming from the winepresses, [so] there will be no wine. People will not shout joyfully as they tread on the grapes; people will shout, but they will not be shouting joyfully.
Ukuthokoza lokuthaba akusekho ezivinini lasemasimini eMowabi. Ukugeleza kwewayini ezikhamelweni sengikumisile; kakho ozalikhama eklabalala ngentokozo. Lanxa kulokuklabalala akusikuklabalala kwentokozo.
34 Instead, the sound of their wailing will rise from Heshbon [city] to Elealeh [town] and Jahaz [village], from Zoar [city] as far as Horonaim [town] and Eglath-Shelishiyah [village]. Even the water in Nimrim [Stream] will be dried up.
Umsindo wokukhala kwabo uyaphakama uvelela eHeshibhoni usiya e-Eliyale laseJahazi, uvela eZowari usiyafika eHoronayimi le-Egilathi Shelishiya, ngoba lamanzi aseNimirimi asecitshile.
35 [I, ] Yahweh, say that I will get rid of the people who offer sacrifices on the hilltops, and burn incense to their gods.
EMowabi ngizabaqeda labo abanikela iminikelo ezindaweni eziphakemeyo batshisele labonkulunkulu babo impepha,” kutsho uThixo.
36 I [SYN] moan for the people of Moab and Kir-Hareseth like [SIM] [someone playing a funeral song on] a flute, because [all] their wealth will disappear.
“Ngakho inhliziyo yami ikhalela iMowabi njengemfegwana; iyakhala njengemfegwana ikhalela abantu beKhiri-Haresethi. Inotho ababeyizuzile kayisekho.
37 The men will shave their heads and their beards [to show that they are mourning]. They all will slash their hands and wear (rough cloth/sackcloth) around their waists.
Amakhanda wonke aphuciwe lezindevu zonke zigeliwe; izandla zonke zisikiwe lezinkalo zonke zigqokiswe amasaka.
38 In every home and in the town plazas/centers in Moab there will be [people who are] mourning, because I will have destroyed Moab like [SIM] someone smashes an [old] jar that no one wants [any more].
Phezu kwezimpahla zonke zezindlu zaseMowabi lasemagcekeni kazulu, akulalutho ngaphandle kokukhala, ngoba iMowabi ngiyibulele njengembiza engafunwa muntu,” kutsho uThixo.
39 Moab will be completely shattered! And you will hear the people wailing loudly! They will be disgraced. Moab will become a nation that people ridicule. The people in nearby [countries] will be horrified [about what has happened there].
“Yeka ukuphahlazwa kwayo! Yeka ukulila kwabo! Yeka ukufulathela kweMowabi ilehlazo! IMowabi isibe yinto yokuhlekwa; into yokwesatshwa yibo bonke abakhelane layo.”
40 This is what [I, ] Yahweh, say: ‘Look! Their enemies will be swooping/rushing down over Moab like an eagle [SIM] swoops down [to seize an animal].
UThixo uthi: “Khangela! Ukhozi lwehlela phansi ngesiqubu, lwelulele impiko zalo phezu kweMowabi.
41 Its cities will be captured, its fortresses will be seized. [Even] their warriors will be [afraid], like [SIM] a woman who is about to give birth.
IKheriyothi izathunjwa, lezinqaba zithunjwe. Ngalolosuku inhliziyo zamabutho aseMowabi zizakuba njengenhliziyo yowesifazane ohelelwayo.
42 [The leaders of] Moab boasted against [me, ] Yahweh, so Moab will be destroyed.
IMowabi izachithwa ingabe isaba yisizwe ngoba yadelela uThixo.
43 [I, ] Yahweh, say that you people of Moab will be terrified, and fall into pits and traps.
Ukwesaba lomgodi kanye lomjibila kulilindele lina bantu baseMowabi,” kutsho uThixo.
44 Those who are terrified and try to run away will fall into deep pits. Whoever climbs out of a pit will be caught in a trap, because I will punish them at the time that I have chosen.’
“Loba ngubani obalekela ukwesaba uzawela emgodini, loba ngubani ophuma emgodini uzabanjwa ngumjibila; ngoba ngizakwehlisela phezu kweMowabi umnyaka wokujeziswa kwayo,” kutsho uThixo.
45 The people will flee as far as Heshbon [city], but they will not be able to go any further, because a fire will burn in Heshbon, [which is the city] where [King] Sihon lived [long ago], and it will burn up all the people [SYN] in Moab who noisily/loudly boasted very much.
“Emthunzini waseHeshibhoni ababalekayo bayema kungelasizo, ngoba umlilo usuphumile eHeshibhoni, ilangabi elivela phakathi kwakoSihoni; litshisa amabunzi eMowabi inkakhayi zamaqhalaqhala alomsindo.
46 [You people of] Moab, terrible things will happen to you! You people who worship [your god] Chemosh, you will be destroyed. Your sons and your daughters will be captured and taken away [to other countries].
Maye kuwe! wena Mowabi! Abantu baseKhemoshi babhujisiwe; amadodana athunjiwe lamadodakazi akho athunjiwe.
47 But some day, I will enable the people of Moab to return to their land again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.” That is the end of what I prophesied about Moab.
Kodwa inhlanhla ye-Mowabi ngizayibuyisela ensukwini ezizayo,” kutsho uThixo. Ukwahlulelwa kweMowabi kuphelela lapha.

< Jeremiah 48 >