Jeremiah 31
1 At the same time, saith the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
“Ngalesosikhathi ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wezizwana zonke zako-Israyeli, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami,” kutsho uThixo.
2 Thus saith the LORD, The people who were left by the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
UThixo uthi: “Abantu abasilayo enkembeni bazathola umusa enkangala; ngizakuzanika u-Israyeli ukuphumula.”
3 The LORD appeared of old to me, saying, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
UThixo wabonakala kithi kudala esithi: “Ngikuthandile ngothando olungapheliyo; ngikuhole ngesisa esikhulu.
4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
Ngizakwakha njalo uzakwakhiwa kutsha futhi, wena Israyeli Ntombi emsulwa. Uzathatha amagedla akho futhi uphume uyegida labathokozayo.
5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
Uzalima izivini zakho futhi emaqaqeni aseSamariya; abalimi bazazilima badle izithelo zazo.
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God.
Kuzakuba losuku lapho abalindi bezamemeza phezu kwamaqaqa ako-Efrayimi bathi, ‘Wozani, kasiyeni eZiyoni, kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu.’”
7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: proclaim ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
UThixo uthi: “Mhlabeleleni uJakhobe ngokuthokoza; nqongolozelani izizwe ezidumileyo. Yenzani ukudumisa kwenu kuzwakale, lisithi, ‘Awu Thixo, bahlenge abantu bakho, insalela ka-Israyeli.’
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the ends of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return there.
Khangelani, ngizababuyisa bevela elizweni lasenyakatho, ngibaqoqe emikhawulweni yomhlaba. Phakathi kwabo kuzakuba leziphofu labaqhulayo; abesifazane abazithweleyo labahelelwayo; ixuku elikhulu lizabuya.
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, in which they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Bazabuya bekhala; bazakhuleka lapho ngibabuyisa. Ngizabaholela ezihotsheni zamanzi endleleni eyendlalekileyo lapho abangayikukhubeka khona, ngoba nginguyise ka-Israyeli, njalo u-Efrayimi yindodana yami elizibulo.
10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Zwanini ilizwi likaThixo, lina zizwe; limemezeleni emazweni angaselwandle khatshana lithi: ‘Yena owahlakaza u-Israyeli uzamqoqa njalo uzakwelusa umhlambi wakhe njengomelusi.’
11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
Ngoba uThixo uzamhlenga uJakhobe, abakhulule ezandleni zalabo abalamandla kulabo.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for grain, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Bazakuza banqongoloze ngentokozo ezingqongeni zeZiyoni; bazathokoza ngokuphana kukaThixo, ngamabele, langewayini elitsha kanye lamafutha e-oliva, ngamazinyane ezimvu langamathole enkomo. Bazakuba njengesivande esithelelwa kuhle, njalo kabasayikuba losizi futhi.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
Izintombi zizagida njalo futhi zithabe, enzenjalo amajaha labadala. Ngizaguqula ukukhala kwabo kube yikuthaba; ngizabapha induduzo lentokozo esikhundleni sosizi.
14 And I will abundantly satisfy the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
Ngizasuthisa abaphristi ngokunengi, labantu bami bazasutha ngokuphana kwami,” kutsho uThixo.
15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ilizwi lizwakala eRama, lesililo lokukhala okukhulu, uRasheli ukhalela abantwabakhe njalo esala ukududuzwa, ngoba kabasekho.”
16 Thus saith the LORD; Restrain thy voice from weeping, and thy eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
Nanku akutshoyo uThixo: “Bamba ilizwi lakho ungakhali, lamehlo akho angehlisi inyembezi ngoba umsebenzi wakho uzathola umvuzo,” kutsho uThixo. “Bazabuya bevela elizweni lesitha.
17 And there is hope in thy end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
Ngakho kulethemba ensukwini zakho ezizayo,” kutsho uThixo. “Abantwabakho bazabuyela elizweni labo.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bull unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
Ngikuzwile impela ukukhala kuka-Efrayimi esithi: ‘Wangitshaya njengethole elingathambanga, njalo sengajeziseka. Ngibuyisa, njalo ngizabuya, ngoba unguThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
19 Surely after I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, and even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.
Emva kokweduka kwami, ngaphenduka; emva kokuba sengizwisisile, ngazitshaya isifuba. Ngaba lenhloni ngadumazeka ngoba ngangilehlazo lasebutsheni bami.’
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart is troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
U-Efrayimi kasindodana yami ethandekayo, umntanami engithokoza ngaye na? Lanxa ngihlala ngikhuluma kubi ngaye ngisamkhumbula. Ngakho inhliziyo yami iyamlangatha; ngiyamzwela kakhulu, kutsho uThixo.
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thy heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Beka izitshengiso zomgwaqo; umise lezinsika zeziqondiso. Nanzelela umgwaqo, indlela ozahamba ngayo. Phenduka, wena Ntombi egcweleyo Israyeli, buyela emadolobheni akho.
22 How long wilt thou wander about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall encompass a man.
Koze kube nini ulokhu uzulazula, wena ndodakazi engathembekanga na? UThixo uzadala into entsha emhlabeni, owesifazane uzavikela indoda.”
23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I shall bring again their captives; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, mountain of holiness.
UThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi, “Lapho ngibabuyisa bevela ekuthunjweni, abantu abaselizweni lakoJuda lasemadolobheni alo bazawasebenzisa futhi amazwi la athi, ‘UThixo akubusise wena ndawo yokuhlala elungileyo, wena ntaba engcwele.’
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all its cities together, farmers, and they that go forth with flocks.
Abantu bazahlala ndawonye koJuda lasemadolobheni akhona wonke, abalimi kanye lalabo abazulazulayo lemihlambi yabo.
25 For I have abundantly satisfied the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Ngizaqinisa abadiniweyo ngisuthise abangelamandla.”
26 Upon this I awoke, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet to me.
Lapho-ke ngaphaphama ngakhangela indawana yonke. Ubuthongo bami babubemnandi kimi.
27 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
“Insuku ziyeza, lapho engizahlanyela khona indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda lenzalo yabantu lezinyamazana.
28 And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
Njengoba ngabalinda ukusiphuna lokudiliza, ukuchitha lokubhubhisa kanye lokuletha umonakalo, ngokunjalo ngizabalinda ukwakha lokuhlanyela,” kutsho uThixo.
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
“Ngalezonsuku abantu kabasayikutsho ukuthi, ‘Abazali badle amavini amunyu, ngakho amazinyo abantwana asetshelela.’
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
Esikhundleni salokho, umuntu wonke uzafela izono zakhe; loba ngubani odla amavini amunyu amazinyo akhe azatshelela.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Isikhathi siyeza, lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu ka-Israyeli kanye lekaJuda,” kutsho uThixo.
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was an husband to them, saith the LORD:
“Kasiyikufana lesivumelwano engasenza labokhokho babo lapho engababamba khona ngesandla ukuba ngibakhuphe eGibhithe, ngoba bephula isivumelwano sami, lanxa ngangingumyeni wabo,” kutsho uThixo.
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
“Lesi yiso isivumelwano engizasenza lendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo. “Ngizafaka umthetho wami ezingqondweni zabo, ngiwulobe lasezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Umuntu kasayikufundisa umakhelwane wakhe, kumbe umfowabo esithi, ‘Mazi uThixo,’ ngoba bonke bazangazi, kusukela komncinyane wabo kusiya komkhulu, kutsho uThixo. Ngoba ngizabathethelela ububi babo, njalo angiyikukhumbula izono zabo futhi.”
35 Thus saith the LORD, who giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who divideth the sea when its waves roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Nanku akutshoyo uThixo, yena obeka ilanga ukuba likhanyise emini, omisa inyanga lezinkanyezi ukuba kukhanye ebusuku, onyakazisa ulwandle ukuze amagagasi alo ahlokome, uThixo uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe, uthi:
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
“Nxa izimiso lezi zinganyamalala ebusweni bami,” kutsho uThixo, “kulapho lenzalo ka-Israyeli ezacina khona ukuba yisizwe phambi kwami.”
37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
UThixo uthi: “Nxa amazulu phezulu engalinganiswa lezisekelo zomhlaba ngaphansi zihlolwe, kulapho engingayilahla khona yonke inzalo ka-Israyeli ngenxa yakho konke abakwenzileyo,” kutsho uThixo.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner.
“Insuku ziyeza,” kutsho uThixo, “lapho idolobho leli ngizalakhelwa kutsha kusukela eMphotshongweni waseHananeli kusiya eSangweni leNgosi.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth straight forward over the hill Gareb, and shall turn toward Goath.
Intambo yokulinganisa izasukela lapho iqonde eqaqeni lweGarebi ibe isijikela eGowa.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
Isigodi sonke lapho okulahlelwa khona izidumbu zabafileyo lomlotha, lawo wonke amasimu kusiyafika esigodini seKhidironi ngasempumalanga kusiyafika ejikweni leSango leBhiza, kuzakuba ngcwele kuThixo. Idolobho kaliyikusitshunwa futhi loba lidilizwe.”
