Isaiah 26
1 In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
Ngalolosuku ingoma le izahlatshelwa elizweni lakoJuda: Siledolobho eliqinileyo; uNkulunkulu wenza ukusindisa kube yimiduli yalo lezivikelo.
2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
Vulani amasango ukuze isizwe esilungileyo singene, isizwe esigcina ukuthembeka.
3 You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
Lizamemeza abe lokuthula okupheleleyo lowo olengqondo ebambelelayo, ngoba wethemba kuwe.
4 Trust in the LORD forever; for in the LORD, the LORD, is an everlasting Rock.
Thembani uThixo kokuphela, ngoba uThixo, uThixo ngokwakhe, uliDwala laphakade.
5 For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city. He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings it even to the dust.
Ubehlisela phansi abahlala engqongeni; ulehlisela phansi idolobho eliphakemeyo, ulidilizela emhlabathini, aliphosele phansi othulini.
6 The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor and the steps of the needy.”
Inyawo zilinyathelela phansi, inyawo zabancindezelweyo, amanyathelo abayanga.
7 The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
Indlela yabalungileyo iqondile; awu wena oQotho, wenza indlela yabalungileyo ibe butshelezi.
8 Yes, in the way of your judgements, LORD, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
Yebo, Thixo, sihamba endleleni yemithetho yakho, siyakulindela; ibizo lakho lodumo lwakho kulangathelelwa zinhliziyo zethu.
9 With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Umphefumulo wami uyakulangazelela ebusuku, ekuseni umoya wami uyakukhumbula. Lapho ukwahlulela kwakho kufika emhlabeni, abantu basemhlabeni bayakufunda ukulunga.
10 Let favour be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see the LORD’s majesty.
Lanxa ababi betshengiswa umusa, kabakufundi ukulunga; laselizweni lokulunga baqhubeka besenza okubi, bengabunaki ubukhosi bukaThixo.
11 LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
Oh Thixo, isandla sakho siphakanyiselwe phezulu, kodwa kabasiboni. Babonise ukutshisekela kwakho abantu bakho bayangiswe; umlilo olungiselwe izitha zakho kawubaqede.
12 LORD, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
Thixo, usilethela ukuthula; konke esesikufezile sikwenzelwe nguwe.
13 LORD our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but we will only acknowledge your name.
Oh Thixo, Nkulunkulu wethu, amanye amakhosi ngaphandle kwakho ake asibusa, kodwa ibizo lakho yilo lodwa esilidumisayo.
14 The dead shall not live. The departed spirits shall not rise. Therefore you have visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.
Khathesi asafa, kawasaphili; imimoya leyana eyahambayo kayivuki. Wawajezisa, wawatshabalalisa; wesula konke ukukhunjulwa kwawo.
15 You have increased the nation, O LORD. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
Usandisile isizwe, Oh Thixo; usandisile isizwe. Uzilethele udumo; uyiqhelisile yonke imikhawulo yelizwe.
16 LORD, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
Thixo, beza kuwe ekuhluphekeni kwabo; kwathi lapho usubajezisile banelisa ukunyenyeza umkhuleko.
17 Just as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before you, LORD.
Njengowesifazane okhulelweyo lapho esezabeletha uyabhinqika ekhaliswa yibuhlungu, lathi sabanjalo phambi kwakho, Oh Thixo.
18 We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Sasikhulelwe, sabhinqika ebuhlungwini, kodwa sazala umoya. Kasilethanga nsindiso emhlabeni; kasibazalelanga lutho abantu basemhlabeni.
19 Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits.
Kodwa abafileyo bakho bazaphila Thixo, imizimba yabo izavuka. Lina elihlala othulini, vukani lihlabelele ngentokozo. Amazolo enu afana lamazolo ekuseni; umhlaba uzabaveza abafileyo bawo.
20 Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
Hambani bantu bami, ngenani ezindlini zenu, lizivalele phakathi; lizifihle okwesikhatshana ulaka lwakhe luze luphele.
21 For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.
Khangelani, uThixo uyaphuma lapho ahlala khona ukuba ajezise abantu basemhlabeni ngenxa yezono zabo. Umhlaba uzaveza igazi elachithwa kuwo; kawusayikubafihla ababulawayo bawo.
