UDanyeli 11
1 Kwathi ngomnyaka wokuqala kaDariyu umuMede, ngazimisela ukuba ngime laye ngimsekele njalo ngimvikele.)”
And I myself, in the first year of Darius the Mede, took my stand to support and defend him.
2 “Manje-ke ngikutshela iqiniso: Kuzavela amanye amakhosi amathathu ePhezhiya, kulandele eyesine, ezanotha kakhulu okudlula amanye. Izakuthi ingazuza amandla ngenxa yenotho yayo izakhuthaza bonke abanye ukuxabana lombuso waseGrisi.
So now let me reveal the truth to you. There are still three kings to come to power in Persia, and then a fourth who will be far richer than all the others. When he becomes strong through his wealth, he will rally the whole kingdom against Greece.
3 Besekuvela inkosi enkulu ezabusa ngamandla amakhulu, yenze njengokuthanda kwayo.
Then a mighty king will come to power. He will rule with great authority and do whatever he wants.
4 Isivelile, umbuso wayo uzachitheka uhlakazekele kuyo yonke yomine imimoya yezulu. Kawuzukuya ezizukulwaneni zayo, njalo kawusayikuba lamandla owawulawo ngoba umbuso wakhe uzaqutshunwa uphiwe abanye.
But as he extends his power his kingdom will be broken up, divided towards the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, and it will not be ruled as he ruled. It will be pulled up and given to others.
5 Inkosi yaseNingizimu izakuba lamandla, kodwa omunye wabalawuli bayo bebutho uzakuba lamandla kulayo abesebusa kowakhe umbuso elamandla amakhulu.
The king of the south will grow strong, but one of his officers will grow even stronger and will rule his kingdom with great authority.
6 Ngemva kweminyaka ethile, bazasekelana njengabangane. Indodakazi yenkosi yaseNingizimu izakuya enkosini yaseNyakatho iyekwenza ubudlelwano, kodwa amandla ayo indodakazi kawayikuma, lenkosi leyo kanye lamandla ayo kakuba khona okwesikhathi eside. Ngalezonsuku indodakazi izadelwa, yona kanye lomndlunkulu wayo, loyise kanye lalowo owayeyisekela.
Some years later they will form an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south will be married to the king of the north to guarantee the peace treaty. However, she will not be able to keep her hold on power, nor will his power continue. She and her attendants will be betrayed, along with her child and husband. Later on, however,
7 Kuzavela omunye owosendo lwayo ozathatha isikhundla sayo. Uzahlasela amabutho empi enkosi yaseNyakatho angene enqabeni yayo; uzakulwa lawo awehlule.
a new king of the south from her family will take over. He will come to attack the army of the king of the north and enter his fortress. He will fight against them and will win.
8 Uzathumba njalo onkulunkulu babo, lezithombe zabo zensimbi kanye lezitsha zabo eziligugu ezesiliva legolide azithwalele eGibhithe. Okweminyaka ethile uzake akhohlwe ngenkosi yaseNyakatho.
In addition he will take back with him to Egypt the idols of their gods, along with their expensive vessels of silver and gold. For some years he will leave the king of the north alone.
9 Kuzakuthi inkosi yaseNyakatho ihlasele umbuso wenkosi yaseNingizimu kodwa iphinde ihlehlele muva elizweni layo.
Then the king of the north will march into the kingdom of the king of the south but will have to retreat to his own land.
10 Amadodana ayo azalungisela impi aphake iviyo elikhulu lamabutho azathululeka njengesikhukhula sikazamcolo impi ize iyengena enqabeni yayo eyaseNingizimu.
However, his sons will prepare for war, assembling a huge number of troops. One of them will lead an advance that rushes forward like a river bursting its banks, crossing over and pressing forward to attack the enemy fortress.
11 Lapho-ke inkosi yaseNingizimu izaphuma ngokuthukuthela iyekulwa lenkosi yaseNyakatho, yona ezaphaka iviyo elikhulu lempi, kodwa izakwehlulwa.
This will infuriate the king of the south, who will go out into battle against the large army assembled by the king of the north and will defeat it.
12 Kuzakuthi nxa amabutho esethunjiwe, inkosi yaseNingizimu izazikhukhumeza, ibisibulala izinkulungwane ezinengi, kodwa kayiyikuhlala inqoba.
After capturing such a large army, he will become very proud, and will kill thousands. But this triumph will not last long.
13 Ngoba inkosi yaseNyakatho izabutha elinye ibutho elikhulu kulelakuqala; kuthi ngemva kweminyaka embalwa izahlasela ngebutho elikhulukazi lihlome liphelele.
Years later the king of the north will once again raise an army, even larger than before, and will invade with this huge army, accompanied by plenty of supplies.
14 Kulezozikhathi banengi abazavukela inkosi yaseNingizimu. Izidlwangudlwangu phakathi kwabantu bakini zizahlamuka ukuze kugcwaliseke umbono, kodwa kaziyikuphumelela.
At the same time many will rebel against the king of the south. Violent men from your own people will rebel in order to fulfill this vision, but they shall fail.
15 Inkosi yaseNyakatho izafika yakhe amadundulu okuvimbezela, ithumbe idolobho elivikelwe ngenqaba. Amabutho aseNingizimu azakwehluleka ukuzivikela; kanye lamaqhawe awo odumo kazukuba lamandla okuma.
Then the king of the north will come and build siege ramps and he will capture a city with strong defenses. The forces of the south will not be able to prevent it—even his best troops won't be able to resist the attack.
16 Umhlaseli uzazenzela intando yakhe, kakho loyedwa ozakuba lamandla okumelana laye. Izazibeka iqine eLizweni Elihle ibe lamandla okulichithiza.
The invader will do whatever he wants; no one will be able to oppose him. He will stand in the Beautiful Land with the power to destroy it.
17 Izazimisela ukuza ngenkani yombuso wayo wonke yenze isivumelwano sokuvikelana lenkosi yaseNingizimu. Izamendisela indodakazi yayo ukuze iwuchithe umbuso, kodwa amacebo ayo lawo kawayikuphumelela, kawayikuyisiza.
He will be determined to come with all the power of his kingdom and will make a peace treaty with the king of the south. To secure this he will give him a daughter of women to marry in order to destroy the kingdom. But she will not be successful and will not support him.
18 Abeseguqukela ngasemazweni asemakhunjini olwandle awathumbe amanengi akhona, kodwa umlawuli wempi omunye uzamquma umsila amnqobe.
Then he will turn to attack the coastlands and will conquer many, but a commander will put a stop to his arrogant behavior, paying him back for it.
19 Ngemva kwalokhu izabuyela ezinqabeni zelizwe layo kodwa izakhubeka iwe, ingaphindi ibonakale futhi.
He will return to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall, and will be gone.
20 Ozathatha ubukhosi ngemva kwayo uzathuma umthelisi ukuze buqhubeke ubukhazikhazi basesikhosini. Kodwa kungeminyaka mingaki izaqethulwa, kungasikho ngodlakela kumbe empini.
His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain royal wealth. However, in a short time he will die, but not violently or in battle.
21 Izalandelwa ngumuntu odelelekileyo ongelakho ukuhlonipheka kobukhosi. Uzawuhlasela umbuso ngesikhathi abantu bawo besithi sebezinzile, awuthumbe ngokuxabanisa abanye.
A contemptible person will follow him who will not be given royal majesty. He will take over peacably and assume control of the kingdom through deception.
22 Kuzakuthi impi eyesabekayo ikhukhulwe phambi kwakhe; yona lenkosi yesivumelwano kuzabhujiswa.
Great armies will be swept away before him. They will be broken, as well as the prince of the agreement.
23 Ngemva kokwenza isivumelwano layo uzakwenza inkohliso abesezuza ubukhosi encediswa lihlekana labantu.
After making an alliance with him, he will act deceptively. He will come to power peacably, becoming strong though only having a few supporters.
24 Kuzakuthi lezozigodi ezilenotho enengi sezisithi zizinzile uzazihlasela aphumelele okungazange kwenziwe nguyise loba ngokhokho bakhe. Uzakwaba impango lenotho kubalandeli bakhe. Uzakwakha amacebo okubhidliza izinqaba kodwa okwesikhatshana nje.
He will invade the richest parts of the land and do what his fathers and forefathers never did—he will distribute plunder, spoil, and possessions. He will make plans to attack fortresses, but only for a time.
25 Uzaphaka impi enkulu ukuze avuselele amandla akhe aqunge isibindi sokusukela inkosi yaseNingizimu. Inkosi yaseNingizimu izadumelana laye ngempi enkulu elamandla, kodwa kayizukuma ngenxa yamacebo azakwenziwa awokuyiqethula.
Then he will draw on his strength and courage to gather a large army against the king of the south. The king of the south will prepare for war. Fighting back with a large and powerful army, but he will not be successful because of plots made against him.
26 Labo abadla esiphaleni senkosi bazazama ukuyibulala; impi yakhe izakhukhulwa, kufe abanengi empini.
Those closest to him will destroy him. His army will be wiped out—many will fall in battle.
27 Amakhosi la amabili alenhliziyo ezigaya izibozi azahlala tafula linye aqambelane amanga, kodwa kungancedi lutho ngoba isiphetho sizajinge sifike ngesikhathi esimisiweyo.
The two kings, with evil intentions, will tell each other lies even as they sit together at the same table. But their scheming is pointless—the end will come at the time predicted.
28 Inkosi yaseNyakatho izabuyela elizweni layo ikhithika ngenotho, kodwa inhliziyo yayo izabe ilokozela isivumelwano esingcwele. Kukhona ezakwenza ngaso andubana ibuyele elizweni layo.
The king of the north will return to his own country with all the wealth he has looted. He will be determined to attack the people of the holy agreement, and do all he can to destroy it before returning to his own country.
29 Ngesikhathi esimisiweyo izahlasela eNingizimu njalo, kodwa ngalesosikhathi impumela yakhona kayizukufana leyakuqala.
At the time predicted he will return to invade the south again, but this time it won't be like before.
30 Imikhumbi evela emakhunjini olwandle lwasentshonalanga izamelana layo ihle iphele amandla. Izabuyela emuva iyebhodlisela ulaka lwayo phezu kwesivumelwano esingcwele. Izaphinda isekele labo abadela isivumelwano esingcwele.
Ships from Cyprus will come to attack him, frightening him off so that he retreats. But this will make him mad, and he will attack the people of the holy agreement, recognizing those who abandon their commitment to the holy agreement.
31 Amabutho ayo ahlomileyo azasuka angcolise inqaba yethempeli, acinise umhlatshelo wansuku zonke. Yikho-ke abesemisa lawomanyala azaletha incithakalo.
His forces will occupy and defile the Temple fortress. They will put a stop to the continual service, and set up a form of idolatry that causes devastation.
32 Ngobuqili bayo izabaxhwalisa labo asebesephulile isivumelwano, kodwa labobantu abamaziyo uNkulunkulu wabo bazajamelana layo yehluleke.
The king will use flattery to corrupt those who break the solemn agreement, but the people who know their God will stand firm in their resistance.
33 Labo abahlakaniphileyo bazafundisa abanengi, lokuba nje okwesikhathi esithile bezakuwa ngenkemba, kumbe batshiswe, kumbe bathunjwe loba baphangwe.
Wise leaders of the people will teach many, though for a time they will be killed by sword and fire, or they will be imprisoned and robbed.
34 Ekumeni kwabo bazazuza uncedo oluncinyane, kuthi abanengi abangazimiselanga bazihlanganise lezitha.
During this time of persecution they will receive a little help, and many who join them won't be sincere.
35 Abanye babahlakaniphileyo bazakhubeka, ukuze bacoliswe, bahlanjululwe njalo benziwe bahlanzeke kuze kufike isikhathi sokucina, ngoba sijinge sizafika ngesikhathi leso esimisiweyo.”
Some of the wise will be killed, so that they may be refined and purified and cleansed until the time of the end, for the predicted time is still to come.
36 “Inkosi izakwenza njengokuthanda kwayo. Izaziphakamisa njalo izikhukhumeze ngaphezu kwabonkulunkulu bonke ikhihlize izibozi ngoNkulunkulu wabonkulunkulu. Izaphumelela kuze kugcwaliseke isikhathi sentukuthelo, ngoba lokho okumisiweyo kusamele kwenzeke.
The king will do whatever he wants, praising himself and considering himself greater than any god, even saying outrageous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of anger has finished, for what has been decided will be accomplished.
37 Kayizukubananza onkulunkulu baboyise, kumbe lowo olangathwa ngabesifazane, njalo kayiyikunanza lawuphi unkulunkulu, kodwa izaziphakamisa ngaphezulu kwabo bonke.
He will have no time for the gods of his forefathers, nor for the one loved by women, nor for any other god, for he considers himself greater than any of these.
38 Esikhundleni sabo izakhonza unkulunkulu wezinqaba, unkulunkulu owayengaziwa ngoyise izamkhonza ngegolide langesiliva langamatshe aligugu lezipho ezidulayo.
Instead he will honor the god of fortresses—a god unknown to his forefathers—giving him offerings of gold and silver and precious stones and expensive gifts.
39 Izahlasela izinqaba eziqine okudlulayo incediswa ngunkulunkulu wezizweni njalo ibahloniphe kakhulu labo abayivumayo. Izababeka ukuba ngababusi babantu abanengi njalo umhlaba izawaba ngokuphiwa intengo.
He will deal with strong fortresses with the help of this foreign god. He will give riches to those who acknowledge him, making them rulers over the people, and distributing the land at a price.
40 Ngesikhathi sokucina inkosi yaseNingizimu izadumelana layo empini, lenkosi yaseNyakatho izatheleka layo ngezinqola zempi, lebutho, lamabhiza kanye langemikhumbi eminengi. Izahlasela amazwe amanengi iwakhukhule njengozamcolo.
At the time of the end the king of the south will attack him. But the king of the north will retaliate with force like a storm, with chariots and horsemen and many ships. He will advance, sweeping through many lands.
41 Izahlasela njalo iLizwe Elihle. Azakuwa amazwe amanengi, kodwa i-Edomi leMowabi labakhokheli bako-Amoni bazaphepha esandleni sayo.
He will invade the Beautiful Land and kill many people there. However, Moab, Edom, and most of the Ammonites will escape his power.
42 Izaqhelisa amandla ayo phezu kwamazwe amanengi; iGibhithe kayiyikuphunyuka.
He will extend his attacks against different countries—even the land of Egypt will not be able to escape.
43 Izahluthuna inotho legolide lesiliva layo yonke inotho yaseGibhithe, amaLibhiya lamaKhushi ayikhonze.
He will acquire the gold and silver and riches of Egypt, ruling over them and also the Libyans and Ethiopians.
44 Kodwa imibiko evela empumalanga lasenyakatho izayethusa ibisiphuma ngolaka olukhulu ukuyabulala lokutshabalalisa abanengi.
But news from the east and the north will alarm him, and in a furious rage he will set out to destroy and exterminate many people.
45 Izamisa amathente ayo obukhosi phakathi kolwandle lentaba engcwele enhle. Kodwa kuzafika okwayo ukuphela, engasekho ongayisiza.”
He will set up his royal camp between the sea and the beautiful holy mountain. But he will die with no one to help him.
