UHabakhukhi 1
1 Isiphrofethi esemukelwa nguHabhakhukhi umphrofethi.
The word which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 Koze kube nini, awu Thixo, ngicela usizo, kodwa ungalaleli na? Loba ngimemezela kuwe ngisithi, “Udlakela!” kodwa ungangihlengi na?
How long, O Lord, will your ears be shut to my voice? I make an outcry to you about violent behaviour, but you do not send salvation.
3 Kungani ungitshengisa okungasimfanelo na? Kungani ubekezelela okungalunganga na? Ukuchitheka lodlakela kuphambi kwami; kulokulwa, lengxabano yandile.
Why do you make me see evil-doing, and why are my eyes fixed on wrong? for wasting and violent acts are before me: and there is fighting and bitter argument.
4 Ngakho umthetho usuthundubezekile, lokulunga akusabi khona. Ababi baminyezela abalungileyo ukuze ukulunga konakaliswe.
For this reason the law is feeble and decisions are not effected: for the upright man is circled round by evil-doers; because of which right is twisted.
5 “Khangelani ezizweni libone njalo limangale kakhulu. Ngoba ensukwini zenu ngizakwenza into elingasoze liyikholwe, lanxa lingabe litsheliwe.
See among the nations, and take note, and be full of wonder: for in your days I am doing a work in which you will have no belief, even if news of it is given to you.
6 Sengivusa amaKhaladiya, lesiya isizwe esilesihluku lamawala, esitshaya sibhuqe umhlaba wonke, sithumba izindawo zokuhlala ezingasizo zaso.
For see, I am sending the Chaldaeans, that bitter and quick-moving nation; who go through the wide spaces of the earth to get for themselves living-places which are not theirs.
7 Bayisizwe esesabekayo lesitshayisa uvalo; bangumthetho bona ngokwabo njalo baziphakamisa udumo lwabo.
They are greatly to be feared: their right comes from themselves.
8 Amabhiza abo alesiqubu esedlula esamahlosi, ayesabeka kulezimpisi kusihlwa. Amabhiza abo empi amatha ephulukundlela, abagadi bawo amabhiza bavela khatshana. Bandiza njengamanqe ehwitha ukudla,
And their horses are quicker than leopards and their horsemen more cruel than evening wolves; they come from far away, like an eagle in flight rushing on its food.
9 bonke beza belande udlakela. Amaxuku abo aqhubekela phambili njengomoya wasenkangala abuthe abathunjiweyo njengenhlabathi.
They are coming all of them with force; the direction of their faces is forward, the number of their prisoners is like the sands of the sea.
10 Baklolodela amakhosi, bahleke ababusi usulu. Wonke amadolobho avikelweyo bayawahleka; bakha amadundulu ngenhlabathi bawathumbe lawo madolobho.
He makes little of kings, rulers are a sport to him; all the strong places are to be laughed at; for he makes earthworks and takes them.
11 Emva kwalokho badlula ngesiqubu njengomoya baqhubeke, abantu abalecala abamandla abo angunkulunkulu wabo.”
Then his purpose will be changed, over-stepping the limit; he will make his strength his god.
12 Awu Thixo, kawuveli phakade na? Nkulunkulu wami, Ngcwele wami, kasiyikufa. Awu Thixo, ubabekile ukuba bahlulele. Awu Dwala, ubamisile ukuba bajezise.
Are you not eternal, O Lord my God, my Holy One? for you there is no death. O Lord, he has been ordered by you for our punishment; and by you, O Rock, he has been marked out to put us right.
13 Amehlo akho ahlanzeke kakhulu ukuba akhangele okubi; awungeke ubekezelele okungalunganga. Pho kungani ubekezelela abachithayo na? Uthulelani lapho ababi beqeda labo abalunge kakhulu kulabo na?
Before your holy eyes sin may not be seen, and you are unable to put up with wrong; why, then, are your eyes on the false? why do you say nothing when the evil-doer puts an end to one who is more upright than himself?
14 Wenze abantu bafana lenhlanzi olwandle, njengezidalwa zasolwandle ezingelambusi.
He has made men like the fishes of the sea, like the worms which have no ruler over them.
15 Isitha esibi siyazikhupha zonke ngewuka, siyazibamba ngembule laso, sizibuthele embuleni laso elidonswayo; ngalokho siyajabula sithokoze.
He takes them all up with his hook, he takes them in his net, getting them together in his fishing-net: for which cause he is glad and full of joy.
16 Ngakho-ke senzela imbule laso umhlatshelo, sitshisele imbule laso elidonswayo impepha ngoba ngenxa yembule laso sithe pekle phakathi kwenotho, sizitika ngokudla okumnandi.
For this reason he makes an offering to his net, burning perfume to his fishing-net; because by them he gets much food and his meat is fat.
17 Kuzamele siqhubeke sithulula umambule waso, sitshabalalisa izizwe kungekho sihawu na?
For this cause his net is ever open, and there is no end to his destruction of the nations.
