UHabakhukhi 1
1 Isiphrofethi esemukelwa nguHabhakhukhi umphrofethi.
The message seen by the prophet Habakkuk.
2 Koze kube nini, awu Thixo, ngicela usizo, kodwa ungalaleli na? Loba ngimemezela kuwe ngisithi, “Udlakela!” kodwa ungangihlengi na?
How long, Lord, have I cried out and without you hearing me! I cry to you, “Violence!” but you do not help.
3 Kungani ungitshengisa okungasimfanelo na? Kungani ubekezelela okungalunganga na? Ukuchitheka lodlakela kuphambi kwami; kulokulwa, lengxabano yandile.
Why do you make me look upon wickedness and behold trouble? Destruction and violence are before my eyes, and fighting and quarrelling.
4 Ngakho umthetho usuthundubezekile, lokulunga akusabi khona. Ababi baminyezela abalungileyo ukuze ukulunga konakaliswe.
Therefore the law is weak, and justice is never rendered; for the wicked surround the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
5 “Khangelani ezizweni libone njalo limangale kakhulu. Ngoba ensukwini zenu ngizakwenza into elingasoze liyikholwe, lanxa lingabe litsheliwe.
Look at the nations, look well, be shocked and amazed. For I am about to do a work in your days; you will not believe it when it is told.
6 Sengivusa amaKhaladiya, lesiya isizwe esilesihluku lamawala, esitshaya sibhuqe umhlaba wonke, sithumba izindawo zokuhlala ezingasizo zaso.
For I am about to raise up the Chaldeans, a nation grim and quick of action who sweep over the whole breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
7 Bayisizwe esesabekayo lesitshayisa uvalo; bangumthetho bona ngokwabo njalo baziphakamisa udumo lwabo.
They bring fear and terror. They write their own rules.
8 Amabhiza abo alesiqubu esedlula esamahlosi, ayesabeka kulezimpisi kusihlwa. Amabhiza abo empi amatha ephulukundlela, abagadi bawo amabhiza bavela khatshana. Bandiza njengamanqe ehwitha ukudla,
Their horses are swifter than leopards, quicker than wolves hunting at dusk. From afar they come swooping down, like an eagle attacking its prey.
9 bonke beza belande udlakela. Amaxuku abo aqhubekela phambili njengomoya wasenkangala abuthe abathunjiweyo njengenhlabathi.
They all come to do violence, a horde like a desert wind, they gather up captives like sand.
10 Baklolodela amakhosi, bahleke ababusi usulu. Wonke amadolobho avikelweyo bayawahleka; bakha amadundulu ngenhlabathi bawathumbe lawo madolobho.
At kings they scoff, and princes are sport to them. They laugh at every fortress, and heap up earth to take it.
11 Emva kwalokho badlula ngesiqubu njengomoya baqhubeke, abantu abalecala abamandla abo angunkulunkulu wabo.”
Then they sweep on like the wind, Their strength is their 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, Lord, my holy one, who does not die? Lord you have appointed them to execute judgment, my rock, you have established them to punish.
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?
Your eyes are too pure to look at evil, you cannot condone iniquity. So why do you regard the treacherous in silence, while the wicked swallows the upright?
14 Wenze abantu bafana lenhlanzi olwandle, njengezidalwa zasolwandle ezingelambusi.
You have made people like the fish of the sea, like reptiles that have no ruler.
15 Isitha esibi siyazikhupha zonke ngewuka, siyazibamba ngembule laso, sizibuthele embuleni laso elidonswayo; ngalokho siyajabula sithokoze.
The wicked sweep them all into their nets, and gather them into their drag-nets, and rejoice and celebrate.
16 Ngakho-ke senzela imbule laso umhlatshelo, sitshisele imbule laso elidonswayo impepha ngoba ngenxa yembule laso sithe pekle phakathi kwenotho, sizitika ngokudla okumnandi.
Therefore they sacrifice to their net, and burn offerings to their drag-net; for by their nets are their portions generous, and their food is rich.
17 Kuzamele siqhubeke sithulula umambule waso, sitshabalalisa izizwe kungekho sihawu na?
Will they empty their nets continually, slaughter nations unpityingly?
