UHabakhukhi 1
1 Isiphrofethi esemukelwa nguHabhakhukhi umphrofethi.
The revelation which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2 Koze kube nini, awu Thixo, ngicela usizo, kodwa ungalaleli na? Loba ngimemezela kuwe ngisithi, “Udlakela!” kodwa ungangihlengi na?
LORD, how long will I cry, and you will not hear? I cry out to you “Violence!” and will you not save?
3 Kungani ungitshengisa okungasimfanelo na? Kungani ubekezelela okungalunganga na? Ukuchitheka lodlakela kuphambi kwami; kulokulwa, lengxabano yandile.
Why do you show me iniquity, and look at perversity? For destruction and violence are before me. There is strife, and contention rises up.
4 Ngakho umthetho usuthundubezekile, lokulunga akusabi khona. Ababi baminyezela abalungileyo ukuze ukulunga konakaliswe.
Therefore the law is paralysed, and justice never prevails; for the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted.
5 “Khangelani ezizweni libone njalo limangale kakhulu. Ngoba ensukwini zenu ngizakwenza into elingasoze liyikholwe, lanxa lingabe litsheliwe.
“Look amongst the nations, watch, and wonder marvellously; for I am working a work in your days which you will not believe though it is told you.
6 Sengivusa amaKhaladiya, lesiya isizwe esilesihluku lamawala, esitshaya sibhuqe umhlaba wonke, sithumba izindawo zokuhlala ezingasizo zaso.
For, behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation who march through the width of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
7 Bayisizwe esesabekayo lesitshayisa uvalo; bangumthetho bona ngokwabo njalo baziphakamisa udumo lwabo.
They are feared and dreaded. Their judgement and their dignity proceed 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,
Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves. Their horsemen press proudly on. Yes, their horsemen come from afar. They fly as an eagle that hurries to devour.
9 bonke beza belande udlakela. Amaxuku abo aqhubekela phambili njengomoya wasenkangala abuthe abathunjiweyo njengenhlabathi.
All of them come for violence. Their hordes face forward. They gather prisoners like sand.
10 Baklolodela amakhosi, bahleke ababusi usulu. Wonke amadolobho avikelweyo bayawahleka; bakha amadundulu ngenhlabathi bawathumbe lawo madolobho.
Yes, they scoff at kings, and princes are a derision to them. They laugh at every stronghold, for they build up an earthen ramp and take it.
11 Emva kwalokho badlula ngesiqubu njengomoya baqhubeke, abantu abalecala abamandla abo angunkulunkulu wabo.”
Then they sweep by like the wind and go on. They are indeed guilty, whose 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.
Aren’t you from everlasting, LORD my God, my Holy One? We will not die. LORD, you have appointed them for judgement. You, Rock, have established him 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?
You who have purer eyes than to see evil, and who cannot look on perversity, why do you tolerate those who deal treacherously and keep silent when the wicked swallows up the man who is more righteous than he,
14 Wenze abantu bafana lenhlanzi olwandle, njengezidalwa zasolwandle ezingelambusi.
and make men like the fish of the sea, like the creeping things that have no ruler over them?
15 Isitha esibi siyazikhupha zonke ngewuka, siyazibamba ngembule laso, sizibuthele embuleni laso elidonswayo; ngalokho siyajabula sithokoze.
He takes up all of them with the hook. He catches them in his net and gathers them in his dragnet. Therefore he rejoices and is glad.
16 Ngakho-ke senzela imbule laso umhlatshelo, sitshisele imbule laso elidonswayo impepha ngoba ngenxa yembule laso sithe pekle phakathi kwenotho, sizitika ngokudla okumnandi.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net and burns incense to his dragnet, because by them his life is luxurious and his food is good.
17 Kuzamele siqhubeke sithulula umambule waso, sitshabalalisa izizwe kungekho sihawu na?
Will he therefore continually empty his net, and kill the nations without mercy?
