UHabakhukhi 1
1 Isiphrofethi esemukelwa nguHabhakhukhi umphrofethi.
THE BURDEN which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2 Koze kube nini, awu Thixo, ngicela usizo, kodwa ungalaleli na? Loba ngimemezela kuwe ngisithi, “Udlakela!” kodwa ungangihlengi na?
How long, O LORD, shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear? I cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save.
3 Kungani ungitshengisa okungasimfanelo na? Kungani ubekezelela okungalunganga na? Ukuchitheka lodlakela kuphambi kwami; kulokulwa, lengxabano yandile.
Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and beholdest mischief? And why are spoiling and violence before me? so that there is strife, and contention ariseth.
4 Ngakho umthetho usuthundubezekile, lokulunga akusabi khona. Ababi baminyezela abalungileyo ukuze ukulunga konakaliswe.
Therefore the law is slacked, and right doth never go forth; for the wicked doth beset the righteous; therefore right goeth forth perverted.
5 “Khangelani ezizweni libone njalo limangale kakhulu. Ngoba ensukwini zenu ngizakwenza into elingasoze liyikholwe, lanxa lingabe litsheliwe.
Look ye among the nations, and behold, and wonder marvellously; for, behold, a work shall be wrought in your days, which ye will not believe though it be told you.
6 Sengivusa amaKhaladiya, lesiya isizwe esilesihluku lamawala, esitshaya sibhuqe umhlaba wonke, sithumba izindawo zokuhlala ezingasizo zaso.
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and impetuous nation, that march through the breadth 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 terrible and dreadful; their law and their majesty 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 wolves of the desert; and their horsemen spread themselves; yea, their horsemen come from far, they fly as a vulture that hasteth to devour.
9 bonke beza belande udlakela. Amaxuku abo aqhubekela phambili njengomoya wasenkangala abuthe abathunjiweyo njengenhlabathi.
They come all of them for violence; their faces are set eagerly as the east wind; and they gather captives as the sand.
10 Baklolodela amakhosi, bahleke ababusi usulu. Wonke amadolobho avikelweyo bayawahleka; bakha amadundulu ngenhlabathi bawathumbe lawo madolobho.
And they scoff at kings, and princes are a derision unto them; they deride every stronghold, for they heap up earth, and take it.
11 Emva kwalokho badlula ngesiqubu njengomoya baqhubeke, abantu abalecala abamandla abo angunkulunkulu wabo.”
Then their spirit doth pass over and transgress, and they become guilty: even they who impute their might unto their god.
12 Awu Thixo, kawuveli phakade na? Nkulunkulu wami, Ngcwele wami, kasiyikufa. Awu Thixo, ubabekile ukuba bahlulele. Awu Dwala, ubamisile ukuba bajezise.
Art not Thou from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, Thou hast ordained them for judgment, and Thou, O Rock, hast established them for correction.
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?
Thou that art of eyes too pure to behold evil, and that canst not look on mischief, wherefore lookest Thou, when they deal treacherously, and holdest Thy peace, when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he;
14 Wenze abantu bafana lenhlanzi olwandle, njengezidalwa zasolwandle ezingelambusi.
And makest men as the fishes of the sea, as 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.
They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag; therefore they rejoice and exult.
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 unto their net, and offer unto their drag; because by them their portion is fat, and their food plenteous.
17 Kuzamele siqhubeke sithulula umambule waso, sitshabalalisa izizwe kungekho sihawu na?
Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare to slay the nations continually?
