UHabakhukhi 1
1 Isiphrofethi esemukelwa nguHabhakhukhi umphrofethi.
The prophecy which was revealed to the prophet Habakkuk.
2 Koze kube nini, awu Thixo, ngicela usizo, kodwa ungalaleli na? Loba ngimemezela kuwe ngisithi, “Udlakela!” kodwa ungangihlengi na?
How long, O Jehovah, do I cry, and thou dost not hear! How long do I complain to thee of violence, and thou dost not save!
3 Kungani ungitshengisa okungasimfanelo na? Kungani ubekezelela okungalunganga na? Ukuchitheka lodlakela kuphambi kwami; kulokulwa, lengxabano yandile.
Why dost thou suffer me to see iniquity, And why dost thou look upon wickedness? For spoiling and violence are before me; There is contention, and strife exalteth itself.
4 Ngakho umthetho usuthundubezekile, lokulunga akusabi khona. Ababi baminyezela abalungileyo ukuze ukulunga konakaliswe.
Therefore the law faileth, And judgment is not pronounced according to truth; For the wicked encompasseth the righteous, Therefore wrong judgment is pronounced.
5 “Khangelani ezizweni libone njalo limangale kakhulu. Ngoba ensukwini zenu ngizakwenza into elingasoze liyikholwe, lanxa lingabe litsheliwe.
Behold ye among the nations, and look! Yea, wonder, and be astonished! For I do a work 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 behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, A fierce and swift people, Which go over the breadth of the earth, To take possession of dwelling-places that are not their own.
7 Bayisizwe esesabekayo lesitshayisa uvalo; bangumthetho bona ngokwabo njalo baziphakamisa udumo lwabo.
They are terrible and dreadful; From themselves go forth their law and their dignity.
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, And fiercer than evening wolves. Their horsemen leap proudly; Their horsemen come from far; They fly like an eagle, hastening to devour.
9 bonke beza belande udlakela. Amaxuku abo aqhubekela phambili njengomoya wasenkangala abuthe abathunjiweyo njengenhlabathi.
All of them come for violence; The multitude of their faces is directed forwards, And they gather captives as sand.
10 Baklolodela amakhosi, bahleke ababusi usulu. Wonke amadolobho avikelweyo bayawahleka; bakha amadundulu ngenhlabathi bawathumbe lawo madolobho.
They also scoff at kings, And princes are to them a laughing-stock; 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 is uplifted, and they transgress, and become guilty; This their strength is made their god.
12 Awu Thixo, kawuveli phakade na? Nkulunkulu wami, Ngcwele wami, kasiyikufa. Awu Thixo, ubabekile ukuba bahlulele. Awu Dwala, ubamisile ukuba bajezise.
Art thou not from everlasting, O Jehovah, my God, my Holy One? We shall not die! Thou, O Jehovah, hast appointed them for judgment; Thou, O Rock, hast ordained them for chastisement.
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 art of purer eyes than to behold evil, And canst not look on wickedness; Why then dost thou look on transgressors, And art silent, when the wicked swalloweth up the man that is more righteous than he?
14 Wenze abantu bafana lenhlanzi olwandle, njengezidalwa zasolwandle ezingelambusi.
And why makest thou men as the fishes of the sea, As the reptiles that have no ruler?
15 Isitha esibi siyazikhupha zonke ngewuka, siyazibamba ngembule laso, sizibuthele embuleni laso elidonswayo; ngalokho siyajabula sithokoze.
They take up all of them with the hook, 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 to their net, And burn incense to 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 the net, And slay the nations continually without mercy?
