U-Isaya 16
1 Thumelani izimvu njengendlela yokuhlonipha kumbusi welizwe evela eSela, edabula enkangala, esiya entabeni yeNdodakazi yeZiyoni.
Send the tribute lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mount of Daughter Zion.
2 Njengenyoni ephaphazelayo isuswe esidlekeni, banjalo abesifazane baseMowabi emazibukweni ase-Arinoni.
Like fluttering birds pushed out of the nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon:
3 UMowabi uthi, “Zinzisani ingqondo zenu lenze isinqumo. Yenzani isithunzi senu sibe njengobusuku emini enkulu; bafihleni ababalekayo, linganikeli iziphepheli.
“Give us counsel; render a decision. Shelter us at noonday with shade as dark as night. Hide the refugees; do not betray the one who flees.
4 Vumelani iziphepheli zamaMowabi zihlale kini; libe yisiphephelo sazo kubachithi.” Umncindezeli uzakufa, ukuchitheka kuzaphela, umhlaseli uzanyamalala elizweni.
Let my fugitives stay with you; be a refuge for Moab from the destroyer.” When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ceased, and the oppressors have vanished from the land,
5 Ngothando, kuzamiswa isihlalo sobukhosi; ngokwethembeka, indoda izahlala kuso, ivela endlini kaDavida, yona ethi ekwahluleleni ifune imfanelo, njalo iphangisisa indlela yokulunga.
in loving devotion a throne will be established in the tent of David. A judge seeking justice and hastening righteousness will sit on it in faithfulness.
6 Sizwile ngokuzigqaja kukaMowabi. Ukuzigqaja kwakhe kokuzikhukhumeza lokuzazisa, ukuzigqaja kwakhe lobuqholo bakhe, kodwa ukuzikhukhumeza kwakhe kuyize.
We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty.
7 Ngakho-ke abaseMowabi bayalila, balilela iMowabi bonke. Khalani libubulele izinkwa ezilezithelo zevini eKhiri-Haresethi.
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.
8 Amasimu aseHeshibhoni ayabuna, anjalo lamavini aseSibhima. Ababusi bezizwe sebewanyathelele phansi amavini amahle kuqala ayefika eJazeri, njalo anda kusiya ngasenkangala. Amahlumela awo anaba aze ayafika ngasolwandle.
For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea.
9 Ngakho ngiyakhala njengalokhu iJazeri ikhala, ngikhalela amavini aseSibhima. Awu Heshibhoni lawe Eliyale, ngilithambisa ngezinyembezi. Ukuklabalalela izithelo zenu esezivuthiwe ngentokozo lezivuno zenu sekuphelile.
So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.
10 Ukuthokoza lokuthaba akusekho ezivinini; kakho ohlabelayo loba amemeze ezivinini; kakho onyathela iwayini ezikhamelweni ngoba umsindo sengiwuqedile.
Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering.
11 Inhliziyo yami ikhalela uMowabi njengechacho, ingaphakathi yami ikhalela iKhiri-Haresethi.
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.
12 Lapho uMowabi evela endaweni yakhe ephakemeyo uyazidinisa nje kuphela; lalapho esiya endaweni yakhe yokukhonzela ukuba akhuleke akusizi lutho.
When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.
13 Leli yilizwi uThixo avele eselikhulumile ngoMowabi.
This is the message that the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab.
14 Kodwa khathesi uThixo uthi: “Phakathi kweminyaka emithathu, njengesisebenzi esibotshwe yisivumelwano singayibala, udumo lukaMowabi labantu bakhe bonke abanengi kuzakweyiswa, njalo abazasinda bakhona bazakuba balutshwana kakhulu njalo bengelamandla.”
And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people. And those who are left will be few and feeble.”
