U-Isaya 20

1 Ngomnyaka indunankulu yebutho eyafika ngawo e-Ashidodi, ithunywe nguSagoni inkosi yase-Asiriya, yahlasela i-Ashidodi yayithumba,

In the year when the Tartan came to Ashdod, sent by Sargon, king of Assyria, and made war against it and took it;

2 ngalesosikhathi uThixo wakhuluma ngo-Isaya indodana ka-Amozi wathi kuye, “Susa isaka oligqokileyo emzimbeni wakho ukhuphe lamanyathela ezinyaweni zakho.” Wenza njalo, wahamba nqunu njalo engagqokanga lutho ezinyaweni.

At that time the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saying, Go, and take off your robe, and your shoes from your feet; and he did so, walking unclothed and without shoes on his feet.

3 UThixo wasesithi, “Njengoba inceku yami u-Isaya ihambe nqunu njalo ingagqokanga lutho ezinyaweni okweminyaka emithathu njengesibonakaliso lomhlolo kwabaseGibhithe labaseKhushi,

And the Lord said, As my servant Isaiah has gone unclothed and without shoes for three years as a sign and a wonder to Egypt and Ethiopia,

4 ngokunjalo inkosi yase-Asiriya izabaqhuba benqunu njalo bengafakanga manyathela ezinyaweni abaseGibhithe abathunjiweyo labaseKhushi abaxotshwayo elizweni lakibo, abatsha labadala, izibunu zisegcekeni, kube lihlazo eGibhithe.

So will the king of Assyria take away the prisoners of Egypt and those forced out of Ethiopia, young and old, unclothed and without shoes, and with backs uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

5 Labo ababethembe iKhushi bezincoma ngeGibhithe, bazakwesaba bayangiswe.

And they will be full of fear, and will no longer have faith in Ethiopia which was their hope, or in Egypt which was their glory.

6 Ngalolosuku abantu abahlala kulelicele eliseduze kolwandle bazakuthi, ‘Khangelani osokwenzakale kulabo ebesigwaba ngabo, labo esabalekela kubo ukuba sithole usizo lokukhululwa enkosini yase-Asiriya! Pho sizaphepha kanjani na?’”

And those living by the sea will say in that day, See the fate of our hope to whom we went for help and salvation from the king of Assyria: what hope have we then of salvation?