U-Isaya 20

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

In the year that Tharthan entered into Azotus, when Sargon the king of the Assyrians had sent him, and he had fought against Azotus, and had taken 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 same time the Lord spoke by the hand of Isaias the son of Amos, saying: Go, and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and take off thy shoes from thy feet. And he did so, and went naked, and barefoot.

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 Isaias hath walked, naked and barefoot, it shall be a sign and a wonder of three years upon Egypt, and upon 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 shall the king of the Assyrians lead away the prisoners of Egypt, and the captivity of Ethiopia, young and old. naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered to the shame of Egypt.

5 Labo ababethembe iKhushi bezincoma ngeGibhithe, bazakwesaba bayangiswe.

And they shall be afraid, and ashamed of Ethiopia their hope, and of Egypt 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 the inhabitants of this isle shall say in that day: Lo this was our hope, to whom we fled for help, to deliver up from the face of the king of the Assyrians: and how shall we be able to escape?