U-Isaya 39

1 Ngalesosikhathi uMerodakhi-Bhaladani indodana kaBhaladani inkosi yaseBhabhiloni, wathumela izincwadi lesipho kuHezekhiya, ngoba wayezwile ngokugula kwakhe lokusila kwakhe.

At that time Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and was recovered.

2 UHezekhiya wazamukela izithunywa ngokuthaba, wazitshengisa okwakusendlini yakhe yokugcinela impahla, isiliva, igolide, iziyoliso, amafutha acengekileyo, izikhali zakhe zonke, lakho konke okwakukhona enothweni yakhe. Akulalutho esigodlweni sakhe loba embusweni wakhe wonke angazitshengisanga khona.

And Hezekiah was delighted with them, and showed the embassy his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and his whole armory, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, which Hezekiah did not show them.

3 Ngakho u-Isaya umphrofethi waya kuHezekhiya inkosi wambuza wathi, “Atheni amadoda lawana, njalo avela ngaphi?” UHezekhiya waphendula wathi, “Avela elizweni elikhatshana. Aze kimi evela eBhabhiloni.”

Then came Isaiah the prophet to King Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say, and whence did they come to thee? And Hezekiah said, They came to me from a distant country, from Babylon.

4 Umphrofethi wabuza wathi, “Aboneni esigodlweni sakho?” UHezekhiya wathi, “Abone konke okusesigodlweni sami. Akulalutho phakathi kwempahla zami eziligugu engingawatshengisanga khona.”

Then said he, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered: All that is in my house have they seen. There is nothing in my treasures which I have not shown them.

5 Ngakho u-Isaya wasesithi kuHezekhiya, “Zwana ilizwi likaThixo uSomandla lithi:

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, hear the word of Jehovah of hosts,

6 Isikhathi sizafika sibili lapho konke okusesigodlweni sakho lakho konke oyihlo abakugcinayo kusiyafika lolosuku, kuzathwalelwa eBhabhiloni. Akuyikusala lutho, kutsho uThixo.

Behold, the days shall come, when all that is in thy house, and that thy fathers have treasured up to this day, shall be carried away to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.

7 Njalo abanye besizukulwane sakho, abenyama legazi lakho, abazazalwa nguwe, bazathathwa bayekuba ngabathenwa esigodlweni senkosi yaseBhabhiloni.”

And of thy sons, which shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall he eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

8 UHezekhiya waphendula wathi, “Ilizwi likaThixo olikhulumileyo lilungile.” Ngoba wayenakana esithi, “Kuzakuba lokuthula lokuvikeleka ekuphileni kwami.”

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah, which thou hast spoken. For, said he, there shall be peace and security in my days.