U-Isaya 43
1 Kodwa khathesi, nanku akutshoyo uThixo uthi, yena owakudalayo, wena Jakhobe, yena owakubumbayo, wena Israyeli: “Ungesabi, ngoba ngikuhlengile; ngikubize ngebizo lakho; ungowami.
But now thus says the LORD that created you, O Jacob, and he that formed you, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed you, I have called you by your name; you are mine.
2 Lapho udabula phakathi kwamanzi ngizakuba lawe; lalapho udabula emifuleni, kayiyikukukhukhula. Lapho uhamba phakathi komlilo, kawuyikutsha; amalangabi kawayikukubhebhisa.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle on you.
3 Ngoba mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wakho, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, uMsindisi wakho. Ngizanikela iGibhithe njengenhlawulo yakho, iKhushi leSebha ime esikhundleni sakho.
For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you.
4 Njengoba wena uligugu njalo udumile ebusweni bami, futhi ngenxa yokuthi ngiyakuthanda, ngizanikela abantu esikhundleni sakho, labantu esikhundleni sempilo yakho.
Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I give men for you, and people for your life.
5 Ungesabi, ngoba ngilawe; ngizakulethela inzalo yakho ivela empumalanga ngikubuthe kusukela entshonalanga.
Fear not: for I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west;
6 Ngizakutsho kuyo inyakatho ngithi, ‘Bakhulule!’ Ngitsho kuyo iningizimu ngithi, ‘Ungabagodli.’ Buyisani amadodana ami akude lamadodakazi ami asemikhawulweni yomhlaba,
I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 wonke umuntu obizwa ngebizo lami, engamdalela udumo lwami, engambumbayo, ngamenza.”
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yes, I have made him.
8 Phumani lalabo abayiziphofu amehlo belawo, abayizacuthe indlebe belazo.
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
9 Izizwe zonke kaziqoqane ndawonye labantu babuthane. Nguphi wabo owaphrofitha lokhu wamemezela kithi ngezinto zendulo? Kabalethe ofakazi babo babonakalise ukuthi baqinisile, ukuze abanye bezwe, batsho bathi, “Kuqotho.”
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.
10 UThixo uthi, “Lina lingofakazi bami, lenceku zami engizikhethileyo, ukuze lazi, likholwe kimi, njalo lizwisise ukuthi mina nginguye. Ngaphambi kwami kakho unkulunkulu owake wabakhona, njalo kakho ozakuba khona emva kwami.
You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.
11 Mina, mina uqobo, nginguThixo, ngaphandle kwami kakho omunye umsindisi.
I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.
12 Ngivezile ngasindisa, ngamemezela, mina ngokwami, hatshi unkulunkulu wezizweni ophakathi kwenu. Lingofakazi bami, ngokuthi mina yimi uNkulunkulu” kutsho uThixo.
I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore you are my witnesses, says the LORD, that I am God.
13 “Ye, kusukela ensukwini zasendulo nginguye. Kakho ongakhulula esandleni sami. Lapho ngisenza, ngubani ongakuguqula na?”
Yes, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
14 Lokhu yikho okutshiwo nguThixo, uMhlengi wenu, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, uthi, “Ngenxa yenu ngizathumela impi eBhabhiloni ilethe bonke abaseBhabhiloni, njengeziphepheli ngemikhumbi ababezigqaja ngayo.
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
15 Mina nginguThixo, oNgcwele wenu, uMdali ka-Israyeli, iNkosi yenu.”
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.
16 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo, yena owenza indlela olwandle lomkhondo emanzini alamandla,
Thus says the LORD, which makes a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
17 yena owakhupha izinqola zempi lamabhiza, ibutho, lamanye awokuliqinisa endawonye; njalo lalala lapho, kalaze lavuka futhi; licitshe, liqunywe njengentambo yesibane:
Which brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as wick.
18 “Khohlwani izinto zamandulo, linganakani ngosekwedlulayo.
Remember you not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
19 Khangelani, ngenza okutsha! Khathesi kuyavela ngokuphangisa; kalikuboni na? Ngenza indlela enkangala lezifula ogwaduleni.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
20 Izinyamazana zeganga ziyangidumisa; amakhanka lezikhova, ngoba ngenza kube lamanzi enkangala lezifula ogwaduleni ukuze nginathise abantu abakhethiweyo,
The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
21 abantu engazenzela bona ukuba bangidumise.
This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.
22 Kodwa kawukhalazanga kimi wena Jakhobe, kodwa ukhathele ngami wena Israyeli.
But you have not called on me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel.
23 Kawungilethelanga izimvu zomnikelo wokutshiswa, kumbe wangidumisa ngemihlatshelo yakho. Angikuhluphanga ngeminikelo yamabele kumbe ngakudinisa ngokufuna impepha.
You have not brought me the small cattle of your burnt offerings; neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have not caused you to serve with an offering, nor wearied you with incense.
24 Kawungithengelanga amakha ekhane anuka mnandi, kumbe wangisuthisa ngamahwahwa emihlatshelo yakho. Kodwa ungikhathazile ngezono zakho njalo wangidinisa ngezinengiso zakho.
You have bought me no sweet cane with money, neither have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices: but you have made me to serve with your sins, you have wearied me with your iniquities.
25 Mina, mina uqobo, nginguye owesula iziphambeko zakho ngenxa yami, ngingabe ngisazikhumbula futhi izono zakho.
I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and will not remember your sins.
26 Ngikhumbuza ngesikhathi esedlulayo, sibonisane ngaleyondaba ulandise ngoba msulwa kwakho.
Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare you, that you may be justified.
27 Ukhokho wakho wokuqala wona; labakhulumeli bakho bangihlamukela.
Your first father has sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Ngakho izikhulu zethempelini lakho ngizaziyangisa; nginikele uJakhobe ekubhujisweni lo-Israyeli ekweyisweni.”
Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.
