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 the LORD who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, 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 will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burnt, and flame will not scorch 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 Saviour. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
4 Njengoba wena uligugu njalo udumile ebusweni bami, futhi ngenxa yokuthi ngiyakuthanda, ngizanikela abantu esikhundleni sakho, labantu esikhundleni sempilo yakho.
Since you have been precious and honoured in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life.
5 Ungesabi, ngoba ngilawe; ngizakulethela inzalo yakho ivela empumalanga ngikubuthe kusukela entshonalanga.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will bring your offspring 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 tell the north, ‘Give them up!’ and tell the south, ‘Don’t hold them back! Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 wonke umuntu obizwa ngebizo lami, engamdalela udumo lwami, engambumbayo, ngamenza.”
everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’”
8 Phumani lalabo abayiziphofu amehlo belawo, abayizacuthe indlebe belazo.
Bring out the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who 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 peoples be assembled. Who amongst them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified, or let them hear, and say, “That is true.”
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, “With 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 will there be after me.
11 Mina, mina uqobo, nginguThixo, ngaphandle kwami kakho omunye umsindisi.
I myself am the LORD. Besides me, there is no saviour.
12 Ngivezile ngasindisa, ngamemezela, mina ngokwami, hatshi unkulunkulu wezizweni ophakathi kwenu. Lingofakazi bami, ngokuthi mina yimi uNkulunkulu” kutsho uThixo.
I have declared, I have saved, and I have shown, and there was no strange god amongst you. Therefore you are my witnesses”, says the LORD, “and I am God.
13 “Ye, kusukela ensukwini zasendulo nginguye. Kakho ongakhulula esandleni sami. Lapho ngisenza, ngubani ongakuguqula na?”
Yes, since the day was, I am he. There is no one who can deliver out of my hand. I will work, and who can hinder it?”
14 Lokhu yikho okutshiwo nguThixo, uMhlengi wenu, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli, uthi, “Ngenxa yenu ngizathumela impi eBhabhiloni ilethe bonke abaseBhabhiloni, njengeziphepheli ngemikhumbi ababezigqaja ngayo.
The LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing.
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,
The LORD, who 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:
who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty man (they lie down together, they shall not rise; they are extinct, they are quenched like a wick) says:
18 “Khohlwani izinto zamandulo, linganakani ngosekwedlulayo.
“Don’t remember the former things, and don’t 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. It springs out now. Don’t you 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 animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honour me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
21 abantu engazenzela bona ukuba bangidumise.
the people which I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise.
22 Kodwa kawukhalazanga kimi wena Jakhobe, kodwa ukhathele ngami wena Israyeli.
Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.
23 Kawungilethelanga izimvu zomnikelo wokutshiswa, kumbe wangidumisa ngemihlatshelo yakho. Angikuhluphanga ngeminikelo yamabele kumbe ngakudinisa ngokufuna impepha.
You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings, neither have you honoured me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, nor wearied you with frankincense.
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, nor have you filled me with the fat of your sacrifices, but you have burdened me 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 who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
26 Ngikhumbuza ngesikhathi esedlulayo, sibonisane ngaleyondaba ulandise ngoba msulwa kwakho.
Put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare your case, that you may be justified.
27 Ukhokho wakho wokuqala wona; labakhulumeli bakho bangihlamukela.
Your first father sinned, and your teachers have transgressed against me.
28 Ngakho izikhulu zethempelini lakho ngizaziyangisa; nginikele uJakhobe ekubhujisweni lo-Israyeli ekweyisweni.”
Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary; and I will make Jacob a curse, and Israel an insult.”
