U-Isaya 49
1 Ngilalelani lina zihlenge; zwanini lokhu lina zizwe ezikude: uThixo wangibiza ngingakazalwa; kusukela ekuzalweni kwami ubelitsho ibizo lami.
Listen, islands, to me; and listen, you peoples, from far: the LORD has called me from the womb; from the body of my mother has he made mention of my name:
2 Wenza umlomo wami waba njengenkemba eloliweyo, wangifihla emthunzini wesandla sakhe. Wangenza ngaba ngumtshoko ololiweyo, wangifihla emxhakeni wakhe wemitshoko.
and he has made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand, he has hidden me; and he has made me a polished arrow, in his quiver has he kept me close:
3 Wathi kimi, “Wena Israyeli uyinceku yami, engizabonakalisa inkazimulo yami ngayo.”
and he said to me, "You are my servant; Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
4 Kodwa mina ngathi, “Mina ngisebenzele ize; amandla ami ngiwachithele ize lobala, ikanti okufanele mina kusesandleni sikaThixo, lomvuzo wami ukuNkulunkulu.”
But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely the justice due to me is with the LORD, and my reward with my God."
5 Khathesi uThixo uthi, yena owangibumbayo esiswini ukuba ngibe yinceku yakhe ukuze ngibuyisele uJakhobe kuye lokuqoqela u-Israyeli kuye, ngoba ngiphakanyisiwe emehlweni kaThixo njalo uNkulunkulu wami ubengamandla ami
Now says the LORD who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, and that Israel be gathered to him; for I am honorable in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength.
6 uthi: “Kuyinto encane kakhulu kuwe ukuba yinceku yami ukuze uvuselele izizwe zikaJakhobe ubuyise labako-Israyeli engibalondolozileyo. Ngizakwenza ube yikukhanya kwabeZizwe, ukuze ufikise usindiso lwami emikhawulweni yomhlaba.”
And he says, "Is it too insignificant a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel? I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may bring salvation to the farthest part of the earth."
7 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo, uMhlengi loNgcwele ka-Israyeli, utsho kuye oweyiswa, wenyanywa yisizwe, kuyo inceku yababusi: “Amakhosi azakubona asukume, amakhosana azakubona akhothame, ngenxa kaThixo othembekileyo, oNgcwele ka-Israyeli okukhethileyo.”
Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to the one who is despised, to those abhorred as a nation, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of the LORD who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
8 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngesikhathi esifaneleyo kimi ngizakuphendula, langosuku lwensindiso ngizakusiza. Ngizakulondoloza ngikwenze ube yisivumelwano sabantu, ukubuyisela ilizwe lokwaba kutsha amafa abo achithekayo,
Thus says the LORD, "In an acceptable time I have answered you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you; and I will preserve you, and give you as a covenant to the people, to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:
9 uthi kwabathunjiweyo, ‘Phumani,’ kulabo abasemnyameni uthi, ‘Khululekani!’ Bazadlela emaceleni emigwaqo bathole amadlelo kuwo wonke amaqaqa alugwadule.
saying to those who are bound, 'Come out.'; to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves.' "They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.
10 Kabayikulamba kumbe bome, lokutshisa kwasenkangala kumbe okwelanga kabayikukuzwa. Lowo obazwela isihawu uzabakhokhela abase emithonjeni yamanzi.
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun strike them: for he who has mercy on them will lead them, even by springs of water he will guide them.
11 Izintaba zami zonke ngizazenza zibe yizindlela, imigwaqo yami izaphakamela phezulu.
I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
12 Khangelani, bazakuza bevela khatshana, abanye bevela enyakatho, abanye bevela entshonalanga labanye bevela emangweni wase-Asiwani.”
Look, these shall come from far; and look, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Syene."
13 Hlabelelani ngentokozo lina mazulu; jabula lawe mhlaba; tshayani ingoma lina zintaba. Ngoba uThixo uyabaduduza abantu bakhe njalo uzakuba lesihawu kwabahluphekayo bakhe.
Sing, heavens; and be joyful, earth; and break forth into singing, mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his afflicted.
14 Kodwa iZiyoni yathi, “UThixo ungilahlile, uThixo usengikhohliwe.”
But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me."
15 “Owesifazane angamkhohlwa umntanakhe omunyayo na, angabi lesihelo emntwaneni amzeleyo na? Lanxa engamkhohlwa, mina angiyikukukhohlwa!”
"Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
16 Khangela, sengikudwebe ezintendeni zezandla zami; imiduli yakho ihlezi iphambi kwami.
Look, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
17 Amadodana akho aphanga emuva, lalabo abakuchithayo bayasuka kuwe.
Your builders hurry; your destroyers and those who devastated you shall depart from you.
18 Phakamisa amehlo akho ukhangele emaceleni wonke, wonke amadodana akho ayaqoqana eze kuwe. UThixo uthi, “Ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngiphila, bonke uzabagqiza njengezigqizo, ucece ngabo njengomlobokazi.
Lift up your eyes all around, and see: all these gather themselves together, and come to you. As I live," says the LORD, "you shall surely clothe yourself with them all as with an ornament, and dress yourself with them, like a bride.
19 Lanxa nje wadilizwa waba lunxiwa lelizwe lakho lachithwa, khathesi uzakuba mncane kakhulu ebantwini bakho; lalabo abakuchithayo bazakuba khatshana.
"For, as for your waste and your desolate places, and your land that has been destroyed, surely now you shall be too small for the inhabitants, and those who swallowed you up shall be far away.
20 Abantwana abazalwa ngesikhathi sokufelwa kwakho bazakutsho lawe usizwa bathi, ‘Indawo le incinyane kakhulu kithi; siphe enye njalo indawo yokuhlala.’
The children of your bereavement shall yet say in your ears, The place is too small for me; give place to me that I may dwell.
21 Lapho-ke uzakuthi enhliziyweni yakho, ‘Ngubani owangizalela laba na? Ngafelwa njalo ngaba njengongazalanga; ngaxotshwa elizweni, ngalahlwa. Laba bondliwa ngubani? Mina ngangisele ngedwa, kodwa laba-ke, bavele ngaphi?’”
Then you will say in your heart, 'Who has conceived these for me, since I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary, an exile, and wandering back and forth? Who has brought up these? Look, I was left alone; these, where were they?'"
22 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: “Khangela, ngizaqhweba abeZizwe. Ngizaphakamisela uphawu lwami ebantwini; bazaletha amadodana akho bewagonile, amadodakazi akho bewathwele ngamahlombe abo.
Thus says the LORD, "Look, I will lift up my hand to the nations, and set up my banner to the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their bosom, and your daughters shall be carried on their shoulders.
23 Amakhosi azakuba ngoyihlo bokukukhulisa, amakhosikazi awo abe ngonyoko bokukondla. Bazakhothama phambi kwakho ubuso babo buphansi, emhlabathini, bazakhotha uthuli ezinyaweni zakho. Lapho-ke uzakwazi ukuthi mina nginguThixo; labo abangithembayo abayikudaniswa.”
Kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers: they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know that I am the LORD; and those who wait for me shall not be disappointed."
24 Amabutho angemukwa impango na, kumbe abathunjiweyo bahlengwe kwabesabekayo na?
Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be delivered?
25 Kodwa nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Yebo, abathunjiweyo bazathathwa emabuthweni lempango izahluthunwa futhi kwabesabekayo, ngoba ngizamelana lalabo abamelana lawe, abantwabakho ngizabahlenga.
But thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant shall be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children.
26 Ngizakwenza abancindezeli bakho badle inyama yemizimba yabo; bazadakwa ngelabo igazi njengewayini. Lapho-ke izizwe zonke zizakwazi ukuthi mina Thixo, nginguMsindisi wakho, uMhlengi wakho, uMninimandla kaJakhobe.”
I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh; and they shall be drunk with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."
