U-Isaya 52
1 Vuka, vuka, wena Ziyoni, uzembese ngamandla! Gqoka izigqoko zakho zenkazimulo, wena Jerusalema, muzi ongcwele. Ongasokanga longcolileyo akayikungena kuwe futhi.
Wake up, wake up, Zion! Be strong! Put on your best clothes, Jerusalem, the holy city. Heathen foreigners won't ever enter you again.
2 Thintitha uthuli lwakho; sukuma, uhlale ebukhosini, wena Jerusalema. Zikhulule izibopho ezisentanyeni yakho, wena Ndodakazi ethunjiweyo yaseZiyoni.
Shake yourself free from the dust and get up. Sit on your throne, Jerusalem. Throw off the chains around your neck, captive daughter of Zion.
3 Ngoba nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Lathengiswa ngeze, njalo lizahlengwa kungekho mali.”
This is what the Lord says: You were sold for nothing, and you will be bought back without money.
4 Ngoba nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi: “Ekuqaleni abantu bami baya eGibhithe besiyahlala khona; muva i-Asiriya yabancindezela.
This is what the Lord God says: First of all, my people went to live in Egypt, then Assyria conquered them for no reason.
5 Khathesi kuyini engilakho lapha?” kubuza uThixo. “Ngoba abantu bami bathunjwa kungekho sizatho, njalo labo abababusayo bayakloloda,” kutsho uThixo. “Ilanga lonke ibizo lami lihlanjazwa kokuphela.
What do have I to do now? asks the Lord. My people have been taken into captivity for no reason. Those who rule them mock them, and I'm treated with contempt that whole time, says the Lord.
6 Ngakho-ke abantu bami bazalazi ibizo lami, ngakho-ke ngalolosuku bazakwazi ukuthi yimi engamemezela lokho ngaphambilini. Yebo, yimi.”
So I'm going to make sure my people know me; at that time they will know that I am the one who means what he says. Yes, it's me!
7 Yeka ubuhle phezu kwezintaba, bezinyawo zalabo abaletha izindaba ezinhle, abamemezela ukuthula, abaletha izindaba ezinhle, abamemezela insindiso, abathi kulo iZiyoni, “UNkulunkulu wakho uyabusa!”
What a wonderful sight in the mountains is the one running to bring good news, announcing peace and good news, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Lalela! Abalindi bakho baphakamisa amazwi abo, bonke bahlaba umkhosi ngokuthokoza. Lapho uThixo ebuyela eZiyoni bazayibona iZiyoni ngamehlo abo.
The city watchmen shout loudly and sing for joy together; they all see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.
9 Hlokomani ndawonye ngezingoma zokuthokoza, lina manxiwa aseJerusalema, ngoba uThixo usebaduduzile abantu bakhe, uselihlengile iJerusalema.
Let Jerusalem's ruins all sing for joy for the Lord has come to care for his people; he has set Jerusalem free.
10 UThixo uzaveza ingalo yakhe engcwele phambi kwezizwe zonke, njalo yonke imikhawulo yomhlaba izabona insindiso kaNkulunkulu wethu.
The Lord has demonstrated his holy power to all the nations; the whole world will see our God's salvation.
11 Sukani, sukani, phumani lapho! Lingathinti lutho olungcolileyo! Phumani kulo libe ngabahlambulukileyo, lina eliphatha izitsha zikaThixo.
Leave, leave, get out of there! Don't bring anything pagan; come out and leave it all behind. Those of you who carry the Lord's sacred articles are to purify yourselves.
12 Kodwa kaliyikusuka ngokuphangisa, kumbe libaleka; ngoba uThixo uzahamba phambi kwenu, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uzakuba ngumvikeli wenu emva kwenu.
But don't leave in a hurry, don't be in a rush as if you're running away, for the Lord will go ahead of you, and he will also protect those at the back.
13 Khangelani, inceku yami izakwenza ngokuhlakanipha, izaphakanyiswa ikhwezwe, iphiwe lodumo olukhulu.
Look: my servant will act wisely; he will be praised highly, he will be elevated in position, and seen as someone people look up to.
14 Njengoba babebanengi abanengwayo yiyo, ubuso bayo babulimele okudlula okwabantu bonke, lesimo sayo sonakele singase njengesomuntu,
But many were horrified by him, so disfigured in appearance, no longer looking like a man, so unlike anyone human.
15 ngakho-ke izachela izizwe ezinengi, amakhosi azavala imilomo yawo ngenxa yayo. Ngoba lokho abangakutshelwanga bazakubona, labangakuzwanga, bazakuqedisisa.
He will surprise many nations, and kings will keep quiet because of him—for they'll see what they haven't been told, and they'll understand what they hadn't heard.
