< U-Isaya 58 >

1 “Memeza kakhulu, ungathuli. Phakamisa ilizwi lakho njengecilongo. Tshela abantu bami ngokuhlamuka kwabo, lendlu kaJakhobe uyitshele ngezono zabo.
Cry out! Cease not! Exalt your voice like a trumpet, and announce to my people their wicked acts, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Ngoba usuku ngosuku bayangidinga; bafuna ukwazi izindlela zami, sengathi bayisizwe esenza okulungileyo esingalahlanga imilayo kaNkulunkulu waso. Bacela izinqumo ezilungileyo kimi bafune ukuthi uNkulunkulu asondele kubo.
For they also seek me, from day to day, and they are willing to know my ways, like a nation which has done justice and has not abandoned the judgment of their God. They petition me for judgments of justice. They are willing to draw near to God.
3 Bathi, ‘Kungani sizilile, kodwa wena wangakuboni na? Kungani sizithobile kodwa wangakunaki na?’ Ikanti ngosuku lokuzila kwenu lenza elikuthandayo, lincindezele lezisebenzi zenu zonke.
“Why have we fasted, and you have not taken notice? Why have we humbled our souls, and you have not acknowledged it?” Behold, in the day of your fasting, your own will is found, and you petition for payment from all your debtors.
4 Ukuzila kwenu kucina ngengxabano lokulwa, langokutshayana kubi ngenqindi. Alingeke lizile njengelikwenzayo lamhla lithembe ukuthi ilizwi lenu lizazwakala phezulu.
Behold, you fast with strife and contention, and you strike with the fist impiously. Do not choose to fast as you have done even to this day. Then your outcry will be heard on high.
5 Lokhu yikho ukuzila engikukhethileyo na, ukuthi umuntu azithobe okosuku olulodwa nje? Yikuthi umuntu akhothamise ikhanda lakhe njengomhlanga nje, lokulala esakeni lemlotheni na? Lokho yikho elithi yikuzila, usuku olwamukelekayo kuThixo na?
Is this a fast such as I have chosen: for a man to afflict his soul for a day, to contort his head in a circle, and to spread sackcloth and ashes? Should you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord?
6 Lokhu akusikho yini ukuzila engikukhethileyo: ukukhulula izibopho zokungalungi lokuthukulula imichilo yejogwe, kukhululwe abancindezelweyo, kwephulwe amajogwe wonke na?
Is not this, instead, the kind of fast that I have chosen? Release the constraints of impiety; relieve the burdens that oppress; freely forgive those who are broken; and break apart every burden.
7 Akusikwabela abalambayo ukudla kwakho lokunika umnyanga ongumhambuma indawo yokuhlala, lapho ubona abanqunu ubagqokise, lokungafulatheli izihlobo zakho zegazi na?
Break your bread with the hungry, and lead the destitute and the homeless into your house. When you see someone naked, cover him, and do not despise your own flesh.
8 Lapho-ke ukukhanya kwakho kuzavela njengokusa, lokusila kwakho kuzabonakala masinyane, kuthi ukulunga kwakho kuhambe phambi kwakho, inkazimulo kaThixo izakuba yisivikelo ngemva kwakho.
Then your light will break forth like the morning, and your health will improve quickly, and your justice will go before your face, and the glory of the Lord will gather you up.
9 Lapho-ke uzabiza, uThixo asabele; uzacela usizo, yena uzakuthi: Ngilapha. Nxa ungalahla ijogwe lokuncindezela lokukhomba ngomunwe kanye lezinkulumo ezimbi;
Then you will call, and the Lord will heed; you will cry out, and he will say, “Here I am,” if you take away the chains from your midst, and cease to point your finger and to speak what is not beneficial.
10 njalo nxa unika abalambayo ukudla kwakho, wanelise lenswelo zabancindezelweyo, ukukhanya kwakho kuzavela emnyameni, ubusuku bakho buzakuba njengemini.
When you pour out your life for the hungry, and you satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will rise up in darkness, and your darkness will be like the midday.
11 UThixo uzakukhokhela kokuphela; uzakwanelisa inswelo zakho elizweni elitshiswa lilanga, aqinise amathambo akho. Uzakuba njengesivande esithelezelwa kuhle, lanjengomthombo olamanzi angacitshiyo.
And the Lord will give you rest continually, and he will fill your soul with splendor, and he will free your bones, and you will be like a watered garden and like a fountain of water whose waters will not fail.
12 Abantu bakho bazawavusa amanxiwa amadala, bavuse lezisekelo zakudala. Uzabizwa ngokuthi uMakhi Wemiduli Eyadilikayo, loMvuseleli wemiGwaqo leMizi.
And places that have been desolate for ages will be built up by you. You will raise a foundation for generation after generation. And you will be called the repairer of hedges, who turns the roadways into quiet places.
13 Nxa ugcina inyawo zakho zingephuli iSabatha, njalo ungenzi intando yakho ngosuku lwami olungcwele, nxa iSabatha ulibiza ngokuthi yintokozo njalo usuku lukaThixo olungcwele usithi lulodumo, njalo nxa uluhlonipha ngokungahambi ngendlela yakho, langokungenzi intando yakho loba ukukhuluma amazwi ayize,
If you restrain your foot on the Sabbath, from doing your own will on my holy day, and if you call the Sabbath delightful, and the Holy of the Lord glorious, and if you glorify him, while you do not act according to your own ways, and your own will is not found, not even to speak a word,
14 lapho-ke uzathola intokozo kuThixo, njalo ngizakukhweza emiqolweni yelizwe, ngikwenze udle ilifa likayihlo uJakhobe.” Umlomo kaThixo usukhulumile.
then you will find delight in the Lord, and I will take you up, above the heights of the earth, and I will nourish you with the inheritance of Jacob, your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

< U-Isaya 58 >