U-Isaya 66
1 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Izulu liyisihlalo sami sobukhosi, lomhlaba uyisenabelo sami. Ingaphi indlu elizangakhela yona na? Indawo yami yokuphumula izakuba ngaphi na?
The LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest?
2 Isandla sami kasizenzanga zonke lezizinto ukuze zibe khona na?” kutsho uThixo. “Engimbukayo ngulo: lowo othobekileyo ozisolayo emoyeni, olesabayo ilizwi lami.
For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
3 Kodwa lowo onikela ngenkunzi ufana lomuntu obulala omunye umuntu, lalowo onikela ngewundlu, ufana lowephula intamo yenja; lowo onikela ngamabele ufana lonikela ngegazi lengulube, lalowo otshisa impepha yesikhumbuzo ufana lokhonza isithombe. Sebekhethe izindlela zabo, lemiphefumulo yabo ithokoziswa yizinengiso zabo;
He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.
4 ngakho-ke lami ngizakhetha ukubaphatha kalukhuni, ngibehlisele lokho abakwesabayo. Ngoba kwathi lapho ngibiza, kakho owasabelayo, lapho ngikhuluma, kakho owalalelayo. Benza okubi phambi kwami, bakhetha okungicunulayo.”
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”
5 Zwanini ilizwi likaThixo lina elilesabayo ilizwi lakhe. Uthi, “Abafowenu abalizondayo, labalixwayayo ngenxa yebizo lami, sebethe, kadunyiswe uThixo ukuze sibone intokozo yenu! Kodwa bazayangiswa.”
Hear the LORD’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed.
6 Zwanini ukuxokozela okusedolobheni, zwanini umsindo osethempelini! Ngumsindo kaThixo ephindisela ezitheni zakhe ngakho konke okuzifaneleyo.
A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that repays his enemies what they deserve.
7 “Uthi engakahelelwa, abelethe; ubuhlungu bungakamfikeli, azale indodana.
“Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son.
8 Ngubani owake wezwa into enje na? Ngubani owake wabona izinto ezinje na? Ilizwe lingazalwa ngelanga elilodwa loba isizwe sizalwe ngesikhatshana na? Ikanti iZiyoni ithi ngokuhelelwa nje ihle ibazale abantwana bayo.
Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children.
9 Kambe ngifikisa esikhathini sokukhululeka ngingabe ngisabelethisa na?” kutsho uThixo. “Ngiyasivala na isibeletho ngesikhathi sengibelethisa na?” kutsho uThixo
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God.
10 “Thokozani leJerusalema lilithabele, lonke lina elilithandayo; thokozani kakhulu lalo lonke lina elilililelayo.
“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;
11 Ngoba lizamunya lisuthe emabeleni alo aduduzayo; lizanatha kakhulu, lithokoze ngenala yalo enengi.”
that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”
12 Ngoba lokhu yikho okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngizaletha ukuthula kini okugeleza njengesifula esigcweleyo lomnotho wezizwe njengesifula esithelayo, limunye liphethwe ngengalo yazo njalo lidlaliswe emathangazini azo.
For the LORD says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees.
13 Njengomama eduduza umntanakhe, kanjalo lami ngizaliduduza, njalo lizaduduzeka eJerusalema.”
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”
14 Lapho libona lokhu, inhliziyo zenu zizathokoza, lani likhule njengotshani; isandla sikaThixo sizakwazakala ezincekwini zakhe kodwa ulaka lwakhe luzabonakaliswa ezitheni zakhe.
You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. The LORD’s hand will be known amongst his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
15 Khangelani, uThixo uza ngomlilo, izinqola zakhe zempi zinjengesivunguzane; ulaka lwakhe uzalwehlisela phansi ngokufuthelana, lokukhuza kwakhe kwehle ngamalangabi omlilo.
For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 Ngoba ngomlilo langenkemba yakhe uThixo uzakwahlulela abantu bonke, njalo abanengi bazakuba yilabo ababulewe nguThixo.
For the LORD will execute judgement by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD will be many.
17 “Labo abazahlukanisayo, bazihlambulule ukungena emasimini belandela lowo ophakathi kwalabo abadla inyama yengulube lamagundwane kanye lezinye izinto ezinengisayo, isiphetho sabo sizafika sikhathi sinye,” kutsho uThixo.
“Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, following one in the middle, eating pig’s meat, abominable things, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says the LORD.
18 Ngenxa yezenzo zabo lemicabango yabo, sekuseduze ukuthi ngizebutha izizwe zonke lezindimi zonke; njalo bazakuza babone inkazimulo yami.
“For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.
19 “Ngizabeka isibonakaliso phakathi kwabo, ngithumele abanye balabo abasalayo ezizweni zeThashishi, kumaLibhiya, lamaLudi (alodumo ekusebenziseni imitshoko), eThubhali leGrisi lasezihlengeni ezikhatshana ezingakaluzwa udumo lwami kumbe zibone inkazimulo yami. Bazamemezela udumo lwami phakathi kwezizwe.
“I will set a sign amongst them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard my fame, nor have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory amongst the nations.
20 Njalo bazababuyisa bonke abafowenu entabeni yami engcwele eJerusalema njengomnikelo kuThixo bevela ezizweni zonke, bephezu kwamabhiza, izinqola zempi, imbongolo lamakamela,” kutsho uThixo. “Bazababuyisa njengabako-Israyeli beletha iminikelo yabo yamabele ethempelini likaThixo ngezitsha ezihlambulukileyo ngokomkhuba.
They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to the LORD, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the LORD’s house.
21 Ngizakhetha abanye babo ukuba labo babe ngabaphristi labaLevi,” kutsho uThixo.
Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
22 “Njengamazulu amatsha lomhlaba omutsha engikwenzayo kuzakuma kokuphela phambi kwami,” kutsho uThixo, “ngokunjalo ibizo lakho lenzalo yakho izakuma kokuphela.
“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,” says the LORD, “so your offspring and your name shall remain.
23 Kusukela ekuThwaseni kwenye iNyanga kusiya ekuthwaseni kwenye, njalo kusukela kwelinye iSabatha kusiya kwelinye abantu bonke bazakuza bakhothame phambi kwami,” kutsho uThixo.
It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before me,” says the LORD.
24 “Bazaphuma babone izidumbu zabantu abangihlamukelayo; impethu yazo kayiyikufa, lomlilo wazo kawuyikucitshwa, njalo zizakwenyanyeka ebantwini bonke.”
“They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”
