UJeremiya 11
1 Leli yilizwi elafika kuJeremiya livela kuThixo lisithi:
The word that came unto Jeremiah from Yahweh saying:
2 “Zwana izimiso zesivumelwano lesi uzitshele abantu bakoJuda lalabo abahlala eJerusalema.
Hear ye the words of this covenant, —and speak ye unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
3 Batshele uthi uThixo, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, uthi: ‘Uqalekisiwe umuntu ongalandeli izimiso zesivumelwano lesi,
and say thou unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, —Accursed, is the man who will not hear the words of this covenant;
4 izimiso engalaya ngazo okhokho benu ekubakhupheni kwami eGibhithe, esasiyisithando sokuncibilikisa insimbi.’ Ngathi, ‘Lalelani ilizwi lami lenze konke engililaya khona, lizakuba ngabantu bami, mina ngibe nguNkulunkulu wenu.
which I commanded your fathers—in the day when I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt out of the smelting-pot of iron—saying, Hearken unto my voice and do them, According to all that I may command you, —So shall ye become my people, And, I, will become, your God:
5 Lapho-ke ngizagcwalisa isifungo sami engasifunga kubokhokho benu, ukubanika ilizwe eligeleza uchago loluju,’ ilizwe elihlezi kulo khathesi.” Ngaphendula ngathi, “Akube njalo Thixo.”
That the oath may be established which I sware to your fathers, To give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I and said, Amen, O Yahweh!
6 UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Memezela wonke amazwi la emadolobheni akoJuda lasemigwaqweni yaseJerusalema uthi: ‘Zwanini izimiso zesivumelwano lesi lizilandele.
And Yahweh said unto me, —Proclaim thou all, these words, throughout the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem saying, —Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them,
7 Kusukela ekukhupheni kwami okhokho benu eGibhithe kuze kube lamhla, ngabalaya njalonjalo ngisithi, “Lalelani ilizwi lami.”
For I, solemnly took your fathers to witness, in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt—even until this day, betimes, taking them to witness saying, —Hearken ye unto my voice.
8 Kodwa kabazange balalele kumbe banake; esikhundleni salokho, bona balandela inkani yezinhliziyo zabo ezimbi. Ngakho ngabehlisela zonke izithuko zesivumelwano engangibalaye ukuba basilandele kodwa kabaze basigcina.’”
Howbeit they hearkened not neither inclined their ear, but walked severally in the stubbornness of their wicked heart, —so then I brought upon them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.
9 UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Kulokuhlamuka okukhona ebantwini bakoJuda lakulabo abahlala eJerusalema.
Yahweh therefore said unto me, —There is found a conspiracy, among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
10 Sebebuyele ezonweni zabokhokho babo, abalayo ukulalela amazwi ami. Balandele abanye onkulunkulu ukuba babakhonze. Indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda, zombili zisephule isivumelwano engasenza labokhokho bazo.
They have turned back unto the iniquities of their first fathers who refused to hear my words, yea, they themselves, have walked after other gods to serve them, —the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I solemnised with their fathers.
11 Ngakho nanku akutshoyo uThixo: ‘Ngizabehlisela umonakalo abangeke baphephe kuwo. Lanxa sebekhala kimi kangiyikubalalela.
Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! bringing upon them calamity, which they shall not be able to escape, —and though they make outcry unto me, yet will I not hearken unto them.
12 Amadolobho akoJuda labantu baseJerusalema bazakuyakhala kubonkulunkulu ababatshisela impepha, kodwa kabasoze babasize ngalutho lapho uhlupho selubehlela.
Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, go and make outcry unto the gods to whom they have been burning incense, —but they will not at all, save, them in the time of their calamity;
13 Wena Juda ubunengi babonkulunkulu bakho bunjengobamadolobho akho, njalo lama-alithare owakhele ukutshisela impepha kulowonkulunkulu olihlazo, uBhali, ubunengi bawo bunjengobemigwaqo yaseJerusalema.’
for according to the number of thy cities, have become thy gods O Judah, —and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem, have ye set up altars to the Shameful thing, altars for burning incense to Baal.
14 Abantu laba ungabakhulekeli kumbe ubakhulumele loba ubacelele, ngoba angiyikulalela lapho bekhala kimi esikhathini sokuhlupheka kwabo.
Thou, therefore do not pray for this people, Neither lift thou up for them cry or prayer, —For I am not going to hear in the time that they cry unto me concerning their calamity.
15 Othandekayo wami wenzani ethempelini lami eceba amaqhinga amabi labanengi? Kambe inyama ebusisiweyo ingaphuthisa ukujeziswa kwakho na? Lapho uphatheka ngobubi bakho, uyajabula.”
Why hath the beloved in mine own house, done an abomination? Shall, vows and holy flesh, take away from thee thy wickednesses, or shalt thou by these, escape?
16 UThixo wakubiza ngokuthi uyisihlahla se-oliva esihlumileyo esilezithelo ezinhle. Kodwa ngokuhlokoma kwesiphepho esikhulu uzasithungela ngomlilo, ingatsha zaso zephuke.
A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit, did Yahweh call thy name, —with the noise of a great tumult, hath he kindled fire upon it, and the branches thereof shall be broken.
17 UThixo uSomandla, owakuhlanyelayo, usememezele umonakalo kuwe, ngoba indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda zenze okubi zangithukuthelisa ngokutshisela uBhali impepha.
But, Yahweh of hosts, who planted thee hath pronounced against thee calamity, —on account of the wickedness of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah which they have wrought for themselves, provoking me to anger by burning incense to Baal.
18 Ngenxa yokuthi uThixo waveza icebo labo kimi, ngalazi, ngoba ngalesosikhathi wangitshengisa ababekwenza.
Now when Yahweh, let me know and I did know, then, didst thou shew me their doings.
19 Ngangifana lewundlu elithambileyo lisiwa ekuhlatshweni; ngangingazi ukuthi basebebumbe icebo ngami, besithi, “Kasiqumeni isihlahla kanye lezithelo zaso; kasimsuseni elizweni labaphilayo, ukuze ibizo lakhe lingakhunjulwa futhi.”
But, I, was as a gentle lamb that is to be led to the slaughter, —and I knew not that against me, they had devised devices [saying] —Let us destroy the tree with its fruit Yea let us cut him off out of the land of the living, And, his name, shall be remembered no more!
20 Kodwa, wena, Thixo Somandla, wena owahlulela ngokulunga njalo uhlola inhliziyo lengqondo, yenza ngibone ukuphindisela kwakho kubo, ngoba isisusa sami ngisinikela kuwe.
But, O Yahweh of hosts Who judgest righteously, Who triest affections and intellect, —Let me see thine avenging upon them, For unto thee, have I revealed my cause.
21 Ngakho-ke nanku okutshiwo nguThixo mayelana labantu base-Anathothi abafuna ukukubulala besithi, “Ungaphrofethi ngebizo likaThixo funa sikubulale”
Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh Concerning the men of Anathoth, who are seeking thy life, saying, —Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, So shalt thou not die by our hand:
22 ngakho uThixo uSomandla uthi: “Ngizabajezisa. Amajaha akibo azabulawa yinkemba, amadodana lamadodakazi abo abulawe yindlala.
Therefore, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, —Behold me! bringing punishment upon them, The young men, shall die by the sword, Their sons and their daughters, shall die by famine;
23 Akuyikuba khona osalayo kubo, ngoba ngizaletha incithakalo ebantwini base-Anathothi ngomnyaka wokujeziswa kwabo.”
And remnant, shall they have none, —For I will bring calamity against the men of Anathoth, in the year of their visitation.
