UJeremiya 14
1 Leli yilizwi likaThixo elafika kuJeremiya mayelana lokoma elizweni lisithi:
The word of Jehovah that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought.
2 “UJuda uyalila, amadolobho akhe ayahlupheka; alilela ilizwe, njalo isililo siyaqonga sivela eJerusalema.
Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish, they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem goeth up.
3 Izikhulu zithuma izinceku zazo ukuyafuna amanzi; ziya emithonjeni kodwa zifice amanzi engekho. Ziyabuyela lemigqomo yazo ingelalutho; zithithibele njalo zidanile, zemboze amakhanda azo.
And their nobles send their little ones for water: they come to the pits, they find no water; they return with their vessels empty; they are ashamed, they are confounded, and have covered their heads.
4 Umhlabathi uqhekezekile ngoba akulazulu elizweni; abalimi bathithibele njalo bemboze amakhanda abo.
Because the ground is chapt, for there hath been no rain on the earth, the ploughmen are ashamed, they cover their heads.
5 Lenyamazana ensikazi egangeni iyabalekela inkonyane layo elizelweyo ngoba akulatshani.
For the hind also calveth in the field, and forsaketh [its young], because there is no grass.
6 Obabhemi beganga bema emiqolweni elugwadule bakhefuzele njengamakhanka; amehlo abo asefiphele ngenxa yokuswela amadlelo.”
And the wild asses stand on the heights, they snuff up the wind like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage.
7 Lanxa izono zethu zifakaza kubi ngathi, Oh Thixo, ake wenze okunye ngenxa yebizo lakho. Ngoba ukuhlehlela kwethu emuva kunengi; sonile kuwe.
Jehovah, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou act for thy name's sake; for our backslidings are many — we have sinned against thee.
8 Oh Themba lika-Israyeli, uMhlengi wakhe ezikhathini zokuhlupheka, kungani usiba njengowezizweni elizweni, njengesihambi esihlala ubusuku obubodwa kuphela?
Thou hope of Israel, its Saviour in the time of trouble, why wilt thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a traveller that turneth aside to stay a night?
9 Kungani usiba njengomuntu ojunyiweyo, lanjengebutho elingelamandla okusiza na? Ukhona phakathi kwethu, wena Thixo, njalo sibizwa ngebizo lakho; ungasilahli!
Why wilt thou be as a man astonished, as a mighty man that cannot save? Yet thou, Jehovah, art in the midst of us, and we are called by thy name: leave us not.
10 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo ngalababantu: “Bayakuthanda kakhulu ukuntula; kabazibambi inyawo zabo. Ngakho uThixo kayikubamukela; khathesi uzakhumbula ububi babo abajezisele izono zabo.”
Thus saith Jehovah to this people: Even so have they loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet; and Jehovah hath no delight in them: now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins.
11 UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Ungakhulekeli inhlalakahle yabantu laba.
And Jehovah said unto me, Pray not for this people for their good.
12 Lanxa bezila ukudla, ukukhala kwabo angiyikukulalela; loba benikela iminikelo yokutshiswa kanye leminikelo yamabele, angiyikuyamukela. Esikhundleni salokho, ngizabaqeda du ngenkemba, ngendlala langezifo.”
When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer up burnt-offering and oblation, I will not accept them: for I will consume them by sword, and by famine, and by pestilence.
13 Kodwa mina ngathi, “Awu Thixo Wobukhosi, abaphrofethi bahlezi bebatshela besithi, ‘Kaliyikubona inkemba loba libulawe yindlala. Impela, ngizalipha ukuthula okungapheliyo kule indawo.’”
And I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! Behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; for I will give you assured peace in this place.
14 UThixo wasesithi kimi, “Abaphrofethi baphrofetha amanga ngebizo lami. Angibathumanga njalo angibakhethanga kumbe ngikhulume labo. Baphrofetha imibono yamanga kini, ukuhlahlula, ukukhonza izithombe lenkohliso yezingqondo zabo.
And Jehovah said unto me, The prophets prophesy falsehood in my name; I have not sent them, neither have I commanded them, nor spoken unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision, and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
15 Ngakho-ke, nanku okutshiwo nguThixo ngabaphrofethi abaphrofetha ngebizo lami ukuthi: Kangizange ngibathume, kodwa bona bathi, ‘Akulankemba kumbe indlala ezathinta ilizwe leli.’ Bona labo abaphrofethi bazabhujiswa ngenkemba langendlala.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, and who say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and by famine shall those prophets be consumed;
16 Abantu abaphrofetha kubo bazaphoselwa phandle emigwaqweni yaseJerusalema ngenxa yendlala lenkemba. Akulamuntu ozabangcwaba kumbe omkabo, amadodana abo loba amadodakazi abo. Ngizabehlisela ingozi ebafaneleyo.
and the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, because of the famine and the sword; and there shall be none to bury them, them, their wives, and their sons, and their daughters; and I will pour their wickedness upon them.
17 Khuluma ilizwi leli kubo uthi: ‘Amehlo ami kawehlise inyembezi ebusuku lemini zingomi; ngoba indodakazi yami egcweleyo, labantu bami balimele kakhulu, balinyazwe yikutshaywa okwesabekayo.
And thou shalt say this word unto them: Let mine eyes run down with tears, night and day, and not cease; for the virgin daughter of my people is broken with a great breach, with a very grievous blow.
18 Nxa ngingena elizweni, ngibona labo ababulawa ngenkemba; nxa ngingena edolobheni ngibona umonakalo owenziwa yindlala. Bobabili umphrofethi lomphristi sebeye elizweni abangalaziyo.’”
If I go forth into the field, behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, behold them that pine away with famine! For both prophet and priest shall go about into a land that they know not.
19 UJuda usumlahle kokuphela na? IZiyoni uyaleyisa na? Usitshayeleni kangaka size singelapheki na? Sasilindele ukuthula kodwa akulabuhle obaba khona, isikhathi sokwelatshwa kodwa kulokwesaba kuphela.
— Hast thou then utterly rejected Judah? Doth thy soul loathe Zion? Why hast thou smitten us, and there is no healing for us? Peace is looked for, and there is no good, — and a time of healing, and behold terror!
20 Awu Thixo, siyakuvuma ukona kwethu kanye lokona kwabokhokho bethu; impela sonile kuwe.
Jehovah, we acknowledge our wickedness, the iniquity of our fathers; for we have sinned against thee.
21 Ngenxa yebizo lakho ungasenyanyi; ungasigconi isihlalo sakho sobukhosi esihle kakhulu. Khumbula isivumelwano sakho lathi ungasephuli.
For thy name's sake, do not spurn [us], do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.
22 Zikhona yini izithombe eziyize zezizwe ezinganisa izulu na? Imikhathi yona ngokwayo iyalinisa izulu na? Hatshi, nguwe, Thixo Nkulunkulu wethu. Ngakho ithemba lethu likuwe, ngoba nguwe owenza konke lokhu.
Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? Art not thou HE, Jehovah, our God? And we wait upon thee; for thou hast made all these things.
