UJeremiya 31
1 “Ngalesosikhathi ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wezizwana zonke zako-Israyeli, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami,” kutsho uThixo.
At the same time, saith the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
2 UThixo uthi: “Abantu abasilayo enkembeni bazathola umusa enkangala; ngizakuzanika u-Israyeli ukuphumula.”
Thus saith the LORD, The people [who were] left by the sword found grace in the wilderness; [even] Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
3 UThixo wabonakala kithi kudala esithi: “Ngikuthandile ngothando olungapheliyo; ngikuhole ngesisa esikhulu.
The LORD appeared of old to me, [saying], I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.
4 Ngizakwakha njalo uzakwakhiwa kutsha futhi, wena Israyeli Ntombi emsulwa. Uzathatha amagedla akho futhi uphume uyegida labathokozayo.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
5 Uzalima izivini zakho futhi emaqaqeni aseSamariya; abalimi bazazilima badle izithelo zazo.
Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat [them] as common things.
6 Kuzakuba losuku lapho abalindi bezamemeza phezu kwamaqaqa ako-Efrayimi bathi, ‘Wozani, kasiyeni eZiyoni, kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu.’”
For there shall be a day, [that] the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God.
7 UThixo uthi: “Mhlabeleleni uJakhobe ngokuthokoza; nqongolozelani izizwe ezidumileyo. Yenzani ukudumisa kwenu kuzwakale, lisithi, ‘Awu Thixo, bahlenge abantu bakho, insalela ka-Israyeli.’
For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
8 Khangelani, ngizababuyisa bevela elizweni lasenyakatho, ngibaqoqe emikhawulweni yomhlaba. Phakathi kwabo kuzakuba leziphofu labaqhulayo; abesifazane abazithweleyo labahelelwayo; ixuku elikhulu lizabuya.
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the borders of the earth, [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9 Bazabuya bekhala; bazakhuleka lapho ngibabuyisa. Ngizabaholela ezihotsheni zamanzi endleleni eyendlalekileyo lapho abangayikukhubeka khona, ngoba nginguyise ka-Israyeli, njalo u-Efrayimi yindodana yami elizibulo.
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim [is] my first-born.
10 Zwanini ilizwi likaThixo, lina zizwe; limemezeleni emazweni angaselwandle khatshana lithi: ‘Yena owahlakaza u-Israyeli uzamqoqa njalo uzakwelusa umhlambi wakhe njengomelusi.’
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.
11 Ngoba uThixo uzamhlenga uJakhobe, abakhulule ezandleni zalabo abalamandla kulabo.
For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he.
12 Bazakuza banqongoloze ngentokozo ezingqongeni zeZiyoni; bazathokoza ngokuphana kukaThixo, ngamabele, langewayini elitsha kanye lamafutha e-oliva, ngamazinyane ezimvu langamathole enkomo. Bazakuba njengesivande esithelelwa kuhle, njalo kabasayikuba losizi futhi.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the hight of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Izintombi zizagida njalo futhi zithabe, enzenjalo amajaha labadala. Ngizaguqula ukukhala kwabo kube yikuthaba; ngizabapha induduzo lentokozo esikhundleni sosizi.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 Ngizasuthisa abaphristi ngokunengi, labantu bami bazasutha ngokuphana kwami,” kutsho uThixo.
And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
15 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ilizwi lizwakala eRama, lesililo lokukhala okukhulu, uRasheli ukhalela abantwabakhe njalo esala ukududuzwa, ngoba kabasekho.”
Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, [and] bitter weeping; Rachel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they [were] not.
16 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo: “Bamba ilizwi lakho ungakhali, lamehlo akho angehlisi inyembezi ngoba umsebenzi wakho uzathola umvuzo,” kutsho uThixo. “Bazabuya bevela elizweni lesitha.
Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thy eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 Ngakho kulethemba ensukwini zakho ezizayo,” kutsho uThixo. “Abantwabakho bazabuyela elizweni labo.
And there is hope in thy end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
18 Ngikuzwile impela ukukhala kuka-Efrayimi esithi: ‘Wangitshaya njengethole elingathambanga, njalo sengajeziseka. Ngibuyisa, njalo ngizabuya, ngoba unguThixo uNkulunkulu wami.
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.
19 Emva kokweduka kwami, ngaphenduka; emva kokuba sengizwisisile, ngazitshaya isifuba. Ngaba lenhloni ngadumazeka ngoba ngangilehlazo lasebutsheni bami.’
Surely after I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote upon [my] thigh: I was ashamed, and even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.
20 U-Efrayimi kasindodana yami ethandekayo, umntanami engithokoza ngaye na? Lanxa ngihlala ngikhuluma kubi ngaye ngisamkhumbula. Ngakho inhliziyo yami iyamlangatha; ngiyamzwela kakhulu, kutsho uThixo.
[Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
21 Beka izitshengiso zomgwaqo; umise lezinsika zeziqondiso. Nanzelela umgwaqo, indlela ozahamba ngayo. Phenduka, wena Ntombi egcweleyo Israyeli, buyela emadolobheni akho.
Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps: set thy heart towards the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest; turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
22 Koze kube nini ulokhu uzulazula, wena ndodakazi engathembekanga na? UThixo uzadala into entsha emhlabeni, owesifazane uzavikela indoda.”
How long wilt thou wander about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
23 UThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli uthi, “Lapho ngibabuyisa bevela ekuthunjweni, abantu abaselizweni lakoJuda lasemadolobheni alo bazawasebenzisa futhi amazwi la athi, ‘UThixo akubusise wena ndawo yokuhlala elungileyo, wena ntaba engcwele.’
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in her cities, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, mountain of holiness.
24 Abantu bazahlala ndawonye koJuda lasemadolobheni akhona wonke, abalimi kanye lalabo abazulazulayo lemihlambi yabo.
And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all her cities together, husbandmen, and they [that] go forth with flocks.
25 Ngizaqinisa abadiniweyo ngisuthise abangelamandla.”
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
26 Lapho-ke ngaphaphama ngakhangela indawana yonke. Ubuthongo bami babubemnandi kimi.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet to me.
27 “Insuku ziyeza, lapho engizahlanyela khona indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda lenzalo yabantu lezinyamazana.
Behold, the days come saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
28 Njengoba ngabalinda ukusiphuna lokudiliza, ukuchitha lokubhubhisa kanye lokuletha umonakalo, ngokunjalo ngizabalinda ukwakha lokuhlanyela,” kutsho uThixo.
And it shall come to pass, [that] as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build and to plant, saith the LORD.
29 “Ngalezonsuku abantu kabasayikutsho ukuthi, ‘Abazali badle amavini amunyu, ngakho amazinyo abantwana asetshelela.’
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
30 Esikhundleni salokho, umuntu wonke uzafela izono zakhe; loba ngubani odla amavini amunyu amazinyo akhe azatshelela.
But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Isikhathi siyeza, lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu ka-Israyeli kanye lekaJuda,” kutsho uThixo.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 “Kasiyikufana lesivumelwano engasenza labokhokho babo lapho engababamba khona ngesandla ukuba ngibakhuphe eGibhithe, ngoba bephula isivumelwano sami, lanxa ngangingumyeni wabo,” kutsho uThixo.
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, saith the LORD:
33 “Lesi yiso isivumelwano engizasenza lendlu ka-Israyeli ngemva kwalesosikhathi,” kutsho uThixo. “Ngizafaka umthetho wami ezingqondweni zabo, ngiwulobe lasezinhliziyweni zabo. Ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wabo, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami.
But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 Umuntu kasayikufundisa umakhelwane wakhe, kumbe umfowabo esithi, ‘Mazi uThixo,’ ngoba bonke bazangazi, kusukela komncinyane wabo kusiya komkhulu, kutsho uThixo. Ngoba ngizabathethelela ububi babo, njalo angiyikukhumbula izono zabo futhi.”
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo, yena obeka ilanga ukuba likhanyise emini, omisa inyanga lezinkanyezi ukuba kukhanye ebusuku, onyakazisa ulwandle ukuze amagagasi alo ahlokome, uThixo uSomandla yilo ibizo lakhe, uthi:
Thus saith the LORD, who giveth the sun for a light by day, [and] the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who divideth the sea when its waves roar; The LORD of hosts [is] his name:
36 “Nxa izimiso lezi zinganyamalala ebusweni bami,” kutsho uThixo, “kulapho lenzalo ka-Israyeli ezacina khona ukuba yisizwe phambi kwami.”
If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, [then] the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37 UThixo uthi: “Nxa amazulu phezulu engalinganiswa lezisekelo zomhlaba ngaphansi zihlolwe, kulapho engingayilahla khona yonke inzalo ka-Israyeli ngenxa yakho konke abakwenzileyo,” kutsho uThixo.
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
38 “Insuku ziyeza,” kutsho uThixo, “lapho idolobho leli ngizalakhelwa kutsha kusukela eMphotshongweni waseHananeli kusiya eSangweni leNgosi.
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner.
39 Intambo yokulinganisa izasukela lapho iqonde eqaqeni lweGarebi ibe isijikela eGowa.
And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 Isigodi sonke lapho okulahlelwa khona izidumbu zabafileyo lomlotha, lawo wonke amasimu kusiyafika esigodini seKhidironi ngasempumalanga kusiyafika ejikweni leSango leBhiza, kuzakuba ngcwele kuThixo. Idolobho kaliyikusitshunwa futhi loba lidilizwe.”
And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook of Kidron, to the corner of the horse-gate towards the east, [shall be] holy to the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
