UJeremiya 31
1 “Ngalesosikhathi ngizakuba nguNkulunkulu wezizwana zonke zako-Israyeli, bona bazakuba ngabantu bami,” kutsho uThixo.
At that time, an affirmation of Jehovah, I am for God to all families of Israel, And they — they are to Me for a people.
2 UThixo uthi: “Abantu abasilayo enkembeni bazathola umusa enkangala; ngizakuzanika u-Israyeli ukuphumula.”
Thus said Jehovah: Found grace in the wilderness Hath a people remaining from the sword Going to cause it to rest — Israel.
3 UThixo wabonakala kithi kudala esithi: “Ngikuthandile ngothando olungapheliyo; ngikuhole ngesisa esikhulu.
From afar Jehovah hath appeared to me, With love age-during I have loved thee, Therefore I have drawn thee [with] kindness.
4 Ngizakwakha njalo uzakwakhiwa kutsha futhi, wena Israyeli Ntombi emsulwa. Uzathatha amagedla akho futhi uphume uyegida labathokozayo.
Again do I build thee, And thou hast been built, O virgin of Israel, Again thou puttest on thy tabrets, And hast gone out in the chorus of the playful.
5 Uzalima izivini zakho futhi emaqaqeni aseSamariya; abalimi bazazilima badle izithelo zazo.
Again thou dost plant vineyards In mountains of Samaria, Planters have planted, and made common.
6 Kuzakuba losuku lapho abalindi bezamemeza phezu kwamaqaqa ako-Efrayimi bathi, ‘Wozani, kasiyeni eZiyoni, kuThixo uNkulunkulu wethu.’”
For there is a day, Cried have watchmen on mount Ephraim, 'Rise, and we go up to Zion, unto Jehovah 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 said Jehovah: Sing, O ye to Jacob, [with] joy, And cry aloud at the head of the nations, Sound ye, praise ye, and say, Save, O Jehovah, 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.
Lo, I am bringing them in from the north country, And have gathered them from the sides of the earth, Among them [are] blind and lame, Conceiving and travailing one — together, A great assembly — they turn back hither.
9 Bazabuya bekhala; bazakhuleka lapho ngibabuyisa. Ngizabaholela ezihotsheni zamanzi endleleni eyendlalekileyo lapho abangayikukhubeka khona, ngoba nginguyise ka-Israyeli, njalo u-Efrayimi yindodana yami elizibulo.
With weeping they come in, And with supplications I bring them, I cause them to go unto streams of waters, In a right way — they stumble not in it, For I have been to Israel for a father, And Ephraim — My first-born [is] he.
10 Zwanini ilizwi likaThixo, lina zizwe; limemezeleni emazweni angaselwandle khatshana lithi: ‘Yena owahlakaza u-Israyeli uzamqoqa njalo uzakwelusa umhlambi wakhe njengomelusi.’
Hear a word of Jehovah, O nations, And declare ye among isles afar off, and say: He who is scattering Israel doth gather him, And hath kept him as a shepherd [doth] his flock,
11 Ngoba uThixo uzamhlenga uJakhobe, abakhulule ezandleni zalabo abalamandla kulabo.
For Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob, And redeemed him from a hand 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.
And they have come in, And have sung in the high place of Zion, And flowed unto the goodness of Jehovah, For wheat, and for new wine, and for oil, And for the young of the flock and herd, And their soul hath been as a watered garden, And they add not to grieve any more.
13 Izintombi zizagida njalo futhi zithabe, enzenjalo amajaha labadala. Ngizaguqula ukukhala kwabo kube yikuthaba; ngizabapha induduzo lentokozo esikhundleni sosizi.
Then rejoice doth a virgin in a chorus, Both young men and old men — together, And I have turned their mourning to joy, And have comforted them, And gladdened them above their sorrow,
14 Ngizasuthisa abaphristi ngokunengi, labantu bami bazasutha ngokuphana kwami,” kutsho uThixo.
And satisfied the soul of the priests [with] fatness, And My people with My goodness are satisfied, An affirmation of Jehovah.
15 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ilizwi lizwakala eRama, lesililo lokukhala okukhulu, uRasheli ukhalela abantwabakhe njalo esala ukududuzwa, ngoba kabasekho.”
Thus said Jehovah, A voice in Ramah is heard, wailing, weeping most bitter, Rachel is weeping for her sons, She hath refused to be comforted for her sons, because they are 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 said Jehovah: Withhold thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears, For there is a reward for thy work, An affirmation of Jehovah, And they have turned back from the land of the enemy.
17 Ngakho kulethemba ensukwini zakho ezizayo,” kutsho uThixo. “Abantwabakho bazabuyela elizweni labo.
And there is hope for thy latter end, An affirmation of Jehovah, And the sons have turned back [to] their 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, 'Thou hast chastised me, And I am chastised, as a heifer not taught, Turn me back, and I turn back, For thou [art] Jehovah my God.
19 Emva kokweduka kwami, ngaphenduka; emva kokuba sengizwisisile, ngazitshaya isifuba. Ngaba lenhloni ngadumazeka ngoba ngangilehlazo lasebutsheni bami.’
For after my turning back I repented, And after my being instructed I struck on the thigh, I have been ashamed, I have also blushed, For I have borne 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.
A precious son is Ephraim to Me? A child of delights? For since My speaking against him, I do thoroughly remember him still, Therefore have My bowels been moved for him, I do greatly love him, An affirmation of Jehovah.
21 Beka izitshengiso zomgwaqo; umise lezinsika zeziqondiso. Nanzelela umgwaqo, indlela ozahamba ngayo. Phenduka, wena Ntombi egcweleyo Israyeli, buyela emadolobheni akho.
Set up for thee signs, make for thee heaps, Set thy heart to the highway, the way thou wentest, Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back unto these thy cities.
22 Koze kube nini ulokhu uzulazula, wena ndodakazi engathembekanga na? UThixo uzadala into entsha emhlabeni, owesifazane uzavikela indoda.”
Till when dost thou withdraw thyself, O backsliding daughter? For Jehovah hath prepared a new thing in the land, Woman doth compass 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 said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Still they say this word in the land of Judah, And in its cities, In My turning back [to] their captivity, Jehovah doth bless thee, habitation of righteousness, Mountain of holiness.
24 Abantu bazahlala ndawonye koJuda lasemadolobheni akhona wonke, abalimi kanye lalabo abazulazulayo lemihlambi yabo.
And dwelt in Judah have husbandmen, and in all its cities together, And they have journeyed in order.
25 Ngizaqinisa abadiniweyo ngisuthise abangelamandla.”
For I have satiated the weary soul, And every grieved soul I have filled.'
26 Lapho-ke ngaphaphama ngakhangela indawana yonke. Ubuthongo bami babubemnandi kimi.
On this I have awaked, and I behold, and my sleep hath been sweet to me.
27 “Insuku ziyeza, lapho engizahlanyela khona indlu ka-Israyeli lendlu kaJuda lenzalo yabantu lezinyamazana.
Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have sown the house of Israel, And the house of Judah, With seed of man, and seed of beast.
28 Njengoba ngabalinda ukusiphuna lokudiliza, ukuchitha lokubhubhisa kanye lokuletha umonakalo, ngokunjalo ngizabalinda ukwakha lokuhlanyela,” kutsho uThixo.
And it hath been, as I watched over them to pluck up, And to break down, and to throw down, And to destroy, and to afflict; So do I watch over them to build, and to plant, An affirmation of Jehovah.
29 “Ngalezonsuku abantu kabasayikutsho ukuthi, ‘Abazali badle amavini amunyu, ngakho amazinyo abantwana asetshelela.’
In those days they do not say any more: Fathers have eaten unripe fruit, And the sons' teeth are blunted.
30 Esikhundleni salokho, umuntu wonke uzafela izono zakhe; loba ngubani odla amavini amunyu amazinyo akhe azatshelela.
But — each for his own iniquity doth die, Every man who is eating the unripe fruit, Blunted are his teeth.
31 Isikhathi siyeza, lapho engizakwenza khona isivumelwano esitsha lendlu ka-Israyeli kanye lekaJuda,” kutsho uThixo.
Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have made with the house of Israel And with the house of Judah a new covenant,
32 “Kasiyikufana lesivumelwano engasenza labokhokho babo lapho engababamba khona ngesandla ukuba ngibakhuphe eGibhithe, ngoba bephula isivumelwano sami, lanxa ngangingumyeni wabo,” kutsho uThixo.
Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers, In the day of My laying hold on their hand, To bring them out of the land of Egypt, In that they made void My covenant, And I ruled over them — an affirmation of Jehovah.
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.
For this [is] the covenant that I make, With the house of Israel, after those days, An affirmation of Jehovah, I have given My law in their inward part, And on their heart I do write it, And I have been to them for God, And they are to me for a 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 do not teach any more Each his neighbour, and each his brother, Saying, Know ye Jehovah, For they all know Me, from their least unto their greatest, An affirmation of Jehovah; For I pardon their iniquity, And of their sin I make mention 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 said Jehovah, Who is giving the sun for a light by day, The statutes of moon and stars for a light by night, Quieting the sea when its billows roar, Jehovah 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 these statutes depart from before Me, An affirmation of Jehovah, Even the seed of Israel doth cease From being a nation before Me all the days.
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 said Jehovah: If the heavens above be measured, And the foundations of earth below searched, Even I kick against all the seed of Israel, For all that they have done, An affirmation of Jehovah.
38 “Insuku ziyeza,” kutsho uThixo, “lapho idolobho leli ngizalakhelwa kutsha kusukela eMphotshongweni waseHananeli kusiya eSangweni leNgosi.
Lo, days [are coming], an affirmation of Jehovah, And the city hath been built to Jehovah, From the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner.
39 Intambo yokulinganisa izasukela lapho iqonde eqaqeni lweGarebi ibe isijikela eGowa.
And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed to Goah.
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 all the valley of the carcases and of the ashes, And all the fields unto the brook Kidron, Unto the corner of the horse-gate eastward, [Are] holy to Jehovah, it is not plucked up, Nor is it thrown down any more to the age!
