UJeremiya 47
1 Leli yilizwi likaThixo elafika kuJeremiya umphrofethi mayelana lamaFilistiya ngesikhathi uFaro engakahlaseli iGaza:
This is the message from the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.
2 UThixo uthi: “Khangela ukuphakama kwamanzi enyakatho; azakuba ngumfula okhukhulayo. Azakhukhula ilizwe lakho konke okukulo, amadolobho lalabo abahlala kuwo. Abantu bazakhala, bonke abahlala elizweni bazalila
This is what the Lord says: Look at the waters rising from the north! They will become an overflowing river that sweeps across the country and everything in it, flooding the towns and everyone's homes. The people will cry out for help; everyone who lives in the country will weep,
3 ekuzweni umsindo wamasondo amabhiza agijimayo, lekuzweni umsindo wezinqola zesitha lomdumo wamasondo azo. Oyise kabayikuphenduka ukuba basize abantwababo; izandla zabo zizalenga zingelamandla.
as they hear the sound of stallions charging, the rattling of chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Fathers won't go back to help their sons—they have no strength because they're terrified.
4 Ngoba usuku selufikile ukuba abhujiswe wonke amaFilistiya, lokuqeda bonke abasilayo abangasiza iThire leSidoni. Sekuseduze ukuba uThixo abhubhise amaFilistiya, insalela emakhunjini eKhafithori.
The day has arrived when all the Philistines will be destroyed, when Tyre and Sidon will have no more allies to help them. The Lord is going to destroy the Philistines, those who are left from the island of Crete.
5 IGaza izaphuca ikhanda layo ilila; i-Ashikheloni izathuliswa. Lina nsalela esemagcekeni, lizazisika kuze kube nini na?
The people of Gaza will shave their heads; the town of Ashkelon lies in ruins. You who are left on the coastal plain, how long will you go on cutting yourself?
6 Likhala lisithi, ‘Maye, nkemba kaThixo, koba nini ukuze uphumule? Buyela emgodleni wakho; khawuka ungathi nyiki.’
Oh sword of the Lord, when are you going to stop killing? Go back in your sheath. Stop killing and stay there!
7 Kodwa ingaphumula njani yona ilaywe nguThixo, ithunywe nguye ukuba ihlasele i-Ashikheloni lamakhumbi olwandle na?”
But how can the sword stop killing when the Lord has given it orders to attack Ashkelon and its coastlands?
