UJeremiya 47
1 Leli yilizwi likaThixo elafika kuJeremiya umphrofethi mayelana lamaFilistiya ngesikhathi uFaro engakahlaseli iGaza:
Yahweh gave to the prophet Jeremiah a message about the people of Philistia. [The message was given to me] before Gaza [city in Philistia] was captured by [the army of] Egypt.
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 Yahweh said: “[An army] [MET] will be coming from the northeast that will cover the land like a flood. They will destroy the land and everything in it; [they will destroy] people and cities. People will scream; everyone in the land will wail.
3 ekuzweni umsindo wamasondo amabhiza agijimayo, lekuzweni umsindo wezinqola zesitha lomdumo wamasondo azo. Oyise kabayikuphenduka ukuba basize abantwababo; izandla zabo zizalenga zingelamandla.
[They will hear] the sound of the hooves of the [enemy] horses, and [they will hear] the rumble/noise of the wheels [of their enemies’] chariots. Men [will run away; ] they will not stop to help their children; they will be completely weak and helpless [MTY].
4 Ngoba usuku selufikile ukuba abhujiswe wonke amaFilistiya, lokuqeda bonke abasilayo abangasiza iThire leSidoni. Sekuseduze ukuba uThixo abhubhise amaFilistiya, insalela emakhunjini eKhafithori.
It will be the time for all the people of Philistia to be destroyed, and the time to prevent the remaining soldiers from helping [the people of] Tyre and Sidon [cities]. [I, ] Yahweh, will get rid of the people of Philistia, those whose ancestors [long ago] came from Crete [island].
5 IGaza izaphuca ikhanda layo ilila; i-Ashikheloni izathuliswa. Lina nsalela esemagcekeni, lizazisika kuze kube nini na?
[The people of] Gaza will be humiliated; they will shave off all the hair on their heads [to indicate that they are ashamed]. The [people of] [city] will all be silent [because they will be mourning]. [All you people who live] along the coast [of the Mediterranean Sea] who are still alive, how long [RHQ] will you gash yourselves [because you are mourning]?”
6 Likhala lisithi, ‘Maye, nkemba kaThixo, koba nini ukuze uphumule? Buyela emgodleni wakho; khawuka ungathi nyiki.’
[The people of Philistia say, ] “Yahweh, when [RHQ] will you [tell our enemies to stop killing us with] [PRS] their swords? Tell them to [PRS] put them back into their sheaths and keep them there!”
7 Kodwa ingaphumula njani yona ilaywe nguThixo, ithunywe nguye ukuba ihlasele i-Ashikheloni lamakhumbi olwandle na?”
But it would not be right [RHQ] for their swords to stay there, because Yahweh has commanded their enemies [to do something more]; Yahweh intends to tell them to attack [all the people living in] Ashkelon and [in other cities] along the coast.
