< UMikha 1 >

1 Ilizwi likaThixo elafika kuMikha waseMoreshethi ensukwini zemibuso kaJothamu, loka-Ahazi loHezekhiya, amakhosi akoJuda, umbono awubonayo mayelana leSamariya leJerusalema.
The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morashthite in the days of Jotham, Achaz, [and] Hezekiah, the kings of Judah, which he foresaw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Zwanini lonke lina bantu, lalelani, awu wena mhlaba labo bonke abakuwo, ukuze uThixo Wobukhosi afakaze ngawe ekulahla, uThixo esethempelini lakhe elingcwele.
Hear, ye people, altogether; listen, O earth, with all that filleth it: and let the Lord Eternal be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 Khangelani! UThixo uyeza evela lapho ahlala khona; wehlela phansi njalo enyathela ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba.
For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his residence; and he will come down, and will step along upon the high places of the earth.
4 Izintaba ziyancibilika ngaphansi kwakhe, lezigodi ziyaqhekezeka phakathi njengengcino phansi komlilo, lanjengamanzi esehla ngamandla emthezukweni.
And the mountains shall melt beneath him, and the valleys shall cleave in twain, like wax [melteth] before the fire, like water poured out on a declivity.
5 Konke lokhu kungenxa yokona kukaJakhobe, ngenxa yezono zendlu ka-Israyeli. Kuyini ukona kukaJakhobe na? AkusiSamariya na? Iyini indawo kaJuda ephakemeyo na? AkusiJerusalema na?
For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. Who caused the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and who caused the high-places of Judah? is it not Jerusalem?
6 “Ngakho iSamariya ngizayenza ibe yinqumbi yemfucuza, indawo yokuhlanyela izivini. Amatshe ayo ngizawathela esigodini ngiphendle lezisekelo zayo.
Therefore will I change Samaria into stone-heaps on the field, into vineyard plantations: and I will hurl down into the valley her stones, and her foundations will I lay open.
7 Zonke izithombe zayo zizaphohlozwa; zonke izipho zayo zasethempelini zizatshiswa ngomlilo; ngizaphahlaza zonke izifanekiso zayo. Njengoba yaqoqa izipho zayo ngeholo lezifebe, zizasetshenziswa njengeholo lezifebe futhi.”
And all her graven images shall he beaten to pieces, and all her wages of sin shall be burnt with the fire, and all her idols will I make desolate; for from harlot's wages she gathered them, and for harlot's wages shall they be used again.
8 Ngenxa yalokhu ngizakhala ngilile; ngizahamba ngezinyawo phansi njalo nginqunu. Ngizahlaba umkhulungwane njengekhanka, ngikhale njengesikhova.
For this will I lament and wail; I will go confused and naked: I will make a lament like the crocodiles, and mourning like the ostriches.
9 Ngoba inxeba layo kalelapheki; selifikile koJuda. Selifike kulo kanye isango labantu bami, kanye laseJerusalema uqobo.
For her wounds arc incurable; for [the evil] is come even unto Judah; [the enemy] hath reached as far as the gate of my people, even up to Jerusalem.
10 Lingakukhulumi eGathi; lingakhali lakancane. Giqikani ethulini eBhethi Ofira.
Tell it not at Gath, weep ye not loudly [there]: in Bethle'aphrah roll thyself in the dust.
11 Dlulani linqunu njalo lilenhloni lina elihlala eShafiri. Labo abahlala eZawanani kabayikuphuma. IBhethi-Ezeli iphakathi kokulila; ukuvikelwa kwayo kususiwe kini.
Pass ye away, ye inhabitants of Shaphir, having your shame laid bare: the inhabitress of Zaanan cometh not forth [any more]; the mourning of Beth-haezel taketh from you its halting place.
12 Labo abahlala eMarothi bayazijanqa ngobuhlungu, belindele usizo ngoba umonakalo uvele kuThixo, wafika lasesangweni leJerusalema.
For the inhabitress of Maroth is grieved for the [lost] good; because evil came down from the Lord unto the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Lina elihlala eLakhishi, bophelani amabhiza agijimayo enqoleni. Yini elaba yisisusa sesono eNdodakazini yeZiyoni, ngoba ukona kuka-Israyeli kwafunyanwa kini.
Bind the chariot to the swift horses, O inhabitress of Lachish: the beginning of sin was she to the daughter of Zion; for in thee were found the transgressions of Israel.
14 Ngakho-ke lizanika iMoreshethi Gathi izipho zokwehlukana. Idolobho lase-Akhizibhi lizabonakalisa inkohliso emakhosini ako-Israyeli.
Therefore shalt thou have to give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of Achzib shall become a deception to the kings of Israel.
15 Ngizalilethela umnqobi lina elihlala eMaresha. Lowo olodumo luka-Israyeli uzakuza e-Adulami.
Yet will I bring an [enemy as] heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: as far as 'Adullam shall withdraw the glory of Israel.
16 Phucani amakhanda enu likhalela abantwabenu elibathandayo; ziphuceni libe njengelinqe ngoba bazasuka kini baye ekuthunjweni.
Make thyself bald, and cut off thy hair for the children of thy delight; enlarge thy baldness like the eagle; because they are gone into exile from thee.

< UMikha 1 >