< UMikha 2 >

1 Maye kulabo abaceba ububi, kulabo abaceba ukwenza okubi emibhedeni yabo! Ekudabukeni kokusa bayakwenza ngoba kusemandleni abo ukukwenza.
Woe to you who devise useless things and who work evil in your beds. In the morning light, they undertake it, because their hand is against God.
2 Bahawukela amasimu bawathumbe, kanye lezindlu, bazithathe. Badlelezela umuntu ngomuzi wakhe, lomuntu wakibo ngelifa lakhe.
And they have desired fields and have taken them by violence, and they have stolen houses. And they have made false accusations against a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
3 Ngakho uThixo uthi: “Ngiceba ukwenza umonakalo kulababantu, elingeke liziphephise kuwo. Kalisayikuhamba ngokuziqhenya, ngoba kuzakuba yisikhathi sencithakalo.
For this reason, thus says the Lord: Behold, I devise an evil against this family, from which you will not steal away your necks. And you will not walk in arrogance, because this is a most wicked time.
4 Ngalolosuku abantu bazalihleka; bazaliklolodela ngale ingoma yokulila bathi: ‘Thina sichithwe okupheleleyo; ilifa labantu bami labiwe. Uyangithathela! Amasimu ethu uwanika abathengisi.’”
In that day, a parable will be taken up about you, and a song will be sung with sweetness, saying: “We have been devastated by depopulation.” The fate of my people has been altered. How can he withdraw from me, when he might be turned back, he who might tear apart our country?
5 Ngakho-ke kawuzukuba laye ebandleni likaThixo ozalabela ilizwe ngenkatho.
Because of this, there will be for you no casting of the cord of fate in the assembly of the Lord.
6 Abaphrofethi babo bathi, “Lingaphrofethi. Lingaphrofethi ngalezizinto; ihlazo kaliyikusehlela.”
Do not speak by saying, “It will not drop on these ones; shame will not embrace them.”
7 Wena ndlu kaJakhobe, kufanele yini ukuba kuthiwe, “UMoya kaThixo uzondile na? Uyazenza izinto ezinje na?” “Amazwi ami kawenzi okulungileyo kuye ozindlela zakhe ziqondile na?
The house of Jacob says, “Has the Spirit of the Lord been weakened, or are such things his thoughts?” Are not my words good for him who walks uprightly?
8 Okwamanje abantu bami sebehlamuke njengesitha. Lihlubula ingubo eligugu kulabo abedlulayo linganakile, njengabantu abavela empini.
But, to the contrary, my people have risen up in opposition. You have lifted the cover from the undergarment, and those who passed by harmlessly, you have converted into war.
9 Abesifazane babantu bami liyabaxotsha emizini yabo emihle. Lisusa isibusiso sami kokuphela ebantwaneni babo.
You have evicted the women among my people from their delicate houses. You have taken my praise forever from their little ones.
10 Sukani lihambe! Ngoba le akusindawo yenu yokuphumula, ngoba ingcolile, ichithekile, okungeke kulungiswe.
Rise and depart, for there is no relief for you here. Because of its uncleanness, it will be corrupted with a most wicked decay.
11 Nxa umqambi wamanga lomkhohlisi efika athi, ‘Ngizaliphrofethela iwayini elinengi lotshwala,’ uyabe engumphrofethi walababantu nje kuphela!”
I wish that I were not a man who has breath, and that I rather spoke a lie. I will drop it down to you in wine and in drunkenness. And it will be this people on whom it will rain down.
12 “Impela ngizalibutha lonke, wena Jakhobe; impela ngizabaqoqela ndawonye abako-Israyeli abasalayo. Ngizabaqoqela ndawonye njengezimvu esibayeni, njengomhlambi wezimvu emadlelweni awo; indawo ibe lokuphithizela kwabantu.
I will gather together in a congregation all of you, Jacob. I will lead together as one, the remnant of Israel. I will set them together like a flock in the fold, like a sheep in the midst of the sheep pen. They will cause a tumult before the multitude of men.
13 Lowo ozavula indlela uzahamba phambi kwabo; bazafohla isango baphume. Inkosi yabo izadlulela phambi kwabo, uThixo abe phambi kwabo.”
For he will ascend, opening the way before them. They will separate, and they will cross the gate and enter through it. And their king will pass by, before their very eyes, and the Lord will be at their head.

< UMikha 2 >