< UMikha 2 >

1 Maye kulabo abaceba ububi, kulabo abaceba ukwenza okubi emibhedeni yabo! Ekudabukeni kokusa bayakwenza ngoba kusemandleni abo ukukwenza.
Woe to them that devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
2 Bahawukela amasimu bawathumbe, kanye lezindlu, bazithathe. Badlelezela umuntu ngomuzi wakhe, lomuntu wakibo ngelifa lakhe.
And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
3 Ngakho uThixo uthi: “Ngiceba ukwenza umonakalo kulababantu, elingeke liziphephise kuwo. Kalisayikuhamba ngokuziqhenya, ngoba kuzakuba yisikhathi sencithakalo.
Therefore thus saith the LORD: Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks, neither shall ye walk haughtily; for it is an evil 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 shall they take up a parable against you, and lament with a doleful lamentation, [and] say, We be utterly spoiled: he changeth the portion of my people: how doth he remove [it] from me! to the rebellious he divideth our fields.
5 Ngakho-ke kawuzukuba laye ebandleni likaThixo ozalabela ilizwe ngenkatho.
Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the line by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
6 Abaphrofethi babo bathi, “Lingaphrofethi. Lingaphrofethi ngalezizinto; ihlazo kaliyikusehlela.”
Prophesy ye not, [thus] they prophesy. They shall not prophesy to these: reproaches shall not depart.
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?
Shall it be said, O house of Jacob, Is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
8 Okwamanje abantu bami sebehlamuke njengesitha. Lihlubula ingubo eligugu kulabo abedlulayo linganakile, njengabantu abavela empini.
But of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye strip the robe from off the garment from them that pass by securely [as men] averse from war.
9 Abesifazane babantu bami liyabaxotsha emizini yabo emihle. Lisusa isibusiso sami kokuphela ebantwaneni babo.
The women of my people ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their young children ye take away my glory for ever.
10 Sukani lihambe! Ngoba le akusindawo yenu yokuphumula, ngoba ingcolile, ichithekile, okungeke kulungiswe.
Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because of uncleanness that destroyeth, even with a grievous destruction.
11 Nxa umqambi wamanga lomkhohlisi efika athi, ‘Ngizaliphrofethela iwayini elinengi lotshwala,’ uyabe engumphrofethi walababantu nje kuphela!”
If a man walking in wind and falsehood do lie, [saying], I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
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 surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah: as a flock in the midst of their pasture, they shall make great noise by reason of [the multitude of] men.
13 Lowo ozavula indlela uzahamba phambi kwabo; bazafohla isango baphume. Inkosi yabo izadlulela phambi kwabo, uThixo abe phambi kwabo.”
The breaker is gone up before them: they have broken forth and passed on to the gate, and are gone out thereat: and their king is passed on before them, and the LORD at the head of them.

< UMikha 2 >