UMikha 4
1 Ngezinsuku zokucina intaba yethempeli likaThixo izamiswa njengenhloko phakathi kwezintaba; izaphakanyiselwa phezu kwezintaba njalo izizwe zizabekelela zisiya kuyo.
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it.
2 Izizwe ezinengi zizafika zithi, “Wozani siye phezu kwentaba kaThixo, siye ethempelini likaNkulunkulu kaJakhobe. Uzasifundisa izindlela zakhe, ukuze sihambe emikhondweni yakhe.” Umthetho uzavela eZiyoni, ilizwi likaThixo livele eJerusalema.
And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 Uzakwahlulela phakathi kwezizwe ezinengi alamule lezingxabano zezizwe ezilamandla ezindaweni ezikhatshana. Bazakhanda izinkemba zabo zibe yimihlathi yamakhuba, lemikhonto yabo ibe zingqamu zokuthena izihlahla. Isizwe asiyikuhlomela isizwe ngenkemba loba sifundele ukulwa impi futhi.
Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war.
4 Umuntu wonke uzahlala ngaphansi kwesihlahla sakhe sevini langaphansi kwesihlahla sakhe somkhiwa, njalo kakho ozabenza besabe, ngoba uThixo uSomandla usekhulumile.
And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.
5 Zonke izizwe zingahamba ebizweni labonkulunkulu bazo; thina sizahamba ebizweni likaThixo uNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube laphakade.
Though each of the peoples may walk in the name of his god, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
6 “Ngalolosuku,” kutsho uThixo, “ngizabutha abaqhulayo; ngizaqoqa abathunjwayo lalabo engabehlisela usizi.
“On that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the outcast, even those whom I have afflicted.
7 Ngizakwenza abaqhulayo babe yinsalela, abaxotshwayo babe yisizwe esilamandla. UThixo uzababusa eNtabeni iZiyoni, kusukela ngalolosuku kuze kube nininini.
And I will make the lame into a remnant, and the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.
8 Wena nqaba yokulinda yomhlambi, wena nqaba yeNdodakazi yeZiyoni, umbuso wakuqala uzabuyiselwa kuwe; ubukhosi buzakuza eNdodakazini yaseJerusalema.”
And you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion— the former dominion will be restored to you; sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
9 Kungani khathesi usukhala kakhulu, kawulankosi na? Umeluleki wakho usebhubhile na, ukuba uphathwe yibuhlungu obunjengowesifazane ohelelwayo?
Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?
10 Janqula ngobuhlungu, wena Ndodakazi yeZiyoni, njengowesifazane ohelelwayo, ngoba khathesi sekumele usuke kulelidolobho uyehlala egangeni. Uzakuya eBhabhiloni; lapho ozahlengwa khona. Khonale uThixo uzakukhulula ezandleni zezitha zakho.
Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
11 Kodwa khathesi izizwe ezinengi zikujamele. Zithi, “Kangcoliswe, lamehlo ethu kawahawukele iZiyoni!”
But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”
12 Kodwa kabayazi imicabango kaThixo; kabaliqedisisi icebo lakhe, yena obabutha njengezixha zamabele esizeni.
But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan, for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 “Sukuma ubhule, wena Ndodakazi yeZiyoni, ngoba ngizakupha impondo zensimbi; ngizakunika amasondo ethusi, njalo uzachoboza izizwe ezinengi.” Uzanikela kuThixo inzuzo yabo eyatholwa ngobuqili inotho yabo kuThixo womhlaba wonke.
Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
