UMikha 6
1 Lalelani okutshiwo nguThixo ukuthi: “Sukumani lilandise indaba yenu phambi kwezintaba; amaqaqa kawezwe lokho elikutshoyo.
Listen now to what Jehovah says: "Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, icala elethulwa nguThixo; lalelani lina zisekelo zomhlaba ezingulaphakade. Ngoba kulecala uThixo alibeka ebantwini bakhe, wethesa u-Israyeli icala.
Hear, you mountains, Jehovah's controversy, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for Jehovah has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel.
3 Bantu bami, ngenzeni kini na? Ngilihluphe ngani na? Ngiphendulani.
My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 Ngalikhupha eGibhithe ngalikhulula elizweni lobugqili. Ngathuma uMosi ukuba alikhokhele kanye lo-Aroni loMiriyemu.
For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 Bantu bami, khumbulani izicebiso zikaBhalaki inkosi yaseMowabi lokuthi uBhalamu indodana kaBheyori waphendula wathini. Khumbulani uhambo lwenu kusukela eShithima kusiya eGiligali, ukuze lazi imisebenzi elungileyo kaThixo.”
My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of Jehovah."
6 Kuyini engizakuza lakho phambi kukaThixo ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo na? Ngizakuza phambi kwakhe ngilomnikelo wokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa na?
How shall I come before Jehovah, and bow myself before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7 UThixo angathokoziswa zinqama eziyizinkulungwane, izinkulungwane ezilitshumi zemifula yamafutha na? Ngizanikela izibulo lami ngenxa yokona kwami, isithelo somzimba wami ngenxa yesono somphefumulo wami na?
Will Jehovah be pleased with thousands of rams? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 Ukutshengisile wena muntu okuhle. UThixo ufunani kuwe na? Ukwenza okulungileyo lokuthanda umusa kanye lokuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu wakho.
He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Jehovah require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
9 Lalelani! UThixo umemezela kulo idolobho, lokwesaba ibizo lakho kuyikuhlakanipha, “Qaphelani umqwayi laLowo owubekileyo.
Jehovah's voice calls to the city, and wisdom sees your name: "Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.
10 Wena ndlu yobubi, kufanele lakhathesi ngiyikhohlwe inotho yakho eyazuzwa ngobubi, lehefa elinganelanga, eliqalekisiweyo na?
Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?
11 Ngizamkhulula yini ecaleni umuntu olezilinganiso zobuqili, lesaka lezilinganiso zamanga na?
Shall I be pure with dishonest scales, and with a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Abantu bakhona abanothileyo balochuku; abantu bakhona ngabaqambi bamanga, lezilimi zabo zikhuluma inkohliso.
Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.
13 Ngakho sengiqalisile ukukuchitha, ukukuqothula ngenxa yezono zakho.
Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate because of your sins.
14 Uzakudla kodwa ungasuthi; isisu sakho sizakuba silokhu singelalutho. Uzabuthelela kodwa ungalondolozi lutho, ngoba lokho okulondolozayo ngizakupha inkemba.
You shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your humiliation will be in your midst. You will store up, but not save; and that which you save I will give up to the sword.
15 Uzalima kodwa ungavuni; uzakhama ama-oliva kodwa amafutha awo ungawagcobi, uzakhama amavini kodwa iwayini lawo ungalinathi.
You will sow, but won't reap. You will tread the olives, but won't anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won't drink the wine.
16 Ugcinile imithetho ka-Omri layo yonke imikhutshana yasendlini ka-Ahabi, walandela lamasiko abo. Ngakho-ke ngizakunikela ekubhujisweni, labantu bakho ekubeni yinhlekisa; uzathwala ihlazo lezizwe.”
For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab; and you walk in their counsels. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and her inhabitants an object of contempt; and you will bear the scorn of the nations."
