< UMikha 6 >
1 Lalelani okutshiwo nguThixo ukuthi: “Sukumani lilandise indaba yenu phambi kwezintaba; amaqaqa kawezwe lokho elikutshoyo.
Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, icala elethulwa nguThixo; lalelani lina zisekelo zomhlaba ezingulaphakade. Ngoba kulecala uThixo alibeka ebantwini bakhe, wethesa u-Israyeli icala.
Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD'S controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
3 Bantu bami, ngenzeni kini na? Ngilihluphe ngani na? Ngiphendulani.
O my people, what have I done to thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me,
4 Ngalikhupha eGibhithe ngalikhulula elizweni lobugqili. Ngathuma uMosi ukuba alikhokhele kanye lo-Aroni loMiriyemu.
For I brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee from the house of servants; and I sent before thee 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.”
O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
6 Kuyini engizakuza lakho phambi kukaThixo ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo na? Ngizakuza phambi kwakhe ngilomnikelo wokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa na?
Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of 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 the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my first-born [for] my transgression, 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 hath shown thee, O man, what [is] good; and what the LORD doth require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
9 Lalelani! UThixo umemezela kulo idolobho, lokwesaba ibizo lakho kuyikuhlakanipha, “Qaphelani umqwayi laLowo owubekileyo.
The LORD'S voice crieth to the city, and [the man of] wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
10 Wena ndlu yobubi, kufanele lakhathesi ngiyikhohlwe inotho yakho eyazuzwa ngobubi, lehefa elinganelanga, eliqalekisiweyo na?
Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure [that is] abominable?
11 Ngizamkhulula yini ecaleni umuntu olezilinganiso zobuqili, lesaka lezilinganiso zamanga na?
Shall I count [them] pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?
12 Abantu bakhona abanothileyo balochuku; abantu bakhona ngabaqambi bamanga, lezilimi zabo zikhuluma inkohliso.
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue [is] deceitful in their mouth.
13 Ngakho sengiqalisile ukukuchitha, ukukuqothula ngenxa yezono zakho.
Therefore also will I make [thee] sick in smiting thee, in making [thee] desolate because of thy sins.
14 Uzakudla kodwa ungasuthi; isisu sakho sizakuba silokhu singelalutho. Uzabuthelela kodwa ungalondolozi lutho, ngoba lokho okulondolozayo ngizakupha inkemba.
Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down [shall be] in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and [that] which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 Uzalima kodwa ungavuni; uzakhama ama-oliva kodwa amafutha awo ungawagcobi, uzakhama amavini kodwa iwayini lawo ungalinathi.
Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink 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 ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.