Amanani 24
1 Kwathi uBhalamu esebonile ukuthi kuyamthokozisa uThixo ukubusisa u-Israyeli, kasadinganga njalo imilingo njengakuqala, kodwa waphenduka wakhangela enkangala.
When Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] saw that it pleased Adonai to bless Israel [God prevails], he didn’t go, as at the other times, to meet with enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
2 Kwathi uBhalamu ekhangela wabona u-Israyeli emise izihonqo zakhe ngokwezizwe zakhe, uMoya kaNkulunkulu wehlela phezu kwakhe
Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel [God prevails] dwelling according to their tribes; and the breath mind Spirit of God came on him.
3 wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe: “Isambulelo sikaBhalamu indodana kaBheyori, isambulelo salowo omehlo akhe abonisisa kuhle,
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
4 isambulelo salowo ozwa amazwi kaNkulunkulu, lowo obona umbono ovela kuSomandla, lowo owela phansi ngokuzehlisa, njalo omehlo akhe avulekile:
he says, who sh'ma ·hears obeys· the words of God, who sees the vision of Shaddai [Almighty], falling down, and having his eyes open:
5 Aze aba mahle amathente akho, Oh Jakhobe, izindawo zakho zokuhlala, Oh Israyeli!
How goodly are your tents, Jacob [Supplanter], and your tents, Israel [God prevails]!
6 Njengezigodi zisabalele, njengezivande zisekele umfula, sanhlaba ehlanyelwe nguThixo, njengezihlahla zomsedari ezingasemanzini.
As valleys they are spread out, as gardens by the riverside, as aloes which Adonai has planted, as cedar trees beside the waters.
7 Amanzi azageleza emigqonyeni yabo; inhlanyelo yabo ibe semanzini amanengi. Inkosi yabo izakuba nkulu kulo-Agagi; umbuso wabo uzakuba ngophakemeyo.
Water shall flow from his buckets. His seed shall be in many waters. His king shall be higher than Agag. His kingdom shall be exalted.
8 UNkulunkulu wabakhupha eGibhithe; balamandla anjengawenyathi. Bayazitshwabadela izizwe eziyizitha njalo bephule amathambo azo abe yizicucu; ngemitshoko yabo babacibe.
God brings him out of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. He has as it were the strength of the wild ox. He shall eat up the nations his adversaries, shall break their bones in pieces, and pierce them with his arrows.
9 Njengesilwane bayaqutha bacathame phansi, njengesilwanekazi, ngubani olesibindi sokubavusa na? Akuthi labo abakubusisayo babusiswe njalo lalabo abakuqalekisayo baqalekiswe!”
He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? Everyone who blesses you is blessed. Everyone who curses you is cursed.”
10 Ngakho uBhalaki wamthukuthelela kakhulu uBhalamu. Watshaya izandla zakhe wathi, “Ngikubizele ukuthi uzengiqalekisela izitha zami, kodwa wena usubabusise okwamahlandla la amathathu.
Balak’s anger burned against Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people], and he struck his hands together. Balak said to Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people], “I called you to curse my enemies, and, behold, you have altogether blessed them these three times.
11 Wohle usuke nje khathesi ubuyele kini! Ngithe ngizakupha umvuzo omuhle kakhulu, pho-ke uThixo usekuvimbele ukwamukeliswa umvuzo.”
Therefore now flee you to your place! I thought to promote you to great honor; but, behold, Adonai has kept you back from honor.”
12 UBhalamu wamphendula uBhalaki wathi, “Kanti kangizitshelanga yini izithunywa zakho owazithuma kimi ukuthi,
Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] said to Balak, “Didn’t I also tell your messengers who you sent to me, saying,
13 ‘Loba uBhalaki enganginika isigodlo sakhe sigcwele isiliva legolide, akulalutho lolulodwa ebengizalwenza ngokwentando yami, okuhle kumbe okubi, okuphambene lomlayo kaThixo, kufanele ngitsho lokho kuphela uThixo akutshoyo na’?
‘If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I can’t go beyond Adonai’s word, to do either good or bad of my own mind. I will say what Adonai says’?
14 Khathesi sengibuyela ebantwini bakithi, kodwa woza, ngikuxwayise ukuthi kuyini okuzakwenziwa ngabantu laba ebantwini bakho ensukwini ezilandelayo.”
Now, behold, I go to my people. Come, I will inform you what this people shall do to your people in the latter days.”
15 Ngakho uBhalamu wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe: “Isambulelo sikaBhalamu indodana kaBheyori, isambulelo salowo omehlo akhe abonisisa kuhle,
He took up his parable, and said, “Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] the son of Beor says, the man whose eyes are open says;
16 isambulelo salowo olalela ezwe amazwi kaNkulunkulu, ololwazi oluvela koPhezukonke, obona umbono ovela kuSomandla, owela phansi ngokuzehlisa, njalo omehlo akhe avulekile:
he says, who sh'ma ·hears obeys· the words of God, knows the knowledge of haElyon [the Most High], and who sees the vision of Shaddai [Almighty], Falling down, and having his eyes open:
17 Ngiyambona, kodwa hatshi khathesi; ngiyambona, kodwa kungesikho eduze. Inkanyezi izaphuma ivela kuJakhobe; intonga yobukhosi izaphakama ivela ku-Israyeli. Uzacobodisa amabunzi kaMowabi, inkakhayi zamadodana wonke kaSethi.
I see him, but not now. I see him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob [Supplanter]. A scepter will rise out of Israel [God prevails], and shall strike through the corners of Moab [From father], and break down all the sons of Sheth.
18 I-Edomi izanqotshwa; uSeyiri, oyisitha sakhe, uzanqotshwa, kodwa u-Israyeli uzakhula abe lamandla.
Edom [Red] shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel [God prevails] does valiantly.
19 Umbusi uzavela kuJakhobe njalo uzabhubhisa abaseleyo balelodolobho.”
Out of Jacob [Supplanter] shall one have dominion, and shall destroy the remnant from the city.”
20 Ngakho uBhalamu wabona u-Amaleki wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe: “U-Amaleki wayengowokuqala ezizweni, kodwa ekucineni uzakuba lunxiwa.”
He looked at Amalek [Man who licks up], and took up his parable, and said, “Amalek [Man who licks up] was the first of the nations, But his latter end shall come to destruction.”
21 Ngakho wasebona amaKheni wasesitsho isambulelo sakhe njalo: “Indawo yakho yokuhlala ivikelekile, isidleke sakho sakhelwe edwaleni;
He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
22 kanti-ke lina maKheni lizabhujiswa ekuthunjweni kwenu yi-Asiriya.”
Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted, until Asshur carries you away captive.”
23 Ngakho wasitsho isambulelo sakhe: “Kambe ngubani ongaphila nxa uNkulunkulu esenza lokhu na?
He took up his parable, and said, “Alas, who shall live when God does this?
24 Imikhumbi izakuza ivela okhunjini lwaseKhithimi; bazayehlula u-Asiriya kanye le-Ebha, kodwa laba bazachithwa babe ngamanxiwa.”
But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction.”
25 Ngakho uBhalamu wasukuma wasebuyela kibo loBhalaki wahamba ngeyakhe indlela.
Balaam [Not people, Destroyer of people] rose up, and went and teshuvah ·completely returned· to his place; and Balak also went his way.
