UZekhariya 10

1 Celani kuThixo izulu ngesikhathi sentwasahlobo; nguye uThixo owenza amayezi aleziphepho. Unika imikhizo yezulu ebantwini, lezihlahla zeganga ebantwini bonke.

Ask the Lord for rain in springtime, for he makes the rainclouds and sends showers to grow crops for everyone.

2 Izithombe zikhuluma inkohliso, izangoma zibona imibono yamanga; zikhuluma amaphupho amanga; ziphe induduzo engesulutho. Kungakho abantu bephumputheka njengezimvu bahlupheke ngoba bengelamelusi.

Household idols give worthless answers, fortune-tellers tell lies, while interpreters of dreams just make things up and offer only false hope. As a result, people wander aimlessly like sheep, suffering because there is no shepherd.

3 “Ulaka lwami luyavutha kubelusi, njalo ngizabajezisa abaholi; ngoba uThixo uSomandla uzawunakekela umhlambi wezimvu zakhe, indlu kaJuda, abenze babe njengebhiza elilesithunzi empini.

I am angry with the shepherds, I will punish the leaders. For the Lord Almighty cares for his flock, the people of Judah, and will make them like his splendid warhorse.

4 Ilitshe lekhoneni lizavela kuJuda, kuye kuzavela isikhonkwane sethente, kuye kuzavela idandili lokulwa impi, kuye kuzavela bonke ababusi.

From the people of Judah will come the cornerstone, from them the tent-peg, the bow used in battle—all their rulers together.

5 Ndawonye bazakuba njengamaqhawe alamandla empini enyathelela izitha zawo odakeni lwemigwaqo. Bazakulwa ngoba uThixo ephakathi kwabo, babanqobe abagadi bamabhiza.

They will be like warriors going into battle, trampling their enemies in the mud. Because the Lord is with them they will fight and defeat the enemy cavalry.

6 Ngizayiqinisa indlu kaJuda, ngisindise indlu kaJosefa. Ngizababuyisa ngoba ngilesihawu kubo. Bazakuba sengathi kangizange ngibakhalale, ngoba nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wabo njalo ngizabaphendula.

I will strengthen the people of Judah; I will save the people of Joseph. I will bring them back home because I am concerned for them. It will be like I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer their cries for help.

7 Abako-Efrayimi bazakuba njengamaqhawe, lezinhliziyo zabo zizajabula kungathi banathe iwayini. Abantwababo bazakubona lokho bathokoze; inhliziyo zabo zizathokoza kuThixo.

The people of Ephraim will become like warriors, and they will become so happy—as if they had drunk wine. Their children will see what is happening and will be glad too, joyful in the Lord.

8 Ngizabamema ngibabuthe ndawonye. Ngempela ngizabahlenga; bazakuba banengi njengakuqala.

I will whistle to them and they will run to me. I will rescue them, and there will be as many as there were before.

9 Lanxa ngibahlakazile phakathi kwezizwe, kodwa bazangikhumbula khonale emazweni akude. Bona kanye labantwababo bazaphila, njalo bazabuya.

I have scattered them like seed among the nations, and in distant places they will remember me. They will bring up their children, and together they will return.

10 Ngizababuyisa basuke eGibhithe ngibaqoqe e-Asiriya. Ngizabaletha eGiliyadi leLebhanoni, kuze kungasabi lendawo ebaneleyo.

I will bring them back from the land of Egypt; I will gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there won't be enough room for them!

11 Bazadabula phakathi kolwandle lokuhlupheka; ulwandle oluphuphumayo luzadediswa lezinziki zonke zeNayili zizakoma qha. Ukuzikhukhumeza kwe-Asiriya kuzakwehliswa lentonga yobukhosi yaseGibhithe izaphela.

They will pass through the sea of trouble and strike the waves of the sea, and the waters of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down, and Egypt's rule will pass away.

12 Ngizabaqinisa kuThixo, bona bazahamba ngebizo lakhe,” kutsho uThixo.

I will make them strong in the Lord, and they will follow all he says, declares the Lord.