< UZekhariya 5 >
1 Ngaphinde ngakhangela, phambi kwami kwakulomqulu wencwadi ondizayo!
I looked up again, and I saw a scroll that was flying [through the air].
2 Yangibuza yathi, “Ubonani na?” Ngaphendula ngathi, “Ngibona umqulu wencwadi ondizayo, omude izingalo ezingamatshumi amathathu lobubanzi obulitshumi lanhlanu.”
The angel asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a flying scroll that is [huge], (10 yards/9 meters) long and (5 yards/4.5 meters) wide.”
3 Yasisithi kimi, “Lesi yisithuko esizakwehlela lonke ilizwe; ngoba ithi incwadi kwelinye icele layo, amasela wonke azaxotshwa elizweni, ibisisithi ngakwelinye icele, wonke lowo ofunga ngamanga uzaxotshwa elizweni.
Then he said to me, “On this scroll is written the [words that Yahweh is speaking to] curse the entire country. On [one side of] the scroll it is written that every thief will be banished. On [the other side] it is written that everyone who tells a lie when he is solemnly promising to tell the truth will also be banished from the country.
4 UThixo uSomandla uthi, ‘Ngizayithumezela ingene endlini yesela lasendlini yalowo ofunga ngebizo lami. Umqulu lo uzahlala endlini yakhe, uchithize izigodo zayo kanye lamatshe.’”
The Commander of the armies of angels says, ‘I will send [copies of] this scroll to the places where thieves live and to the houses of those who use my name when they solemnly promise to tell the truth. [The copies of] this scroll will stay in their houses, until those houses and all their wood and stones are destroyed.’”
5 Ingilosi eyayikhuluma lami yasisondela yathi kimi, “Vusa amehlo ubone ukuthi kuyini lokhuyana okuvelayo.”
Then the angel who had been talking to me came closer to me and said, “Look up and see what is appearing!”
6 Ngabuza ngathi, “Kuyini?” Yaphendula yathi, “Yisilulu sokulinganisa.” Yengeza yathi, “Lobu yibubi babantu elizweni lonke leli.”
I asked him, “What is it?” He replied, “It is a big basket [for measuring grain]. But it represents the sins that everyone in this nation has committed.”
7 Kwasekusibukulwa isiciko sesilulu leso, kwabonakala phakathi kuhlezi owesifazane!
Then [the angel] lifted the basket’s cover, [which was made] of lead. There was a woman sitting inside the basket!
8 Yathi, “Lobu yibubi,” yasimfuqela phakathi esilulwini wavala ngesiciko emlonyeni wesilulu.
The angel said, “She represents the wicked things [that people do].” Then the angel pushed her back into the basket and closed the very heavy lid [again].
9 Ngasengikhangela, khonapho phambi kwami kwakulabesifazane ababili belempiko ezigcwele umoya! Babelempiko ezifana lezengabuzane, baphakamisa isilulu saba phakathi kwezulu lomhlaba.
Then I looked up and saw two women in front of me. They [were flying toward us], with their wings spread out in the wind. Their wings were [large], like [SIM] storks’ wings. They lifted the big basket up into the sky.
10 Ngabuza ingilosi eyayikhuluma lami ngathi, “Basisa ngaphi isilulu lesi na?”
I asked the angel who had been talking to me, “Where are they taking that basket?”
11 Yaphendula yathi, “Basisa elizweni laseBhabhiloni ukuyasakhela indlu khonale. Nxa isiphelile isilulu sizahlaliswa kuhle khonale endaweni yaso.”
He replied, “[They are taking it] to Babylonia to build a temple for it. When the temple is finished, they will set the basket there on a pedestal [for people to worship it].”