UZekhariya 9
1 Isiphrofethi: Ilizwi likaThixo liqophe ilizwe laseHadiraki lize liyokweyama phezu kweDamaseko ngoba amehlo abantu lawezizwana zonke zika-Israyeli akuThixo
[This is another] message [that I received] from Yahweh. [Yahweh said, ] “I watch [MTY] everyone, especially the tribes of Israel; [so] I will [punish the people in] the Hadrach [region] and in Damascus [city] [because of what they did to the people of Israel].
2 laphezu kweHamathi layo, engcelelane layo, laphezu kweThire leSidoni, lokuba nje zilobungcitshi.
[I will also punish the people in] nearby Hamath [city]. I will also [punish the people in] Tyre and Sidon [cities], even though they are [considered to be] [IRO] very wise.
3 IThire isizakhele inqaba; isibuthelele isiliva kwangathi luthuli; legolide njengomhlabathi wemigwaqweni.
[The people in] Tyre built a high wall [around their city]. They piled up [huge amounts of] silver and gold as though they were [piles of] dirt in the streets.
4 Kodwa uThixo uzayemuka inotho yayo achithe lamandla ayo asolwandle, kuthi yona iqedwe ngumlilo.
But [I], Yahweh, will cause their precious possessions to be taken away and all their ships to be destroyed, and their city will be destroyed by a fire.
5 I-Ashikheloni izakubona lokho yesabe; iGaza izathuthumela izwe ubuhlungu, le-Ekroni layo, ngoba ithemba layo lizabuna. IGaza izabhujelwa yinkosi yayo le-Ashikheloni isale ingaselamuntu.
[The people in Ashkelon city] will see that [happen], and they will become very afraid. [The people in] Gaza [city] will shake because of being terrified, and [the people in Ekron city] will shake too, because they will no longer expect [to prosper]. The king of [the city of] Gaza will be killed, and [the city of] Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 Abezizwe bazayithatha i-Ashidodi bahlale kuyo, njalo ngizakuqeda ukuzigqaja kwamaFilistiya.
Foreigners will occupy Ashdod [city]. I will cause the [people in all those cities of] Philistia to no longer be proud.
7 Ngizathatha igazi emilonyeni yabo, okuyikudla okungavunyelwayo ngikukhuphe emazinyweni abo. Labo abaseleyo bazakuba ngabakaNkulunkulu wethu njalo babengabakhokheli koJuda, le-Ekroni izakuba njengamaJebusi.
I will no longer allow them to eat [MTY] meat that still has blood in it, and I will forbid them to eat [MTY] food that I [MTY] have not allowed them to eat [because it was offered to idols]. [At that time, ] the people [in Philistia] who survive will worship me, and they will become [my people, like] the people of Judah are. The Philistine people of Ekron will also become my people like [SIM] the people of Jebus did [when they were conquered].
8 Kodwa ngizayivikela indlu yami kulabo abangabaphangi. Kakusayikuphinda kwenzeke ukuthi umncindezeli achithe abantu bami, ngoba manje sengihlezi ngiqaphele.
I will protect my temple, and I will not allow any [enemy soldiers] to enter it. No [enemies] will harm my people again, because I will be watching [over my people] carefully.
9 Thokoza kakhulu, wena Ndodakazi yaseZiyoni! Memeza, Ndodakazi yaseJerusalema! Khangela, inkosi yakho iyeza kuwe, iza ilungile ilensindiso, imnene, ihamba igade ubabhemi, iphezu kwenkonyane, inkonyane kababhemi.
Rejoice very much, [you people of] Jerusalem [APO, DOU] and shout joyfully, because your king will be coming to you. He is righteous and victorious; [but he will be] gentle, and [he will be] riding on a donkey, on a young female donkey.
10 Ngizazisusa izinqola zempi ko-Efrayimi lamabhiza empi eJerusalema, ledandili lempi lizakwephulwa. Izamemezela ukuthula phakathi kwezizwe. Umbuso wayo uzasukela elwandle usiya elwandle, njalo kusukela eMfuleni kusiya emaphethelweni omhlaba.
I will get rid of the chariots in the Ephraim [region that are used in battles] and [all] the war horses in Jerusalem. [All] the bows used in wars will be broken. [Your king] will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully in the nations. He will rule [the area] from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Dead] Sea, and from the [Euphrates] River to the most distant places on the earth.
11 Wena pho, ngenxa yegazi lesivumelwano lawe, ngizakhulula izibotshwa zakho emgodini ongelamanzi.
As for you [my people of Jerusalem], because of the blood [of the animals that were sacrificed to make] my agreement with you, I will free your people who were forced to go to other countries where [it was as though they were kept] in a waterless pit.
12 Buyelani enqabeni yenu, lina zibotshwa ezilethemba; sengihle ngibika ukuthi ngizalibuyisela izibusiso ngokuphindwe kabili.
[You people who were] prisoners [in those countries] who [still] confidently expect [God to help you], return to [Judah], where you will be safe. This day I declare that I will give you two blessings for [each of the troubles that you have experienced].
13 Ngizamgoba uJuda njengalokhu ngigoba idandili lami besengigcwalisa ngo-Efrayimi. Ngizawahlokoza amadodana akho, wena Ziyoni, avukele amadodana akho, wena Grisi, ngikwenze ube njengenkemba yebutho.
I will cause Judah to be like [MET] my bow, and I will cause Israel to be [like] [MET] my arrow. I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece; you will be like [SIM] a warrior’s sword.”
14 Kulapho-ke uThixo azaqhamuka ngaphezu kwabo; umtshoko wakhe uzabenyezela njengonyezi. UThixo Wobukhosi uzatshaya icilongo; uzahaluzela ngeziphepho zaseningizimu,
[Some day] Yahweh will appear [in the sky] above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like [SIM] lightning. Yahweh [our] Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march [fiercely] like [MET] the storms from the south.
15 njalo uThixo uSomandla uzabavikela. Bazabhubhisa njalo banqobe ngamatshe ezavutha. Bazanatha baklabalale njengabadakwe liwayini; bazagcwala lona njengomganu osetshenziswa kuchelwa amagumbi e-alithare.
The Commander of the armies of angels will protect [his people]; [the soldiers of Judah] will attack and defeat [their enemies who attack them] using slingshots. [Those soldiers of Judah] will drink and celebrate and shout like [SIM] people who are drunk; they will be as full [of wine] as the bowl that holds [the blood of the animals that are sacrificed] and [which is then] sprinkled on the corners of the altar.
16 UThixo uNkulunkulu wabo uzabasindisa ngalelolanga njengoba bengumhlambi wezimvu zakhe. Bazakhazimula elizweni lakhe njengamatshe aligugu acecise umqhele.
On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people [like a shepherd saves] his flock [of sheep from danger]. In their land, they will be like [SIM] jewels that sparkle on a crown.
17 Yeka ukukhanga kwabo lobuhle abazakuba yibobona! Isivuno esihle sizatshwaphulula izinsizwa, lewayini elitsha lithokozise izintombi.
They will be delightful and beautiful. The young men will become strong from [eating] grain, and the young women will [become strong] from [drinking] new wine.
