UZefaniya 3
1 Maye kulo idolobho labancindezeli, elihlamukayo lelingcolileyo!
What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!
2 Kalilaleli muntu, kalivumi kukhuzwa. Kalithembeli kuThixo, kalisondeli kuNkulunkulu walo.
You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.
3 Izikhulu zalo ziyizilwane ezibhongayo, ababusi balo bazimpisi zakusihlwa, ezingatshiyi lutho lwekuseni.
Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.
4 Abaphrofethi balo bayazazisa; bangabantu bamacebo amabi. Abaphristi balo bangcolisa indawo engcwele bephule lomthetho.
Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.
5 UThixo phakathi kwalo ulungile; kenzi okubi, nsuku zonke ekuseni wenza ukulunga kwakhe njalo kaphambanisi ukusa kwamalanga wonke, ikanti abangalunganga kabalanhloni.
But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have no shame.
6 “Ngizichithile izizwe; izinqaba zazo zidiliziwe. Ngitshiye imigwaqo yazo ideliwe kungekho odlula khona. Amadolobho azo adiliziwe; kakho ozasala kakho lamunye.
I have destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.
7 Ngathi kulo idolobho, ‘Impela uzangesaba uvume ukukhuzwa!’ Lapho-ke indlu yalo yokuhlala yayingayikudilizwa loba isijeziso sami sehlele phezu kwalo. Kodwa babelokhu betshisekela izenzo zokuxhwala kukho konke abakwenzayo.
I told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.
8 Ngakho ngilindela,” kutsho uThixo, “lolusuku engizasukuma ngalo ngifakaze. Sengimise ukubuthanisa izizwe, ngiqoqe imibuso, ngehlisele ulaka lwami phezu kwabo konke ukuthukuthela kwami okukhulu. Umhlaba wonke uzaqothulwa ngomlilo womona wentukuthelo yami.”
You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.
9 “Lapho-ke ngizahlambulula izindebe zezizwe, ukuze zonke zikhuleke ebizweni likaThixo zimkhonze zimanyane.
For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.
10 Kusukela ngaphetsheya kwemifula yaseKhushi abakhonzi bami, abantu bami abahlakazekileyo, bazangilethela iminikelo.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.
11 Ngalolosuku kaliyikuyangiswa ngobubi bonke elabenza kimi, ngoba ngizabasusa kulelidolobho abathokoziswa yikuzigqaja kwabo. Kaliyikuzikhukhumeza futhi entabeni yami engcwele.
On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.
12 Kodwa ngizatshiya phakathi kwenu abathambileyo labathobekileyo, abathembele ebizweni likaThixo.
I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 Kabayikwenza okubi; kabayikuqamba amanga, loba kube lenkohliso emilonyeni yabo. Bazakudla balale phansi, kakho ozabenza besabe.”
The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.
14 Hlabela wena Ndodakazi yeZiyoni, klabalala kakhulu, wena Israyeli! Thaba uthokoze ngenhliziyo yakho yonke wena ndodakazi yaseJerusalema!
Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!
15 UThixo usesisusile isijeziso sakho, usesixotshile isitha sakho. UThixo, iNkosi ka-Israyeli, ulawe; akulangozi ozaphinda uyesabe futhi.
For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.
16 Ngalolosuku bazakuthi kulo iJerusalema, “Ungesabi, wena Ziyoni; ungavumeli ukuba izandla zakho zibe buthakathaka.
On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”
17 UThixo uNkulunkulu wakho ulawe, ulamandla okusindisa. Uzathokoza kakhulu ngawe, uzakududuza ngothando lwakhe, uzakuthokozela ngokuhlabelela.”
The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.
18 “Insizi zemikhosi emisiweyo ngizazisusa kuwe; zingumthwalo lehlazo kuwe.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.
19 Ngalesosikhathi ngizababona bonke abalincindezelayo; ngizahlenga abaqhulayo ngibuthe lalabo abahlakazwayo, ngizabapha udumo lenhlonipho kuwo wonke amazwe lapho abahlaziswa khona.
Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.
20 Ngalesosikhathi ngizalibutha; ngalesosikhathi ngizalisa ekhaya. Ngizalipha inhlonipho lodumo phakathi kwezizwe zonke zasemhlabeni lapho sengiliphumelelisa futhi phambi kwamehlo enu uqobo,” kutsho uThixo.
At that time I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.
