U-Isaya 3
1 Ngoba khangela, iNkosi, uJehova wamabandla, izasusa eJerusalema lakoJuda insika lodondolo, insika yonke yesinkwa, lensika yonke yamanzi,
For behold, the sovereign Lord of hosts will take away, from Jerusalem and from Judah, the powerful and the strong: all the strength from bread, and all the strength from water;
2 iqhawe, lendoda yempi, umahluleli, lomprofethi, lomvumisi, lomdala,
the strong man, and the man of war, the judge and the prophet, and the seer and the elder;
3 induna yamatshumi amahlanu, lowemukelekayo ngobuso, lomeluleki, lombazi ohlakaniphileyo, lowazi amalumbo.
the leader over fifty and the honorable in appearance; and the counselor, and the wise among builders, and the skillful in mystical speech.
4 Ngizabanika abafana babe yiziphathamandla zabo, lezihluku zizabusa phezu kwabo.
And I will provide children as their leaders, and the effeminate will rule over them.
5 Labantu bazacindezelwa, omunye komunye, njalo ngulowo lalowo kumakhelwane wakhe; ijaha lizadelela omdala, lodelelekayo ohloniphekayo.
And the people will rush, man against man, and each one against his neighbor. The child shall rebel against the elder, and the ignoble against the noble.
6 Lapho umuntu ezabamba umfowabo wendlu kayise athi: Wena ulesembatho, woba ngumbusi wethu, lokhukuchithakala kube ngaphansi kwesandla sakho;
For a man will apprehend his brother, from the household of his own father, saying: “The vestment is yours. Be our leader, but let this ruin be under your hand.”
7 uzaphakamisa ngalolosuku athi: Kangiyikuba ngumelaphi, ngoba endlini yami kakulakudla kakulasembatho; lingangimisi ngibe ngumbusi wabantu.
In that day, he will respond by saying: “I am not a healer, and there is no bread or vestment in my house. Do not choose to appoint me as a leader of the people.”
8 Ngoba iJerusalema ikhubekile, loJuda uwile, ngoba ulimi lwabo lezenzo zabo kumelene leNkosi, ukuvukela amehlo obukhosi bayo.
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah has fallen, because their words and their plans are against the Lord, in order to provoke the eyes of his majesty.
9 Ukukhangeleka kobuso babo kuyafakaza ngabo; bememezela izono zabo njengeSodoma, kabazifihli. Maye kumphefumulo wabo! Ngoba bazenzela okubi.
The acknowledgement of their countenance is their response. For they have proclaimed their own sin, like Sodom; and they have not concealed it. Woe to their souls! For evils are being repaid to them.
10 Tshelani olungileyo ukuthi kuzakuba kuhle kuye; ngoba bazakudla isithelo sezenzo zabo.
Tell the just man that it is well, for he shall eat from the fruit from his own plans.
11 Maye kokhohlakeleyo! Kuzakuba kubi kuye; ngoba umvuzo wezandla zakhe uzakwenziwa kuye.
Woe to the impious man immersed in evil! For retribution will be given to him from his own hands.
12 Abantu bami, abacindezeli babo ngabantwana, labesifazana bayababusa. Bantu bami, abakhokheli benu ngabaduhisi, basanganisa indlela yemikhondo yenu.
As for my people, their oppressors have despoiled them, and women have ruled over them. My people, who call you blessed, the same are deceiving you and disrupting the path of your steps.
13 INkosi izimisele ukuphikisana, imi ukuthi yahlulele abantu.
The Lord stands for judgment, and he stands to judge the people.
14 INkosi ingena kusahlulelo labadala babantu bayo leziphathamandla zayo; ngoba lina lidle isivini; impango yomyanga isezindlini zenu.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and with their leaders. For you have been devouring the vineyard, and the plunder from the poor is in your house.
15 Lina libachobozelani abantu bami, lichola ubuso babayanga? itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla.
Why do you wear down my people, and grind up the faces of the poor, says the Lord, the God of hosts?
16 INkosi yasisithi: Ngenxa yokuthi amadodakazi eZiyoni eziphakamisile, ehamba elule intamo, ehuga ngamehlo, ehamba ngokuqoqomela ehamba, ekhencezisa izigqizo enyaweni zawo,
And the Lord said: Because the daughters of Zion have been lifted up, and have walked with extended necks and winking eyes, because they have continued on, walking noisily and advancing with a pretentious stride,
17 ngakho iNkosi izakwenza inkanda yamadodakazi eZiyoni ibe loqweqwe, leNkosi izanqunula izitho zawo zangasese.
the Lord will make the heads of the daughters of Zion bald, and the Lord will strip them of the locks of their hair.
18 Ngalolosuku iNkosi izasusa ubuhle bezigqizo zawo, lezicwatsho, lamasongo anjengenyanga,
In that day, the Lord will take away their decorative shoes,
19 amacici, lamasongo, lezimbombozo,
and the little moons and chains, and the necklaces and bracelets, and the hats,
20 amaqhiye, lezigetsho, lamabhanti, lemifuma, lezintebe,
and the ornaments for their hair, and the anklets, and the touches of myrrh and little bottles of perfumes, and the earrings,
21 izindandatho, lamacici amakhala,
and the rings, and the jewels hanging on their foreheads,
22 izigqoko zemikhosi, lamajazi, lezembatho, lezamba,
and the continual changes in appearance, and the short skirts, and the fine linens and embroidered cloths,
23 lezibuko, lezigqoko zelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, lamaqhele, lamaveyili.
and the mirrors, and scarves, and ribbons, and their sparse clothing.
24 Kuzakuthi-ke endaweni yamakha kube levumba, lendaweni yebhanti kube khona igoda, lendaweni yenwele ezilungiswe kuhle kube khona impabanga, lendaweni yesigqoko esihle kube khona isaka, ukutsha endaweni yobuhle.
And in place of a sweet fragrance, there will be stench. And in place of a belt, there will be a rope. And in place of stylish hair, there will be baldness. And in place of a blouse, there will be haircloth.
25 Amadoda akho azakuwa ngenkemba, lamaqhawe akho empini.
Likewise, your most handsome men will fall by the sword, and your strong men will fall in battle.
26 Lamasango ayo azakhala alile; yenziwe ize izahlala emhlabathini.
And her gates will grieve and mourn. And she will sit on the ground, desolate.
