U-Isaya 3
1 Ngoba khangela, iNkosi, uJehova wamabandla, izasusa eJerusalema lakoJuda insika lodondolo, insika yonke yesinkwa, lensika yonke yamanzi,
For, behold, the Lord, the Eternal of hosts, doth remove from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, every stay of bread, and every stay of water.
2 iqhawe, lendoda yempi, umahluleli, lomprofethi, lomvumisi, lomdala,
The hero, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient,
3 induna yamatshumi amahlanu, lowemukelekayo ngobuso, lomeluleki, lombazi ohlakaniphileyo, lowazi amalumbo.
The captain of fifty, and the honorable man, and the counsellor, and the skilful artificer, and the eloquent orator.
4 Ngizabanika abafana babe yiziphathamandla zabo, lezihluku zizabusa phezu kwabo.
And I will set up boys as their princes, and children shall rule over them.
5 Labantu bazacindezelwa, omunye komunye, njalo ngulowo lalowo kumakhelwane wakhe; ijaha lizadelela omdala, lodelelekayo ohloniphekayo.
And so shall the people press man against man, and one against the other: the boy shall demean himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honorable.
6 Lapho umuntu ezabamba umfowabo wendlu kayise athi: Wena ulesembatho, woba ngumbusi wethu, lokhukuchithakala kube ngaphansi kwesandla sakho;
When a man will seize hold on his brother in the house of his father, [saying, ] Thou hast a garment, thou shalt be our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
7 uzaphakamisa ngalolosuku athi: Kangiyikuba ngumelaphi, ngoba endlini yami kakulakudla kakulasembatho; lingangimisi ngibe ngumbusi wabantu.
He will swear on that day, saying, I will not be a chief; and in my house is neither bread nor clothing; you shall not appoint me a ruler of the people.
8 Ngoba iJerusalema ikhubekile, loJuda uwile, ngoba ulimi lwabo lezenzo zabo kumelene leNkosi, ukuvukela amehlo obukhosi bayo.
For Jerusalem is sunk to decay, and Judah is fallen; because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to incense the eyes of his glory.
9 Ukukhangeleka kobuso babo kuyafakaza ngabo; bememezela izono zabo njengeSodoma, kabazifihli. Maye kumphefumulo wabo! Ngoba bazenzela okubi.
The boldness of their face testifieth against them; and like Sodom they tell openly their sin, they conceal it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have prepared evil unto themselves.
10 Tshelani olungileyo ukuthi kuzakuba kuhle kuye; ngoba bazakudla isithelo sezenzo zabo.
Say ye to the righteous, that he hath done well; for the fruit of their doings shall they eat.
11 Maye kokhohlakeleyo! Kuzakuba kubi kuye; ngoba umvuzo wezandla zakhe uzakwenziwa kuye.
Woe unto the wicked who doeth evil; for the recompense of his hands shall be bestowed on him.
12 Abantu bami, abacindezeli babo ngabantwana, labesifazana bayababusa. Bantu bami, abakhokheli benu ngabaduhisi, basanganisa indlela yemikhondo yenu.
My people! their oppressors are children, and women rule over them. O my people! thy leaders cause thee to err, and the direction of thy paths they corrupt.
13 INkosi izimisele ukuphikisana, imi ukuthi yahlulele abantu.
The Lord is stepped forth to plead, and standeth up 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 ancients of his people, and their princes; but ye—ye have eaten up the vineyard; the plunder of the poor is in your houses.
15 Lina libachobozelani abantu bami, lichola ubuso babayanga? itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla.
What mean ye that ye crush my people, and grind down the faces of the poor? saith the Lord the Eternal 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, Forasmuch as the daughters of Zion are proud, and walk with stretched forth necks and casting about their eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:
17 ngakho iNkosi izakwenza inkanda yamadodakazi eZiyoni ibe loqweqwe, leNkosi izanqunula izitho zawo zangasese.
Therefore will the Lord smite with leprosy the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will lay open their nakedness.
18 Ngalolosuku iNkosi izasusa ubuhle bezigqizo zawo, lezicwatsho, lamasongo anjengenyanga,
On that day will the Lord take away the beauty of their tinkling shoe-buckles, and the hair-nets, and the crescent-shaped ornaments,
19 amacici, lamasongo, lezimbombozo,
The drops, and the bracelets, and the mufflers,
20 amaqhiye, lezigetsho, lamabhanti, lemifuma, lezintebe,
The bonnets, and the foot-chains, and the head-bands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
21 izindandatho, lamacici amakhala,
The finger-rings, and nose-jewels,
22 izigqoko zemikhosi, lamajazi, lezembatho, lezamba,
The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the shawls, and the pockets.
23 lezibuko, lezigqoko zelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, lamaqhele, lamaveyili.
The mirrors, and the chemisettes, and the turbans, and the long vails.
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 it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be corruption; and instead of a girdle a rope; and instead of curled hair baldness; and instead of a wide garment a girding of sackcloth, a mark of burning instead of beauty.
25 Amadoda akho azakuwa ngenkemba, lamaqhawe akho empini.
Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty ones in the war.
26 Lamasango ayo azakhala alile; yenziwe ize izahlala emhlabathini.
And then shall her gates lament and mourn; and stript of all shall she sit upon the ground.
