U-Isaya 3
1 Ngoba khangela, iNkosi, uJehova wamabandla, izasusa eJerusalema lakoJuda insika lodondolo, insika yonke yesinkwa, lensika yonke yamanzi,
The Commander of the armies of angels is about to take away from Jerusalem and [other places in] Judea everything that you depend on— all your food and water.
2 iqhawe, lendoda yempi, umahluleli, lomprofethi, lomvumisi, lomdala,
He will take away your heroes and your [other] soldiers, your judges and your prophets, people who do rituals to find out what will happen in the future and the elders,
3 induna yamatshumi amahlanu, lowemukelekayo ngobuso, lomeluleki, lombazi ohlakaniphileyo, lowazi amalumbo.
army officers and [other] officials, advisors and skilled craftsmen and those who perform rituals to predict the future.
4 Ngizabanika abafana babe yiziphathamandla zabo, lezihluku zizabusa phezu kwabo.
He will appoint boys to be your leaders; your children will rule you.
5 Labantu bazacindezelwa, omunye komunye, njalo ngulowo lalowo kumakhelwane wakhe; ijaha lizadelela omdala, lodelelekayo ohloniphekayo.
People will treat each other cruelly: people will fight against their neighbors. Young people will insult older people, and vulgar/dishonorable people will sneer at people who should be honored.
6 Lapho umuntu ezabamba umfowabo wendlu kayise athi: Wena ulesembatho, woba ngumbusi wethu, lokhukuchithakala kube ngaphansi kwesandla sakho;
At that time, someone will grab one of his brothers in his father’s house and say to him, “You have a coat, [which shows that you are respected]. [So] you be our leader! You rule this [city, which is now] a pile of ruins!”
7 uzaphakamisa ngalolosuku athi: Kangiyikuba ngumelaphi, ngoba endlini yami kakulakudla kakulasembatho; lingangimisi ngibe ngumbusi wabantu.
[But] his brother will reply, “[No], I cannot help you, [because] I do not have [any extra] food or clothes in this house. [So] do not appoint me to be your leader!”
8 Ngoba iJerusalema ikhubekile, loJuda uwile, ngoba ulimi lwabo lezenzo zabo kumelene leNkosi, ukuvukela amehlo obukhosi bayo.
Jerusalem and [the other towns in] Judah will be destroyed, because [everything] that the people do and say there opposes Yahweh, who is powerful and glorious, and they refuse to obey him. They rebel against him.
9 Ukukhangeleka kobuso babo kuyafakaza ngabo; bememezela izono zabo njengeSodoma, kabazifihli. Maye kumphefumulo wabo! Ngoba bazenzela okubi.
They even show on their faces that [they oppose Yahweh]. They are proud of their sins, like [the people of] Sodom were [long ago]; they do not try to hide their sins. [Because of their sins], terrible things will happen to them, [but] they will bring those disasters on themselves.
10 Tshelani olungileyo ukuthi kuzakuba kuhle kuye; ngoba bazakudla isithelo sezenzo zabo.
[Yahweh told me to] tell the righteous people that good things will happen to them; they will enjoy the blessings that they will receive for their good deeds.
11 Maye kokhohlakeleyo! Kuzakuba kubi kuye; ngoba umvuzo wezandla zakhe uzakwenziwa kuye.
[But] terrible things will happen to wicked people; they will be (paid back/punished) for [the evil things that] [MTY] they have done.
12 Abantu bami, abacindezeli babo ngabantwana, labesifazana bayababusa. Bantu bami, abakhokheli benu ngabaduhisi, basanganisa indlela yemikhondo yenu.
[Now], youths [who have become leaders] treat my people cruelly, and women rule over my people. My people, your leaders are misleading you; they are causing you to go down the wrong road [MET].
13 INkosi izimisele ukuphikisana, imi ukuthi yahlulele abantu.
[It is as though] Yahweh has sat in his place in a courtroom and is ready to judge his people.
14 INkosi ingena kusahlulelo labadala babantu bayo leziphathamandla zayo; ngoba lina lidle isivini; impango yomyanga isezindlini zenu.
He will stand up to declare why the elders and rulers of his people should be punished: [he says], “The people of Israel are [like] [MET] a vineyard that I planted, but you have ruined it! Your houses are full of things that you have stolen from poor people.
15 Lina libachobozelani abantu bami, lichola ubuso babayanga? itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla.
You should stop [RHQ] crushing my people! [It is as though] you are pushing the faces of poor people into the dirt!” [That is what] the Commander of the armies of angels says.
16 INkosi yasisithi: Ngenxa yokuthi amadodakazi eZiyoni eziphakamisile, ehamba elule intamo, ehuga ngamehlo, ehamba ngokuqoqomela ehamba, ekhencezisa izigqizo enyaweni zawo,
Yahweh says this: “The women of Jerusalem are haughty/proud; they walk around sticking their chins out, and flirting [with men] with their eyes. They walk with tiny steps with bracelets on their ankles that jingle.
17 ngakho iNkosi izakwenza inkanda yamadodakazi eZiyoni ibe loqweqwe, leNkosi izanqunula izitho zawo zangasese.
So I, Yahweh, will cause sores to be on their heads, and I will cause those beautiful women in Jerusalem to become bald.”
18 Ngalolosuku iNkosi izasusa ubuhle bezigqizo zawo, lezicwatsho, lamasongo anjengenyanga,
At the time [that Yahweh does that], he will strip away everything that the women of Jerusalem wear to make themselves beautiful—the ornaments on their ankles and their headbands, their crescent necklaces,
19 amacici, lamasongo, lezimbombozo,
their earrings and bracelets and veils,
20 amaqhiye, lezigetsho, lamabhanti, lemifuma, lezintebe,
their scarves and ankle bracelets and sashes, their perfumes and (charms/little things that they wear thinking that those things will protect them from evil),
21 izindandatho, lamacici amakhala,
their signet rings and nose rings,
22 izigqoko zemikhosi, lamajazi, lezembatho, lezamba,
their nice robes and capes and cloaks and purses,
23 lezibuko, lezigqoko zelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, lamaqhele, lamaveyili.
their mirrors and nice linen clothes and shawls.
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.
Instead of their having a nice smell from perfume, they will stink; instead of nice sashes, they will have ropes [around their waists because they will be captives]. Instead of having fancy hairdos, they will be bald. Instead of fancy/beautiful robes, they will wear rough sackcloth, and instead of being beautiful, they will be branded.
25 Amadoda akho azakuwa ngenkemba, lamaqhawe akho empini.
Their husbands will be killed by [their enemies’] swords, and their soldiers [will also die] in battles.
26 Lamasango ayo azakhala alile; yenziwe ize izahlala emhlabathini.
People [PRS] will mourn and cry at the gates [of the city]. The city will [be like] [MET] a woman who sits on the ground because everything that she owned is gone.
