U-Isaya 31

1 Maye kulabo abehlela usizo eGibhithe, abeyama emabhizeni, bethemba izinqola ngoba zizinengi, labagadi bamabhiza ngoba belamandla kakhulu, kodwa bengakhangeli koNgcwele kaIsrayeli, njalo bengadingi iNkosi!

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and depend on horses, and confide in chariots because [they are] many, and in horsemen because they are very strong; and who look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek Jehovah!

2 Kanti layo ihlakaniphile, izaletha ububi, njalo kayiyikuwabuyisa amazwi ayo; kodwa izavukela indlu yabenzi bobubi, njalo imelene losizo lwabenzi beziphambeko.

But he also is wise, and he bringeth evil, and recalleth not his words; and he will arise against the house of evildoers, and against the help of workers of iniquity.

3 Ngoba amaGibhithe angabantu, kabasuNkulunkulu, lamabhiza awo ayinyama, kawayisimoya. Lapho iNkosi izakwelula isandla sayo, osizayo uzakhubeka losizwayo uzakuwa phansi, njalo bonke baphele kanyekanye.

And the Egyptians are men, and not God, and their horses flesh, and not spirit; and Jehovah shall stretch forth his hand, and he that helpeth shall stumble, and he that is helped shall fall, and they all shall perish together.

4 Ngoba iNkosi itsho njalo kimi: Njengesilwane lebhongo lesilwane kubhongela phezu kwempango yakho, lapho ixuku labelusi libizelwe ukumelana laso, kasiyikwesaba ilizwi labo, njalo kasiyikuzithoba ngenxa yomsindo wabo; ngokunjalo iNkosi yamabandla izakwehla ukulwela intaba yeZiyoni loqaqa lwayo.

For thus hath Jehovah said unto me: Like as the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, is not afraid of their voice, nor giveth way before the multitude of them; so will Jehovah of hosts come down to war upon mount Zion, and on the hill thereof.

5 Njengenyoni eziphaphayo, ngokunjalo iNkosi yamabandla izavikela iJerusalema; ivikela, izayophula; isedlula, iyikhulule.

As birds with outstretched wings, so will Jehovah of hosts cover Jerusalem; covering, he will also deliver, passing over, he will rescue [it].

6 Phendukelani kuyo okuyo abantwana bakoIsrayeli bahlubuke ngokujulileyo.

Turn unto him from whom ye have deeply revolted, ye children of Israel;

7 Ngoba ngalolosuku bazalahla, wonke umuntu izithombe zakhe zesiliva lezithombe zakhe zegolide, ozandla zenu zilenzele zona ukuba yisono.

for in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold, which your sinful hands have made unto you.

8 ISiriya izakuwa-ke ngenkemba engeyisiyo yomuntu olamandla, lenkemba engeyisiyo yomuntukazana izayiqeda; kodwa izabalekela inkemba, lamajaha ayo abe yizibhalwa.

And Asshur shall fall by the sword, not of a great man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: and he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall become tributary;

9 Izakwedlulela edwaleni layo ngokwesaba, leziphathamandla zayo zesabe uphawu, itsho iNkosi, omlilo wayo useZiyoni, lesithando sayo siseJerusalema.

and for fear, he shall pass over to his rock, and his princes shall be afraid of the banner, saith Jehovah, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.