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 those who go down to Egypt [Abode of slavery] for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they don’t look to haKadosh Isra'el [the Holy One of God prevails], and they don’t seek Adonai!
2 Kanti layo ihlakaniphile, izaletha ububi, njalo kayiyikuwabuyisa amazwi ayo; kodwa izavukela indlu yabenzi bobubi, njalo imelene losizo lwabenzi beziphambeko.
Yet he also is wise, and will bring disaster, and will not call back his words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of those who work vain striving 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.
Now the Egyptians [people from Abode of slavery] are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When Adonai stretches out his hand, both he who helps shall stumble, and he who is helped shall fall, and they all shall be consumed 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 Adonai says to me, “As the lion and the young lion growling over his prey, if a multitude of shepherds is called together against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for their noise, so Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] will come down to fight on Mount Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking] and on its heights.
5 Njengenyoni eziphaphayo, ngokunjalo iNkosi yamabandla izavikela iJerusalema; ivikela, izayophula; isedlula, iyikhulule.
As birds hovering, so Adonai Tzva'ot [Yahweh Commander of heaven’s armies] will protect Jerusalem [City of peace]. He will protect and deliver it. He will pass over and preserve it.”
6 Phendukelani kuyo okuyo abantwana bakoIsrayeli bahlubuke ngokujulileyo.
Make teshuvah ·complete return· to him from whom you have deeply revolted, children of Israel [God prevails].
7 Ngoba ngalolosuku bazalahla, wonke umuntu izithombe zakhe zesiliva lezithombe zakhe zegolide, ozandla zenu zilenzele zona ukuba yisono.
For in that day everyone shall cast away his idols of silver and his idols of gold— crime deserving peanlty, sin ·missing the goal· which your own hands have made for you.
8 ISiriya izakuwa-ke ngenkemba engeyisiyo yomuntu olamandla, lenkemba engeyisiyo yomuntukazana izayiqeda; kodwa izabalekela inkemba, lamajaha ayo abe yizibhalwa.
“The Assyrian will fall by the sword, not of man; and the sword, not of mankind, shall devour him. He will flee from the sword, and his young men will become subject to forced labor.
9 Izakwedlulela edwaleni layo ngokwesaba, leziphathamandla zayo zesabe uphawu, itsho iNkosi, omlilo wayo useZiyoni, lesithando sayo siseJerusalema.
His rock will pass away by reason of terror, and his princes will be afraid of the banner,” says Adonai, whose fire is in Zion [Mountain ridge, Marking], and his furnace in Jerusalem [City of peace].
