U-Isaya 46
1 UBeli uyakhothama, uNebo uyazithoba; izithombe zabo zazingezezifuyo, njalo zazingezezinkomo; imithwalo yenu ethwelweyo ingumthwalo enyamazaneni ediniweyo.
Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; their idols are carried by animals and beasts of burden. These idols that you carry are a heavy burden for weary animals.
2 Bayaguqa, bakhothame kanyekanye, kabalakophula umthwalo, kodwa bona ngokwabo baya ekuthunjweni.
Together they bend low, kneel down; they cannot rescue the images, and they themselves have gone off into captivity.
3 Ngilalela, ndlu kaJakobe, lensali yonke yendlu kaIsrayeli, abathwalwa yimi kwasesibelethweni, abasingathwe kwasesizalweni.
Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been carried by me from before your birth, carried from the womb.
4 Kuze kube sekugugeni nginguye; yebo, kuze kube sebumpungeni mina ngizalithwala; mina ngenzile, mina-ke ngizaphakamisa, ngitsho mina ngithwale, ngikhulule.
Even to your old age I am he, and until your hair is gray I will carry you. I made you and I will bear you; I will carry you and I will rescue you.
5 Lizangifananisa, lingilinganise, lingiqathanise lobani ukuze sifanane?
To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble, so that we may be compared?
6 Bathulula igolide esikhwameni, balinganise isiliva esilinganisweni, baqhatshe umkhandi akwenze unkulunkulu; bathi mbo phansi, yebo, bakhonze.
People pour out gold from the bag and weigh silver on the scale. They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god; they bow down and worship it.
7 Bametshata ehlombe, bamthwale, bambeke endaweni yakhe, ame; angasuki endaweni yakhe. Yebo, umuntu ememeza kuye, kodwa kaphenduli, kamsindisi enkathazweni yakhe.
They lift it on their shoulder and carry it; they set it in its place, and it stands in its place and does not move from it. They cry out to it, but it cannot answer nor save anyone from his trouble.
8 Khumbulani lokhu, lizibonakalise liqinile; kubuyiseleni enhliziyweni, lina bahlamuki.
Think about these things; never ignore them, you rebels!
9 Khumbulani izinto zakuqala zendulo; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, njalo kakho omunye; nginguNkulunkulu, njalo kakho ofanana lami;
Think about the earlier things, those of times past, for I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is no one like me.
10 engimemezela isiphetho kwasekuqaleni, njalo kusukela endulo izinto ezingakenziwa, ngisithi: Icebo lami lizakuma, njalo ngizakwenza yonke intokozo yami;
I announce the end from the beginning, and beforehand what has not yet happened; I say, “My plan will happen, and I will do as I desire.”
11 engibiza inyoni edla inyama ivela empumalanga, umuntu wecebo lami evela elizweni elikhatshana; yebo, ngikhulumile, yebo, ngizakufeza; ngikumisile, yebo, ngizakwenza.
I call a bird of prey from the east, the man of my choice from a distant land; yes, I have spoken; I will also accomplish it; I have purposed, I will also do it.
12 Ngilalelani, lina abalenhliziyo eziqinileyo, lina elikhatshana lokulunga.
Listen to me, you stubborn people, who are far from doing what is right.
13 Ngiyasondeza ukulunga kwami, kakuyikuba khatshana; losindiso lwami kaluyikuphuza; kodwa ngizanika usindiso eZiyoni, udumo lwami koIsrayeli.
I am bringing my righteousness near; it is not far away, and my salvation does not wait; and I will give salvation to Zion and my beauty to Israel.
