U-Isaya 46
1 UBeli uyakhothama, uNebo uyazithoba; izithombe zabo zazingezezifuyo, njalo zazingezezinkomo; imithwalo yenu ethwelweyo ingumthwalo enyamazaneni ediniweyo.
Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavily loaded; they were a burden to the weary beast.
2 Bayaguqa, bakhothame kanyekanye, kabalakophula umthwalo, kodwa bona ngokwabo baya ekuthunjweni.
They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves have gone into captivity.
3 Ngilalela, ndlu kaJakobe, lensali yonke yendlu kaIsrayeli, abathwalwa yimi kwasesibelethweni, abasingathwe kwasesizalweni.
Hearken to me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who are borne by me from birth, who are carried from the womb:
4 Kuze kube sekugugeni nginguye; yebo, kuze kube sebumpungeni mina ngizalithwala; mina ngenzile, mina-ke ngizaphakamisa, ngitsho mina ngithwale, ngikhulule.
And even to your old age I am he; and even to gray hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
5 Lizangifananisa, lingilinganise, lingiqathanise lobani ukuze sifanane?
To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?
6 Bathulula igolide esikhwameni, balinganise isiliva esilinganisweni, baqhatshe umkhandi akwenze unkulunkulu; bathi mbo phansi, yebo, bakhonze.
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
7 Bametshata ehlombe, bamthwale, bambeke endaweni yakhe, ame; angasuki endaweni yakhe. Yebo, umuntu ememeza kuye, kodwa kaphenduli, kamsindisi enkathazweni yakhe.
They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not move: yea, one shall cry to him, yet he cannot answer, nor save him out of his trouble.
8 Khumbulani lokhu, lizibonakalise liqinile; kubuyiseleni enhliziyweni, lina bahlamuki.
Remember this, and show yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.
9 Khumbulani izinto zakuqala zendulo; ngoba nginguNkulunkulu, njalo kakho omunye; nginguNkulunkulu, njalo kakho ofanana lami;
Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
10 engimemezela isiphetho kwasekuqaleni, njalo kusukela endulo izinto ezingakenziwa, ngisithi: Icebo lami lizakuma, njalo ngizakwenza yonke intokozo yami;
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
11 engibiza inyoni edla inyama ivela empumalanga, umuntu wecebo lami evela elizweni elikhatshana; yebo, ngikhulumile, yebo, ngizakufeza; ngikumisile, yebo, ngizakwenza.
Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also perform it.
12 Ngilalelani, lina abalenhliziyo eziqinileyo, lina elikhatshana lokulunga.
Hearken to me, ye stubborn in heart, that are far from righteousness:
13 Ngiyasondeza ukulunga kwami, kakuyikuba khatshana; losindiso lwami kaluyikuphuza; kodwa ngizanika usindiso eZiyoni, udumo lwami koIsrayeli.
I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not delay: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
