U-Isaya 52
1 Vuka, vuka, wembathe amandla akho, Ziyoni! Yembatha izembatho zakho ezinhle, Jerusalema, muzi ongcwele! Ngoba kakusayikungena kuwe futhi ongasokanga longcolileyo.
Wake up, wake up, Zion! Be strong! Put on your best clothes, Jerusalem, the holy city. Heathen foreigners won't ever enter you again.
2 Zithintithe usuke othulini, sukuma, uhlale phansi, Jerusalema! Zikhululekuzibopho zentamo yakho, ndodakazi ethunjiweyo yeZiyoni!
Shake yourself free from the dust and get up. Sit on your throne, Jerusalem. Throw off the chains around your neck, captive daughter of Zion.
3 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Lathengiswa ngeze; njalo lizahlengwa ngaphandle kwemali.
This is what the Lord says: You were sold for nothing, and you will be bought back without money.
4 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Abantu bami behlela eGibhithe esikhathini sendulo ukuhlala njengabezizwe khona, njalo iAsiriya yabacindezela ngaphandle kwesizatho.
This is what the Lord God says: First of all, my people went to live in Egypt, then Assyria conquered them for no reason.
5 Khathesi-ke, ngilani lapha, itsho iNkosi, ukuthi abantu bami bathethwe ngeze? Labo abababusayo babenza baqhinqe isililo, itsho iNkosi, lebizo lami liqhubeka lihlanjazwa lonke usuku.
What do have I to do now? asks the Lord. My people have been taken into captivity for no reason. Those who rule them mock them, and I'm treated with contempt that whole time, says the Lord.
6 Ngakho abantu bami bazalazi ibizo lami; ngakho ngalolosuku bazakwazi ukuthi yimi engikhulumayo; khangela, yimi.
So I'm going to make sure my people know me; at that time they will know that I am the one who means what he says. Yes, it's me!
7 Zinhle kangakanani phezu kwezintaba inyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula, oletha indaba ezinhle zokulunga, ozwakalisa usindiso, othi kuyo iZiyoni: UNkulunkulu wakho uyabusa.
What a wonderful sight in the mountains is the one running to bring good news, announcing peace and good news, announcing salvation, telling Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Ilizwi labalindi bakho! Bazaphakamisa ilizwi, bahlabele kakhulu kanyekanye, ngoba bazabona ilihlo ngelihlo, lapho iNkosi izabuyisa iZiyoni.
The city watchmen shout loudly and sing for joy together; they all see the Lord returning to Jerusalem.
9 Qhamukani ngentokozo, lihlabelele kanyekanye, lina manxiwa eJerusalema, ngoba iNkosi isibaduduzile abantu bayo, iyihlengile iJerusalema.
Let Jerusalem's ruins all sing for joy for the Lord has come to care for his people; he has set Jerusalem free.
10 INkosi yembule ingalo yayo engcwele emehlweni azo zonke izizwe, njalo imikhawulo yonke yomhlaba izabona usindiso lukaNkulunkulu wethu.
The Lord has demonstrated his holy power to all the nations; the whole world will see our God's salvation.
11 Sukani, sukani, liphume lapha, lingathinti okungcolileyo, phumani phakathi kwayo, banini ngabahlambulukileyo, lina elithwala izitsha zeNkosi.
Leave, leave, get out of there! Don't bring anything pagan; come out and leave it all behind. Those of you who carry the Lord's sacred articles are to purify yourselves.
12 Ngoba kaliyikuphuma ngokuphangisa, kumbe lihambe ngokubaleka, ngoba iNkosi izahamba phambi kwenu, loNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli uzakuba ngumvikeli wenu ngasemuva.
But don't leave in a hurry, don't be in a rush as if you're running away, for the Lord will go ahead of you, and he will also protect those at the back.
13 Khangela, inceku yami izakwenza ngenhlakanipho, iphakeme njalo iphakanyisiwe, iphakeme kakhulu.
Look: my servant will act wisely; he will be praised highly, he will be elevated in position, and seen as someone people look up to.
14 Njengoba abanengi babethithibele ngawe; ukukhangeleka kwayo kwakonakele kangaka, okwedlula loba nguwuphi, lesimo sayo okwedlula amadodana abantu.
But many were horrified by him, so disfigured in appearance, no longer looking like a man, so unlike anyone human.
15 Ngokunjalo izafafaza izizwe ezinengi; amakhosi azayivalela umlomo wawo; ngoba lokho abangakulandiselwanga bazakubona, lalokho abangakuzwanga bazakuqedisisa.
He will surprise many nations, and kings will keep quiet because of him—for they'll see what they haven't been told, and they'll understand what they hadn't heard.
