U-Isaya 52
1 Vuka, vuka, wembathe amandla akho, Ziyoni! Yembatha izembatho zakho ezinhle, Jerusalema, muzi ongcwele! Ngoba kakusayikungena kuwe futhi ongasokanga longcolileyo.
[You people who live in the] holy city of Jerusalem [APO], wake up! Be strong again! Show that [MTY] your city is beautiful and glorious; foreigners who do not believe in God will not enter your city again [to attack you].
2 Zithintithe usuke othulini, sukuma, uhlale phansi, Jerusalema! Zikhululekuzibopho zentamo yakho, ndodakazi ethunjiweyo yeZiyoni!
People of Jerusalem, get up from [humbly] sitting in the dust and sit in places where people are honored! You people who have returned from being exiled, take off from your neck the chains which were fastened around you [as slaves in Babylonia],
3 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Lathengiswa ngeze; njalo lizahlengwa ngaphandle kwemali.
because this is what Yahweh says: “[When you were taken to Babylonia], no one paid me for doing that. So now I will bring you back without [being required to] pay for you!”
4 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi uJehova: Abantu bami behlela eGibhithe esikhathini sendulo ukuhlala njengabezizwe khona, njalo iAsiriya yabacindezela ngaphandle kwesizatho.
Yahweh [our] Lord [also] says this: “Long ago, my people went to Egypt to live there. [Later] they were being (oppressed/treated cruelly) by [the soldiers of] Assyria.
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.
But now think about what is happening: My people are being forced to be slaves again, this time by the [people of Babylonia]. And [those who have conquered them this time have also] paid me nothing, and they despise me [MTY] continually [DOU].
6 Ngakho abantu bami bazalazi ibizo lami; ngakho ngalolosuku bazakwazi ukuthi yimi engikhulumayo; khangela, yimi.
But my people will then have a close relationship with [MTY] me, and when that happens, they will know that I am the one who predicted/promised [that it would happen]. It is I, [Yahweh, who will do it].”
7 Zinhle kangakanani phezu kwezintaba inyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula, oletha indaba ezinhle zokulunga, ozwakalisa usindiso, othi kuyo iZiyoni: UNkulunkulu wakho uyabusa.
It is a wonderful thing when messengers [MTY] arrive on the mountains/hills, bringing good news, the news about [God giving us] peace and saving us, the news that the God to whom we [Israeli people] belong is now ruling/king!
8 Ilizwi labalindi bakho! Bazaphakamisa ilizwi, bahlabele kakhulu kanyekanye, ngoba bazabona ilihlo ngelihlo, lapho iNkosi izabuyisa iZiyoni.
The watchmen [who are guarding the city] will shout and sing joyfully, because while they are watching they will see Yahweh returning to Jerusalem.
9 Qhamukani ngentokozo, lihlabelele kanyekanye, lina manxiwa eJerusalema, ngoba iNkosi isibaduduzile abantu bayo, iyihlengile iJerusalema.
Jerusalem has been ruined, but the people who are there now should start to sing joyfully, because Yahweh will encourage his people; he will set his people free and bring them back to Jerusalem.
10 INkosi yembule ingalo yayo engcwele emehlweni azo zonke izizwe, njalo imikhawulo yonke yomhlaba izabona usindiso lukaNkulunkulu wethu.
Yahweh will show all the nations that he is holy and powerful. People in the most remote/distant places on earth will know that he has rescued his people.
11 Sukani, sukani, liphume lapha, lingathinti okungcolileyo, phumani phakathi kwayo, banini ngabahlambulukileyo, lina elithwala izitsha zeNkosi.
So, leave [the places where you were taken to when you were captured], where [everything is] unacceptable to God. You men who carry the items used for the worship of Yahweh, leave there [and return to Jerusalem], and purify yourselves [in order to be acceptable to worship God].
12 Ngoba kaliyikuphuma ngokuphangisa, kumbe lihambe ngokubaleka, ngoba iNkosi izahamba phambi kwenu, loNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli uzakuba ngumvikeli wenu ngasemuva.
But it will not [be necessary] for you to leave suddenly, to flee in panic, because Yahweh will (go in front of/lead) you; and he will [also] protect you [from being attacked] at the rear [while you travel].
13 Khangela, inceku yami izakwenza ngenhlakanipho, iphakeme njalo iphakanyisiwe, iphakeme kakhulu.
[Yahweh says], “Listen carefully! My servant will act wisely (OR, do the right things to accomplish what he wants to), and I will highly exalt him.”
14 Njengoba abanengi babethithibele ngawe; ukukhangeleka kwayo kwakonakele kangaka, okwedlula loba nguwuphi, lesimo sayo okwedlula amadodana abantu.
But many people will be appalled when they see what has happened to him. [Because of his being beaten very badly], his appearance will be changed; people will hardly recognize that he is a human.
15 Ngokunjalo izafafaza izizwe ezinengi; amakhosi azayivalela umlomo wawo; ngoba lokho abangakulandiselwanga bazakubona, lalokho abangakuzwanga bazakuqedisisa.
But he will cause [people of] many nations to be surprised; [even] kings will be silent when they stand in front of him, because they will see someone that no one had told them about [previously], and they will understand things that they had not heard about [before].
