< U-Isaya 55 >
1 We lina lonke elomileyo, wozani emanzini, laye ongelamali, wozani, lithenge, lidle; yebo, wozani lithenge ngaphandle kwemali langaphandle kwentengo, iwayini lochago.
“All you [people who are in exile], listen to me! [It is as though] [MET] you are thirsty, so come and get water from me! [It is as though] you have no money, but you can come and get things from me [that are like] wine and milk! You can get [what you need from me], [and] you will not need to give me any money for them!
2 Kungani lichitha imali kokungeyisikho kudla, lomtshikatshika wenu kokungenelisiyo? Ngilalelani lokungilalela, lidle okuhle, lomphefumulo wenu kawuzithokozise kokunonileyo.
[What you really need is to have a close relationship with me], so (why do you spend money to buy things that do not supply what you really need?/you should not spend money to buy things that do not supply what you really need.) [RHQ] (Why do you work hard to get money to buy things that do not (satisfy your [inner beings]/cause you to be happy)?) [RHQ] Pay attention to what I say and acquire what is really good [MET]! If you do that, then you will truly be happy [MET].
3 Thobani indlebe yenu, lize kimi, zwanini, njalo umphefumulo wenu uzaphila; njalo ngizakwenza isivumelwano esilaphakade lani, izisa eziqinisekileyo zikaDavida.
Listen to me and come to me; pay attention to me, and if you do that, you will have new life in your souls. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever to faithfully love you like I loved [King] David.
4 Khangela, ngimnike waba ngumfakazi ebantwini, umkhokheli lomlawuli ebantwini.
By what he did, I showed [my power to many] people-groups; I caused him to be a leader and commander [DOU] over [the people of many nations].
5 Khangela, uzabiza isizwe ongasaziyo, lezizwe ebezingakwazi zizagijimela kuwe, ngenxa yeNkosi, uNkulunkulu wakho, langoNgcwele kaIsrayeli, ngoba ekudumisile.
And similarly, you will summon people of other nations to come to you, nations that previously you have not heard about, and they had not heard about you; and they will come to you quickly because [they will have heard that I], Yahweh, your God, the Holy One of Israel, have honored you.
6 Dingani iNkosi iselokutholwa, ibizeni iseseduze.
Seek [to know] me while it is still possible for you to do that; call to me while I am near!
7 Omubi katshiye indlela yakhe, lomuntu ongalunganga imicabango yakhe; kabuyele eNkosini, njalo izakuba lomusa kuye, lakuNkulunkulu wethu, ngoba uzathethelela ngokukhulu.
Wicked [people] should abandon their wicked behavior, and evil people should stop thinking what is evil. They should turn to me, and if they do that, I will act mercifully toward them; they should turn to me, their God, because I will fully pardon them [for all the wicked things that they have done].
8 Ngoba imicabango yami kayisiyo imicabango yenu, lendlela zenu kayisizo izindlela zami, itsho iNkosi.
I, Yahweh, declare that what I think is not the same as what you think, and what I do is very different from what you do.
9 Ngoba njengoba amazulu ephakeme kulomhlaba, ngokunjalo indlela zami ziphakeme kulendlela zenu, lemicabango yami kulemicabango yenu.
Just as the sky is far above the earth, what I do is far greater than what you do, and what I think is much greater than what you think.
10 Ngoba njengalokhu izulu lisehla, leliqhwa elikhithikileyo kuvela emazulwini, kungabuyeli khona, kodwa kuthelela umhlaba, kuwenze ukuthi uthele uhlume, ukuze unike inhlanyelo kumhlanyeli, lokudla kodlayo,
Rain and snow come down from the sky, and they cause the ground to be moist before the moisture returns [to the sky and produces more clouds]. When the ground becomes moist, it causes plants to sprout and grow, with the result that the soil produces seed for the farmer [to plant] and [grain to produce flour to make] bread for people to eat.
11 lizakuba njalo ilizwi lami eliphuma emlonyeni wami; kaliyikubuyela kimi lize, kodwa lizakwenza lokho engikufisayo, liphumelele kulokhu engilithumele khona.
And similarly the things that I promise to do, I will [always] cause to happen; my promises will [always] be fulfilled [LIT]. They will accomplish the things that I gave them to accomplish [DOU].
12 Ngoba lizaphuma ngentokozo, njalo likhokhelwe ngokuthula; izintaba lamaqaqa kuzaqhamuka ngokuhlabela phambi kwenu, lezihlahla zonke zeganga zitshaye izandla.
You will leave [Babylon] joyfully, you will have peace as I lead you out. [It will be as though] the hills and mountains will sing joyfully, and the trees in the fields will clap their hands.
13 Endaweni yameva kuzamila ifiri, lendaweni yokhula oluhlabayo kumile imiteli; kuzakuba seNkosini libizo, kube yisibonakaliso esilaphakade esingayikuqunywa.
Instead of thornbushes and briers, pine/cypress [trees] and myrtle [trees] will grow [in your land]. As a result of that, people will honor me much more; and what I do will remind everyone that [I do what I have promised].”