U-Isaya 58

1 Memeza ngomphimbo, ungayekeli, uphakamise ilizwi lakho njengophondo, utshele abantu bami isiphambeko sabo, lendlu kaJakobe izono zabo.

“Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2 Kanti bayangidinga mina usuku ngosuku, bethokoza ukwazi indlela zami; njengesizwe esenza ukulunga, esingadelanga isimiso sikaNkulunkulu waso, babuza kimi izimiso zokulunga, bathokoza ekusondeleni kuNkulunkulu.

For day after day they seek Me and delight to know My ways, like a nation that does what is right and does not forsake the justice of their God. They ask Me for righteous judgments; they delight in the nearness of God.”

3 Besithi: Kungani sizile ukudla, wena-ke ungaboni? Kungani sihluphe umphefumulo wethu, wena-ke ungakwazi? Khangelani, ngosuku lokuzila kwenu ukudla, lithola intokozo, licindezele zonke izisebenzi zenu.

“Why have we fasted, and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?” “Behold, on the day of your fast, you do as you please, and you oppress all your workers.

4 Khangelani, lizila ukudla lisenzela ingxabano lokuphikisana, lokutshaya ngenqindi yenkohlakalo; lingazili ukudla njengalamuhla, ukwenza ilizwi lenu lizwakale phezulu.

You fast with contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist. You cannot fast as you do today and have your voice be heard on high.

5 Kunjalo yini ukuzila ukudla engikukhethileyo? Lusuku lokuthi umuntu ahluphe umphefumulo wakhe yini? Ukuthi akhothamise ikhanda lakhe njengomhlanga, endlale phansi kwakhe isaka lomlotha? Lokhu ungakubiza yini ngokuthi yikuzila ukudla, losuku olwemukelekayo eNkosini?

Is this the fast I have chosen: a day for a man to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the LORD?

6 Kayisikho lokhu yini ukuzila ukudla engikukhethileyo: Ukuthukulula izibopho zobubi, ukukhulula imichilo yejogwe, ukuyekela abacindezelweyo bahambe bekhululekile, lokuthi lephule lonke ijogwe?

Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

7 Kayisikho yini ukwabela olambileyo isinkwa sakho, lokungenisa abayanga abayimihambuma endlini, lapho ubona onqunu umembese, lokuthi ungacatsheli inyama yakho?

Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8 Khona ukukhanya kwakho kuzaqhamuka njengokusa, lokusila kwakho kuhlume masinyane; lokulunga kwakho kuhambe phambi kwakho; inkazimulo yeNkosi ibe ngumvikeli wakho ngasemuva.

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9 Khona uzabiza, iNkosi iphendule, uzakhala, ibisisithi: Khangela ngilapha. Uba ususa phakathi kwakho ijogwe, ukukhomba ngomunwe, lokukhuluma okubi,

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,

10 ukhuphele olambileyo umphefumulo wakho, usuthise umphefumulo ohluphekileyo, khona ukukhanya kwakho kuzaphuma emnyameni, lobumnyama bakho bube njengemini enkulu.

and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light will go forth in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday.

11 Njalo iNkosi izakukhokhela njalonjalo, isuthise umphefumulo wakho engwaduleni, iqinise amathambo akho, ube njengesivande esithelelwayo, lanjengomthombo wamanzi, omanzi awo angapheliyo.

The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

12 Labakho bazakwakha amanxiwa amadala; uzavusa izisekelo zezizukulwana ngezizukulwana; uzabizwa ngokuthi: UMvalisikhala, uMbuyiseli wemikhondo yokuhlala.

Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.

13 Uba uphendula unyawo lwakho lusuka kusabatha, ungenzi intokozo yakho ngosuku lwami olungcwele; ulibize isabatha ngokuthi yintokozo, olungcwele lweNkosi, oluhloniphekayo; njalo uluhlonipha, ungenzi indlela zakho, ungatholi intokozo yakho, loba ukhulume ilizwi lakho,

If you turn your foot from breaking the Sabbath, from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight, and the LORD’s holy day honorable, if you honor it by not going your own way or seeking your own pleasure or speaking idle words,

14 khona uzazithokozisa eNkosini, ngizakugadisa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, ngizakwenza udle ilifa likaJakobe uyihlo; ngoba umlomo weNkosi ukhulumile.

then you will delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the land and feed you with the heritage of your father Jacob.”