U-Isaya 58

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

Cry with a full throat, spare not, like the cornet lift up thy voice, and declare unto 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.

Yet me do they ever seek day by day, and to know my ways do they always desire; as a nation that hath done righteousness, and hath not forsaken the ordinance of their God: continually do they ask of me the ordinances of justice—do they desire to draw nigh unto 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.

“Wherefore have we fasted, and thou seest it not? have we afflicted our soul, and thou regardest it not?” Behold, on the day of your fasting ye follow your business, and all your acquired gains do ye exact.

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

Behold, for contention and strife do ye fast, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye fast not so at this day, to cause your voice to 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 such then the fast which I can choose? a day that a man afflicteth his soul? to bend his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes for his couch? wilt thou call this a fast, and a day of acceptability unto the Lord?

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

Is not this [rather] the fast that I will choose? to open the snares of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye should break asunder every yoke?

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

Is it not to distribute thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the afflicted poor into thy house! when thou seest the naked, that thou clothe him; and that thou hide not thyself from thy own flesh?

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

Then shall break forth as the morning-dawn thy light, and thy healing shall speedily spring forth; and before thee shall go thy righteousness, the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward.

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

Then shalt thou call, and the Lord will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here am I. If thou remove from the midst of thee the yoke, the stretching out of the finger, and speaking wickedly;

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

And if thou pour out to the hungry thy soul, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall shine forth in the darkness thy light, and thy obscurity be as the noonday;

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

And the Lord will guide thee continually, and will satisfy thy soul in times of famine, and will strengthen thy bones; and thou shalt be like a well-watered garden, and like a spring of water, the waters of which will never deceive.

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

And they that spring from thee shall build up the ancient ruins; the foundations of many generations shalt thou raise up again: and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breaches, The restorer of paths to the dwelling-place.

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 thou restrain thy foot for the sake of the sabbath, not doing thy business on my holy day; and if thou call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord, honorable; and honor it by not doing thy usual pursuits, by not following thy own business, and speaking [vain] words:

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

Then shalt thou find delight in the Lord; and I will cause thee to tread upon the high places of the earth, and I will cause thee to enjoy the inheritance of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.