U-Isaya 58

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

Cry aloud, spare not, Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, And show my people their transgression, And 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 they seek me daily, And desire to know my ways, As a nation that hath done righteousness, And hath not forsaken the ordinances of their God; They inquire of me concerning the judgments which bring salvation; They long for the coming 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.

“Wherefore do we fast, and thou seest not? Wherefore do we afflict our souls, and thou dost not regard it?” Behold, in the day of your fasts ye pursue your pleasure, And exact all your labors.

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

Behold, ye fast in strife and contention, And smiting with the fist of wickedness. Ye do not fast now So that your voice shall 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 that I approve, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it that he should bow down his head like a bulrush, And lie down in sackcloth and ashes? Wilt thou call this a fast, And a day acceptable to Jehovah?

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

Is not this the fast that I approve, —To loose the bands of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And to break in pieces 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 break thy bread to the hungry, And to bring the poor, that are cast out, to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou clothe him, And that thou hide not thyself from thine 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 thy light break forth like the morning, And thy health shall spring forth speedily; Thy salvation shall go before thee, And the glory of Jehovah shall bring up thy rear.

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

Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; Thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Lo, here I am! If thou remove from the midst of thee the yoke, The pointing of the finger, and the injurious speech.

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

If thou bring forth thy bread to the hungry, And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then in obscurity shall light arise to thee; Yea, thy darkness shall become as noonday;

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

Jehovah shall lead thee continually, And satisfy thee in the time of drought, And strengthen thy bones; Thou shalt be like a watered garden, and a spring of water, Whose waters never fail.

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

Thy people shall build the ancient desolations, The ruins of many generations shall they restore; Thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of ways for inhabitants.

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 from the sabbath, From doing thy pleasure on my holy day, If thou shalt call the sabbath a delight, The holy day of Jehovah honorable, And shalt honor it by refraining from thy work, From doing thy pleasure, and speaking vain words,

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

Then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah. And I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, And cause thee to enjoy the inheritance of Jacob, thy father; For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.