< U-Isaya 66 >
1 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Amazulu ayisihlalo sami sobukhosi, lomhlaba uyisenabelo senyawo zami. Ingaphi leyondlu elizangakhela yona? Njalo ingaphi indawo yami yokuphumula?
Thus says Jehovah, "Heaven is my throne, and earth is the footstool of my feet. Where then is the house you could build for me? And where then is the place of my rest?
2 Ngoba zonke lezizinto isandla sami sazenza, lazo zonke lezizinto zikhona, itsho iNkosi. Kodwa kulowo ngizakhangela, kulowo ongumyanga lolomoya odabukileyo, lothuthumela ngelizwi lami.
For all these things has my hand made, and so all these things came to be," says Jehovah: "but to this man will I look, to him who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.
3 Ohlaba inkabi unjengobulala umuntu; onikela umhlatshelo ngewundlu unjengowephula intamo yenja; onikela umnikelo wokudla unjengonikela igazi lengulube; otshisa impepha yesikhumbuzo unjengobusisa isithombe. Yebo, bona bakhethile izindlela zabo, lomphefumulo wabo uthokoza ngezinengiso zabo.
He who slaughters an ox is like one who strikes down a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog's neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig's blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations:
4 Lami ngizakhetha izigcono zabo, ngibehlisele abakwesabayo; ngoba ngabiza, akwaphendula muntu; ngakhuluma, akwalalela muntu; kodwa benza okubi emehlweni ami, bakhetha lokho engingathokozanga ngakho.
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I did not delight."
5 Zwanini ilizwi leNkosi, lina elithuthumela ngelizwi layo. Abafowenu abalizondayo, abalixotsha ngenxa yebizo lami, bathi: Kayidunyiswe iNkosi; khona sizabona intokozo yenu; bona-ke bazayangeka.
Hear the word of Jehovah, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name's sake, have said, 'Let Jehovah be glorified, that we may see your joy;' but it is those who shall be disappointed.
6 Ilizwi lomsindo elivela emzini, ilizwi elivela ethempelini, ilizwi leNkosi elibuyisela izinzuzo ezitheni zayo.
A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Jehovah that renders recompense to his enemies.
7 Ingakahelelwa, yazala; kungakafiki ubuhlungu bayo, yabeletha owesilisa.
"Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she delivered a son.
8 Ngubani owake wezwa okunje? Ngubani owake wabona izinto ezinje? Umhlaba uzakwenziwa uzale yini ngosuku olulodwa? Kumbe isizwe singabelethwa yini ngesikhathi sinye? Ngoba iZiyoni ithe ihelelwa, yazala abantwana bayo.
Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be brought forth at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
9 Mina ngizasondeza ekuzalweni, ngingazalisi yini? itsho iNkosi. Ngizazalisa, besengivala yini? utsho uNkulunkulu wakho.
Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" says Jehovah: "shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb?" says your God.
10 Thokozani kanye leJerusalema, lijabule layo, lina lonke eliyithandayo; thokozani kanye layo ngentokozo, lina lonke eliyililelayo;
"Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;
11 ukuze limunye, lisuthe ngamabele ezinduduzo zayo; ukuze limunyisise lizithokozise ngobunengi bodumo lwayo.
that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory."
12 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Khangelani, ngizaqhelisa ukuthula kuye njengomfula, lodumo lwezizwe njengesifula esikhukhulayo; khona lizamunya, lithwalwe enhlangothini, lidlaliswe emadolweni.
For thus says Jehovah, "Look, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees.
13 Njengalowo unina amduduzayo, ngokunjalo mina ngizaliduduza; njalo lizaduduzeka eJerusalema.
As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem."
14 Lapho libona lokhu, inhliziyo yenu izathokoza, lamathambo enu ahlume njengohlaza; lesandla seNkosi sizakwaziwa ngasezincekwini zayo, njalo izakuba lolaka ngasezitheni zayo.
You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
15 Ngoba khangela, iNkosi izafika ngomlilo, lezinqola zayo njengesivunguzane, ukubuyisela intukuthelo yayo ngokufutheka, lokukhuza kwayo ngamalangabi omlilo.
For, look, Jehovah will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 Ngoba ngomlilo langenkemba yayo iNkosi izangena ekwahluleleni layo yonke inyama, lababuleweyo beNkosi bazakuba banengi.
For by fire will Jehovah execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Jehovah shall be many.
17 Labo abazingcwelisayo, bazihlambulule ezivandeni ngemva kwesihlahla esisodwa esiphakathi, besidla inyama yezingulube, lesinengiso, legundwane, bazaqedwa kanyekanye, itsho iNkosi.
"Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together," says Jehovah.
18 Ngoba mina ngiyayazi imisebenzi yabo lemicabango yabo; kuzafika ukuthi ngibuthe zonke izizwe lezinlimi; njalo zizafika, zibone udumo lwami.
"For I know their works and their thoughts. I am coming to gather all nations and languages; and they will come and see my glory.
19 Ngizabeka-ke isibonakaliso phakathi kwazo, ngithume abaphunyukileyo babo baye ezizweni, eTarshishi, iPhuli, leLudi, abadonsa idandili, eThubhali, leJavani, izihlenge ezikhatshana ezingakezwa indumela yami, lezingakaboni udumo lwami; njalo zizamemezela udumo lwami phakathi kwezizwe.
"I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the islands afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations.
20 Bazaletha-ke bonke abafowenu babe ngumnikelo eNkosini bephuma kuzo zonke izizwe bephezu kwamabhiza, langezinqola, langamathala, laphezu kwezimbongolo, laphezu kwezinyamazana ezilejubane, entabeni yami engcwele eJerusalema, itsho iNkosi, njengabantwana bakoIsrayeli beletha umnikelo ngesitsha esihlambulukileyo endlini yeNkosi.
They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Jehovah, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Jehovah, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Jehovah.
21 Ngizathatha-ke lakubo babe ngabapristi njalo babe ngamaLevi, itsho iNkosi.
And I will also take some of them for myself as priests and Levites," says Jehovah.
22 Ngoba njengamazulu amatsha lomhlaba omutsha engizakwenza kuzakuma phambi kwami, itsho iNkosi, ngokunjalo inzalo yakho lebizo lakho kuzakuma.
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me," says Jehovah, "so your descendants and your name shall remain.
23 Kuzakuthi-ke ekuthwaseni kwenye inyanga kusiya kwenye, njalo kusukela kwelinye isabatha kusiya kwelinye, yonke inyama izakuzakhonza phambi kwami, itsho iNkosi.
It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me," says Jehovah.
24 Bazaphuma-ke, babone izidumbu zabantu abaphambeke bemelene lami; ngoba impethu yabo kayiyikufa, lomlilo wabo kawuyikucitsha; njalo bazakuba yisinengiso kuyo yonke inyama.
"They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they will be loathsome to all mankind."