< U-Isaya 9 >

1 Kodwa umnyama kawuyikuba njengenkathazo yalo; njengesikhathini samandulo wakwenza kwaba lula elizweni lakoZebuluni lelizweni lakoNafithali; kodwa emva kwalokhu wakwenza kwaba nzima ngendlela yolwandle, phetsheya kweJordani, eGalili lezizwe.
For is there no gloom to her that was stedfast? Now the former hath lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but the latter hath dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in the district of the nations.
2 Abantu ababehamba emnyameni babonile ukukhanya okukhulu; ababehlala elizweni lethunzi lokufa, ukukhanya kubakhanyisele.
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
3 Wandisile isizwe, wakhulisa intokozo yaso; bayathokoza phambi kwakho njengentokozo ekuvuneni, njengoba bethokoza ekwehlukaniselaneni kwabo impango.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy; they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 Ngoba wephulile ijogwe lomthwalo waso, loswazi lwehlombe laso, intonga yomcindezeli waso, njengasosukwini lukaMidiyani.
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, Thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.
5 Ngoba wonke umsindo wempi usenhlokomeni, lesigqoko sigiqwe egazini; njalo kuzakuba ngesokutshiswa, kube zinkuni zomlilo.
For every boot stamped with fierceness, and every cloak rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire.
6 Ngoba sizalelwe umntwana, sinikwe indodana; lombuso uzakuba sehlombe layo, lebizo lakhe lizathiwa: OMangalisayo, uMeluleki, uNkulunkulu olamandla, uBaba wephakade, iNkosana yokuthula.
For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom;
7 Ukwanda kombuso lokuthula kakuyikuphela, phezu kwesihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavida laphezu kombuso wakhe, ukuwumisa, lokuwuqinisa ngesahlulelo langokulunga, kusukela khathesi kuze kube nininini. Ukutshiseka kweNkosi yamabandla kuzakwenza lokhu.
That the government may be increased, and of peace there be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it through justice and through righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts doth perform this.
8 INkosi ithumele ilizwi koJakobe, lawela koIsrayeli.
The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 Labo bonke abantu bazakwazi, uEfrayimi lomhlali weSamariya, ngokuzigqaja langokuzikhukhumeza kwenhliziyo, besithi:
And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and in arrogancy of heart:
10 Izitina ziwile, kodwa sizakwakha ngamatshe abaziweyo; imikhiwa yesikhamore iganyuliwe, kodwa sizayiguqula ibe yimisedari.
'The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but cedars will we put in their place.'
11 Ngakho iNkosi izaphakamisa abacindezeli bakaRezini phezu kwakhe, itshotshozele izitha zakhe;
Therefore the LORD doth set upon high the adversaries of Rezin against him, and spur his enemies;
12 amaSiriya ngaphambili lamaFilisti ngemuva, azakudla uIsrayeli ngomlomo wonke. Kukho konke lokhu intukuthelo yayo kayiphenduki, kodwa isandla sayo silokhu seluliwe.
The Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west; and they devour Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
13 Ngoba abantu kabaphendukeli kulowo owabatshayayo, futhi kabayidingi iNkosi yamabandla.
Yet the people turneth not unto Him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
14 Ngakho iNkosi izaquma kusuke koIsrayeli inhloko lomsila, ugatsha lomhlanga, ngasuku lunye.
Therefore the LORD doth cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
15 Omdala lowemukelwa ngobuso, uyinhloko, kodwa umprofethi ofundisa amanga, ungumsila.
The elder and the man of rank, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 Ngoba abakhokheli balababantu bayaduhisa, labakhokhelwa yibo bayaginywa.
For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Ngenxa yalokho iNkosi kayiyikuthokoza ngamajaha abo, kayiyikuba lasihawu ngezintandane zabo labafelokazi babo; ngoba bonke bangabazenzisi labenzi bobubi, lomlomo wonke ukhuluma ubuthutha. Kukho konke lokhu intukuthelo yayo kayiphenduki, kodwa isandla sayo silokhu seluliwe.
Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall He have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is ungodly and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh wantonness. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
18 Ngoba inkohlakalo itshisa njengomlilo; izakudla ameva lokhula oluhlabayo, ithungele izixuku zehlathi, ziziphakamise njengokuphakama kwentuthu.
For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in thick clouds of smoke.
19 Ngolaka lweNkosi yamabandla ilizwe liyafiphazwa, labantu bazakuba njengokudla komlilo; umuntu kayikuyekela umfowabo.
Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land burnt up; the people also are as the fuel of fire; no man spareth his brother.
20 Njalo uzahluthuna ngakwesokunene, kodwa alambe; adle ngakwesokhohlo, kodwa angasuthi; ngulowo lalowo adle inyama yengalo yakhe;
And one snatcheth on the right hand, and is hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and is not satisfied; they eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 uManase uEfrayimi, loEfrayimi uManase; bazamelana loJuda kanyekanye. Kukho konke lokhu intukuthelo yayo kayiphenduki, kodwa isandla sayo silokhu seluliwe.
Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together are against Judah. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

< U-Isaya 9 >