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 no fatigue [befalleth] him that oppresseth it; in the first time he made light of the land of Zebulun, and the land of Naphtali, and at the last he will deal hard, with the way by the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, [up to] the Galilee of the nations.
2 Abantu ababehamba emnyameni babonile ukukhanya okukhulu; ababehlala elizweni lethunzi lokufa, ukukhanya kubakhanyisele.
The people that walk in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death—a light shineth brightly over them.
3 Wandisile isizwe, wakhulisa intokozo yaso; bayathokoza phambi kwakho njengentokozo ekuvuneni, njengoba bethokoza ekwehlukaniselaneni kwabo impango.
Thou hast multiplied the nation, made great their joy: they rejoice before thee as with the joy in harvest, as men are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 Ngoba wephulile ijogwe lomthwalo waso, loswazi lwehlombe laso, intonga yomcindezeli waso, njengasosukwini lukaMidiyani.
For the yoke of their burden, and the staff on their shoulder, the rod of their oppressor, hast thou broken, as on the day of Midian.
5 Ngoba wonke umsindo wempi usenhlokomeni, lesigqoko sigiqwe egazini; njalo kuzakuba ngesokutshiswa, kube zinkuni zomlilo.
For all the weapons of the fighter in the battle's tumult, and the garment rolled in blood, shall be burnt, become food for 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 hath been given unto us, and the government is placed on his shoulders; and his name is called, Wonderful, counsellor of the mighty God, of the everlasting Father, the prince of peace,
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.
For [promoting] the increase of the government, and for peace without end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to establish it and to support it through justice and righteousness, from henceforth and unto eternity: the zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
8 INkosi ithumele ilizwi koJakobe, lawela koIsrayeli.
A word hath the Lord sent against Jacob, and it hath alighted upon Israel.
9 Labo bonke abantu bazakwazi, uEfrayimi lomhlali weSamariya, ngokuzigqaja langokuzikhukhumeza kwenhliziyo, besithi:
And experience it shall all the people together, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria; because they say, in the pride and haughtiness of heart,
10 Izitina ziwile, kodwa sizakwakha ngamatshe abaziweyo; imikhiwa yesikhamore iganyuliwe, kodwa sizayiguqula ibe yimisedari.
“The bricks are fallen down, but with hewn stones will we re-build: the sycamores are cut down, but with cedars will we replace them.”
11 Ngakho iNkosi izaphakamisa abacindezeli bakaRezini phezu kwakhe, itshotshozele izitha zakhe;
Therefore will the Lord strengthen the adversaries of Rezin above him, and will stir up his enemies;
12 amaSiriya ngaphambili lamaFilisti ngemuva, azakudla uIsrayeli ngomlomo wonke. Kukho konke lokhu intukuthelo yayo kayiphenduki, kodwa isandla sayo silokhu seluliwe.
The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with a full mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand still remaineth stretched out.
13 Ngoba abantu kabaphendukeli kulowo owabatshayayo, futhi kabayidingi iNkosi yamabandla.
And the people return not unto him that smiteth them, and the Lord of hosts do they not seek.
14 Ngakho iNkosi izaquma kusuke koIsrayeli inhloko lomsila, ugatsha lomhlanga, ngasuku lunye.
And the Lord cutteth off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, on one day.
15 Omdala lowemukelwa ngobuso, uyinhloko, kodwa umprofethi ofundisa amanga, ungumsila.
The ancient and honorable is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies is the tail.
16 Ngoba abakhokheli balababantu bayaduhisa, labakhokhelwa yibo bayaginywa.
And the guides of this people are those that guide to error; and those that are led of them are misled.
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 will the Lord have no joy in their young men, and on their fatherless and widows will he have no mercy; for every one is a hypocrite and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh scandalous words. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand still remaineth stretched out.
18 Ngoba inkohlakalo itshisa njengomlilo; izakudla ameva lokhula oluhlabayo, ithungele izixuku zehlathi, ziziphakamise njengokuphakama kwentuthu.
For wickedness burneth like the fire; it shall devour the briers and thorns: and it shall kindle [a flame] in the thickets of the forest, and they shall be shrouded by the wreaths of smoke.
19 Ngolaka lweNkosi yamabandla ilizwe liyafiphazwa, labantu bazakuba njengokudla komlilo; umuntu kayikuyekela umfowabo.
Through the fury of the Lord of hosts is the land scorched, and the people have become as food for the fire; no man will spare his brother.
20 Njalo uzahluthuna ngakwesokunene, kodwa alambe; adle ngakwesokhohlo, kodwa angasuthi; ngulowo lalowo adle inyama yengalo yakhe;
And he snatcheth on the right hand, and is [yet] hungry; and he eateth on the left hand, and are not [yet] satisfied; they shall 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.
Menasseh [against] Ephraim: and Ephraim [against] Menasseh; and they together against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand still remaineth stretched out.
