UJeremiya 30
1 Ilizwi elafika kuJeremiya livela eNkosini lisithi:
This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2 Itsho njalo iNkosi uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, isithi: Zibhalele encwadini wonke amazwi engiwakhulume kuwe.
This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Write down in a book everything I've told you.
3 Ngoba khangela, insuku ziyeza, itsho iNkosi, ukuthi ngizabuyisa ukuthunjwa kwabantu bami uIsrayeli loJuda, itsho iNkosi, ngibabuyisele elizweni engalinika oyise, njalo bazakudla ilifa lalo.
Look, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity, declares the Lord. I will bring them back to the country I gave to their forefathers, and they will own it again.
4 Lala ngamazwi iNkosi eyawakhuluma mayelana loIsrayeli lamayelana loJuda.
This what the Lord said about Israel and Judah.
5 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Sizwile ilizwi lokuthuthumela; kulokwesaba, hatshi ukuthula.
This is what the Lord says: Hear the cries of panic, cries of fear, not peace.
6 Ake libuze, libone uba indoda ingabeletha yini? Kungani ngibona ngulowo lalowo owesilisa isandla sakhe siphezu kokhalo lwakhe njengowesifazana obelethayo, lobuso bonke sebuphenduke baba mhlotshana?
Think about it! Can men give birth? No. So why do I see every man holding his stomach with his hands like a woman in labor. Why is every face white as a sheet?
7 Maye! ngoba lukhulu lolosuku, okokuthi kalukho olunjengalo; kuyisikhathi sokuhlupheka kukaJakobe, kodwa uzasindiswa kukho.
What a terrible day it will be—a day like never before! This is the time of trouble for Jacob's descendants, but they will be rescued from it.
8 Kuzakuthi-ke ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi yamabandla, ngizakwephula ijogwe lakhe entanyeni yakho, ngiqamule izibopho zakho; labezizwe kabasayikumsebenzisa.
On that day, declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke from their necks and tear off their chains. Foreigners won't make them slaves anymore.
9 Kodwa bazasebenzela uJehova, uNkulunkulu wabo, loDavida inkosi yabo engizabavusela yena.
They will serve the Lord their God, and their king, David's descendant whom I will give them.
10 Ngakho wena ungesabi, nceku yami Jakobe, itsho iNkosi; futhi ungatshaywa luvalo, Israyeli; ngoba khangela, ngizakusindisa ukhatshana, lenzalo yakho elizweni lokuthunjwa kwayo; njalo uJakobe uzaphenduka, athule, onwabe, njalo kakho ozamenza esabe.
As far as you're concerned, my servant Jacob, don't be afraid, declares the Lord, Israel, don't be discouraged. I promise to save you from your distant places of exile, your descendants from the countries where they're being held captive. The descendants of Jacob will go home to a quiet and comfortable life, free from any threats.
11 Ngoba mina ngilawe, itsho iNkosi, ukukusindisa; ngoba ngizakwenza ukuphela kuzo zonke izizwe engikuhlakazele khona, kodwa kangiyikwenza ukuphela kuwe; kodwa ngizakulaya ngokufaneleyo, kangiyikukuyekela ungajeziswanga ngokupheleleyo.
I am with you and I will save you, declares the Lord. Even though I'm going to completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, I won't completely destroy you. However, I will discipline you as you deserve, and you can be sure I won't leave you unpunished.
12 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Ukwaphuka kwakho kakwelapheki, isilonda sakho sibi.
This is what the Lord says: You have a wound that cannot be healed, you have a terrible injury.
13 Kakho owahlulela udaba lwakho, ukuthi abophe isilonda sakho; kawulamithi epholisayo.
There's no one to take care of your case, no cure for your sores, no healing for you.
14 Zonke izithandwa zakho zikukhohliwe; kazikudingi; ngoba ngikutshayile ngokutshaya kwesitha, ngokulaywa kololunya, ngenxa yobunengi besiphambeko sakho, izono zakho zandile.
All your lovers have forgotten about you; they don't bother looking for you anymore, because I have beaten you as if I were your enemy, the discipline of a cruel person, because of how wicked you are, because of your many sins.
15 Ukhalelani ngokwephuka kwakho? Usizi lwakho kalwelapheki ngenxa yobunengi besiphambeko sakho; ngoba izono zakho zandile, ngizenzile lezizinto kuwe.
Why are you crying over your wound? You pain can't be cured. I did this to you because of how wicked you are, because of your many sins.
16 Ngakho bonke abakudlayo bazadliwa; lazo zonke izitha zakho, zonke zizakuya ekuthunjweni; labakuphangayo bazakuba yimpango, labo bonke abakwemukayo ngizabanikela ekwemukweni.
Even so, everyone who destroys you will be destroyed. All your enemies, every last one, will be sent into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who robbed you will be robbed.
17 Ngoba ngizakwenyusela ukuphila kuwe, ngikwelaphe emanxebeni akho, itsho iNkosi; ngoba bakubize ngokuthi oXotshiweyo, besithi: YiZiyoni, kakulamuntu oyidingayo.
But I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because people say you've been abandoned and that no one cares about you, Zion.
18 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Khangela, ngizabuyisa ukuthunjwa kwamathente kaJakobe, ngihawukele amakhaya abo; njalo umuzi uzakwakhiwa phezu kwenqumbi yawo, lesigodlo sizahlala njengomkhuba waso.
This is what the Lord says: I will bring Jacob's descendants back to their homes and have mercy on their families. The city will be rebuilt on top of its ruins, and the palace once again stand where it should.
19 Njalo kuzaphuma kubo ukubonga, lelizwi labathokozayo; njalo ngizabandisa, kabayikuba balutshwana; ngibadumise, kabayikweyiswa.
People will be singing songs of thanks, the sounds of celebration. I will increase their number—they will not become less. I will honor them—they will not be treated as insignificant.
20 Labantwana babo bazakuba njengendulo, lenhlangano yabo izamiswa phambi kwami; njalo ngizajezisa bonke ababacindezelayo.
Their children will be looked after like they used to be. I will make their nation strong again, and punish anyone who attacks them.
21 Lesikhulu sabo sizavela kubo, lombusi wabo uzaphuma evela phakathi kwabo; njalo ngizamsondeza, asondele kimi; ngoba ngubani lowo ongenza inhliziyo yakhe isibambiso sokusondela kimi? itsho iNkosi.
Their leader will be from their own country, their ruler will be chosen from among them. I will invite him to come close to me, and he will do so, for would anyone dare to approach me without being asked? declares the Lord.
22 Njalo lizakuba ngabantu bami, lami ngibe nguNkulunkulu wenu.
You will be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Khangelani isivunguzane seNkosi, ukuvutha kuphumile, isivunguzane esikhukhulayo; sizakwehla ngamandla phezu kwekhanda lababi.
Watch out! The Lord has sent out a furious storm, a tornado swirling around the heads of the wicked.
24 Ukuvutha kolaka lweNkosi kakuyikudeda, ize ikwenze, ize iqinise injongo zenhliziyo yayo; ekucineni kwezinsuku lizanakana ngalokhu.
The Lord's anger won't fade until he's finished doing everything he wants. Only then will you really understand.
