UJeremiya 48
1 Imelene loMowabi, itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Maye ngeNebo, ngoba ichithiwe; iKiriyathayimi iyangekile, ithunjiwe; indawo ephakemeyo iyangekile, idilikile.
This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Moab: Disaster is coming to the town of Nebo, because it will be destroyed. The town of Kiriathaim will be captured and humiliated; the fortress will be torn down and its people shamed.
2 Kakusayikuba khona udumo lukaMowabi eHeshiboni; baceba okubi bemelene layo, besithi: Wozani siyiqume ekubeni yisizwe; lawe Madimeni, uzathula, inkemba izakulandela.
No one praises Moab anymore. People in Heshbon are plotting, “We will destroy Moab as a nation. People of the town of Madmen, we will silence you too—you will be attacked by swords and chased down.”
3 Ilizwi lokukhala livela eHoronayimi, incithakalo lokwephuka okukhulu!
Listen to the cries from Horonaim: “Violence and terrible destruction!”
4 UMowabi wephukile; abancinyane bakhe benze ukukhala kuzwakale.
Moab will be smashed. Hear the little ones crying for help.
5 Ngoba ekwenyukeni kweLubithi ukukhala kuzakwenyuka lokukhala, ngoba ekwehleni kweHoronayimi izitha zizwile ukukhala kokuchitheka.
People weep as they go up to Luhith; and as they come down to Horonaim their sad cries at the destruction echo around.
6 Balekani, likhulule impilo yenu, libe njengesihlahla esiyize enkangala.
Run away! Save yourselves! Be like a scrawny tamarisk tree in the desert!
7 Ngoba ngenxa yokuthembela kwakho emisebenzini yakho lemagugwini akho lawe uzathunjwa; loKemoshi uzaphumela ekuthunjweni, abapristi bakhe lezikhulu zakhe kanyekanye.
It's because you put your confidence in what you do and what you own that you too will be captured. Your god Chemosh will be taken into exile along with his priests and leaders.
8 Lomchithi uzafikela wonke umuzi, njalo kakulamuzi ozaphunyuka; isihotsha laso sizachitheka, legceke liqothulwe, njengokutsho kweNkosi.
The invaders will attack every town; not a single one will escape destruction. The valley will be ruined, and the plain will be destroyed, for the Lord has spoken.
9 Nikani uMowabi amaphiko, ngoba uzaphapha aphume; lemizi yakhe izakuba lunxiwa, engelamhlali kuyo.
Put up gravestones in Moab, because the country will become a wasteland. Its towns will be turned into ruins where no one lives.
10 Uqalekisiwe lowo owenza umsebenzi weNkosi ngokunganakekeli; uqalekisiwe lalowo ogodla inkemba yakhe egazini.
A curse on those who don't do the Lord's work properly. A curse on those who don't use their swords to kill.
11 UMowabi wonwabile kusukela ebutsheni bakhe, uphumule enzeceni zakhe, kathululelwanga esuka embizeni esiya embizeni, kahambanga ekuthunjweni; ngakho-ke ukunambitheka kwakhe kumi kuye, lephunga lakhe kaliphenduki.
The people of Moab have been living comfortably since the country was founded. They're like wine that hasn't been disturbed, not poured from one container to another. So the taste and fragrance remains the same. They haven't experienced exile.
12 Ngakho, khangela, insuku ziyeza, itsho iNkosi, lapho ngizathuma kuye abathambeki abazamthambeka, bathulule imbiza zakhe, babulale izinqayi zabo.
But watch out, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will send them “winemakers” who will pour them out like wine. They will empty out the Moabites, and smash them like jars.
13 Khona uMowabi uzakuba lenhloni ngoKemoshi, njengalokho indlu kaIsrayeli yaba lenhloni ngeBhetheli, ithemba layo.
Then the Moabites will feel let down by Chemosh, just as the people of Israel felt let down when they trusted in the golden calf idol at Bethel.
14 Lingatsho njani ukuthi: Singamaqhawe lamadoda empi alamandla?
How on earth can you Moabites say, “We're heroes, strong men ready to fight in battle”?
15 UMowabi uchithiwe, wenyuka emizini yakhe, lekhethelo lamajaha akhe selehlele ekubulaweni, itsho iNkosi, obizo layo nguJehova wamabandla.
Moab is going to be destroyed and its towns conquered. Its finest young men will be killed, declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty.
16 Inkathazo kaMowabi iseduze ukufika, lobubi bakhe buyaphangisa kakhulu.
Moab's doom is about to happen; destruction is rushing down on them.
17 Mlileleni, lina lonke elimzingelezeleyo, lani lonke elazi ibizo lakhe; lithi: Yephuke njani induku elamandla, udondolo oluhle!
Mourn for them, all you surrounding nations, everyone who knows them! Let others know how the great scepter has been smashed, the rod that once proudly ruled!
18 Yehla ebukhosini, uhlale ekomeni, wena ndodakazi ohlala eDiboni; ngoba umchithi kaMowabi usenyukele ukumelana lawe, wachitha inqaba zakho.
Come down from your glory and sit on the dusty ground, you who live in Dibon, for Moab's destroyer will come and attack you, destroying your fortresses.
19 Mana endleleni, ulinde, mhlalikazi weAroweri, ubuze obalekayo lowesifazana ophunyukileyo, uthi: Kwenzakaleni?
Stand at the roadside and watch, you who live in Aroer. Ask the men and women who are running away to escape, “What's happened?”
20 UMowabi uyangekile, ngoba udilikile; qhinqani isililo likhale; libike eArinoni ukuthi uMowabi uchithiwe.
Moab has been humiliated because it has been defeated. Weep and wail! Shout out beside the River Arnon that Moab has been destroyed!
21 Lesahlulelo sehlele phezu kwelizwe elilamagceke, phezu kweHoloni, laphezu kweJahaza, laphezu kweMefahathi,
Punishment has arrived on the towns of the high plain—on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,
22 laphezu kweDiboni, laphezu kweNebo, laphezu kweBeti-Dibilathayimi,
on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23 laphezu kweKiriyathayimi, laphezu kweBeti-Gamuli, laphezu kweBeti-Meyoni,
on Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,
24 laphezu kweKeriyothi, laphezu kweBhozira, laphezu kwayo yonke imizi yelizwe lakoMowabi, ekhatshana leseduze.
on Kerioth, Bozrah, and on all the towns of Moab, whether far away or nearby.
25 Uphondo lukaMowabi luqunyiwe, lengalo yakhe yephukile, itsho iNkosi.
Moab's strength is gone; their power has been broken, declares the Lord.
26 Mdakiseni, ngoba ezikhulisile emelene leNkosi; uMowabi uzazibhixa emahlanzweni akhe, abe yinhlekisa, ngitsho yena.
Make the people of Moab drunk, because they defied the Lord. Then they will roll around in their own vomit, as people laugh at them.
27 Ngoba uIsrayeli kabanga yinhlekisa yini kuwe? Watholakala yini phakathi kwamasela? Ngoba kusukela ngesikhathi samazwi akho ngaye wanyikinya ikhanda.
Didn't you Moabites used to ridicule the Israelites? But they weren't ever found to be thieves, were they? Yet whenever you talk about them, you shake your heads in contempt.
28 Tshiyani imizi, lihlale edwaleni, bahlali beMowabi, libe njengejuba elakha isidleke emaceleni omlomo womgodi.
You people living in Moab, run from your towns, go and live among the rocks. Be like a dove nesting on the cliffs at the entrance to a ravine.
29 Sizwile ngokuzigqaja kukaMowabi (uyazigqaja kakhulu), ukuziphakamisa kwakhe, lokuzigqaja kwakhe, lokuzikhukhumeza kwakhe, lokuphakama kwenhliziyo yakhe.
We know all about how pompous Moabites are, how extremely proud and conceited they are, arrogantly thinking so highly of themselves.
30 Mina ngiyayazi, itsho iNkosi, intukuthelo yakhe, kodwa kakuyikuba njalo; ukusoma kwakhe kakungenzi njalo.
I'm well aware of how disrespectful they are, declares the Lord, but it doesn't matter. They make empty boasts, and what they do is just as empty.
31 Ngalokho-ke ngizaqhinqa isililo ngoMowabi, yebo, ngikhale ngaye wonke uMowabi; bazabubula ngabantu beKiri-Heresi.
So I will weep for Moab; I will cry out for all the Moabites; I will mourn for the people of Kir-heres.
32 Ngokukhala inyembezi kweJazeri ngizakukhalela inyembezi, wena vini leSibima. Ingatsha zakho zedlula ulwandle, zafinyelela elwandle lweJazeri; umchithi wehlele phezu kwezithelo zakho zehlobo lemavinini akho avuniweyo.
will weep for you, people of the town of Sibmah with its vineyards, more than I weep for the town of Jazer. Your vines have spread to the sea, and all the way to Jazer. But the destroyer has stolen your harvest of summer fruit and grapes.
33 Lokuthaba lentokozo kususiwe esivandeni lelizweni lakoMowabi; ngiqedile lewayini ezikhamelweni; kabayikunyathela ngomsindo wentokozo; umsindo wentokozo kawuyikuba ngumsindo wentokozo.
There's no more celebration and happiness in Moab's orchards and fields. I have stopped the grape juice flowing from the winepresses. No one shouts for joy as they tread out the grapes. No, their shouts now are not because of joy!
34 Ngenxa yokukhala kweHeshiboni, kuze kube seEleyale, kuze kube seJahazi, bakhupha ilizwi labo, kusukela eZowari kuze kufike eJoronayimi, ithokazi leminyaka emithathu; ngoba lamanzi eNimirimi azakuba yincithakalo.
Cries for help reach from Heshbon to Elealeh and all the way to Jahaz. They're shouting out from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah, for even the water in the Nimrim Brook has dried up.
35 Njalo ngizaqeda koMowabi, itsho iNkosi, lowo onikela endaweni ephakemeyo, lotshisela onkulunkulu bakhe impepha.
I'm going to finish off those in Moab who sacrifice on the pagan high places and burn incense to their gods, declares the Lord.
36 Ngenxa yalokho inhliziyo yami izakhalela uMowabi njengemihubhe, lenhliziyo yami izakhala njengemihubhe ngabantu beKiri-Heresi; ngoba inotho ababeyizuzile ichithekile.
So I mourn inside like a flute playing a sad song for Moab; like a flute playing a funeral tune for the people of Kir-heres, because they've lost everything of value that they worked for.
37 Ngoba lonke ikhanda liyimpabanga, lazo zonke indevu zigeliwe; izandla zonke zisikiwe, lokhalweni kulesaka.
As signs of their mourning, every head is shaved, every beard is trimmed, every hand has a gash, and every waist is wearing sackcloth.
38 Phezu kwazo zonke impahla zezindlu zakoMowabi lezitaladeni zakhe yonke indawo kulokuqhinqa isililo, ngoba ngimphahlazile uMowabi njengembiza engathokozelwayo, itsho iNkosi.
Everyone is mourning on all the flat roofs and streets of Moab, because I have smashed the country like a jar nobody wants, declares the Lord.
39 Bazaqhinqa isililo besithi: Udilike njani! UMowabi uphendule njani umhlana elenhloni! Ngakho uMowabi waba yinhlekisa lesesabiso kuye wonke omzingelezeleyo.
Moab is completely shattered! Listen to them cry! See how the Moabites turn away in shame! All the surrounding nations are horrified at what's happened to the country, and ridicule its people.
40 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Khangela, uzaphapha ngesiqubu njengokhozi, elulele impiko zakhe phezu kukaMowabi.
This is what the Lord says: Watch as an enemy like an eagle swoops down, spreading its wings as it attacks Moab.
41 Imizi ithunjiwe, lezinqaba zibanjiwe, lenhliziyo yamaqhawe akoMowabi ngalolosuku ibe njengenhliziyo yowesifazana ohelelwayo.
Kirioth has been conquered, and the fortresses captured. At that time Moab's warriors will be as scared as a woman in labor.
42 LoMowabi uzachithwa angabi yisizwe, ngoba wazikhulisa emelene leNkosi.
Moab will cease to exist as a nation because they defied the Lord.
43 Ukwesaba lomgodi lomjibila kuphezu kwakho, mhlali wakoMowabi, itsho iNkosi.
You people living in Moab, what's waiting for you are terror, traps, and snares, declares the Lord.
44 Obalekela ukwesaba uzawela emgodini, lowenyuka ephuma emgodini uzabanjwa ngumjibila; ngoba ngizakwehlisela phezu kwakhe, phezu kukaMowabi, umnyaka wempindiselo yabo, itsho iNkosi.
You will run away in terror and fall into a trap, and when you climb out of the trap, you'll be caught in a snare. I will do this to the Moabites at the time when they're punished, declares the Lord.
45 Emthunzini weHeshiboni ababalekayo bayema bengelamandla, ngoba umlilo uphumile eHeshiboni, lelangabi livela phakathi kukaSihoni, njalo kudlile ingonsi yakoMowabi, lenkanda yabantwana besiphithiphithi.
Those who run away will be left defenseless in Heshbon where they went for protection, because fire blazes out from Heshbon, a fire from where Sihon once reigned. It burns up the whole country of Moab and its defiant people.
46 Maye kuwe, Mowabi! Abantu bakaKemoshi baphelile, ngoba amadodana akho athethwe asiwa ekuthunjweni, lamadodakazi akho ekuthunjweni.
What a disaster has come to you Moabites! The people of Chemosh have been wiped out. Your sons and daughters have been taken prisoner and have gone into exile.
47 Kodwa ngizabuyisa ukuthunjwa kukaMowabi ekucineni kwezinsuku, itsho iNkosi. Kuze kube lapha kuyisehlulelo sakoMowabi.
But even so, later on, I will bring the people of Moab back from exile, declares the Lord. This is the end of the description of the judgment on Moab.
