< UJeremiya 48 >

1 Imelene loMowabi, itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Maye ngeNebo, ngoba ichithiwe; iKiriyathayimi iyangekile, ithunjiwe; indawo ephakemeyo iyangekile, idilikile.
This is a message about Moab. The Commander of the armies of angels said: “Terrible things will happen to Nebo [town]; it will [soon] be ruined. Kiriathaim [city] will be captured and [all its people will be] humiliated; the high wall around their city will be ruined, and [its people] will become ashamed.
2 Kakusayikuba khona udumo lukaMowabi eHeshiboni; baceba okubi bemelene layo, besithi: Wozani siyiqume ekubeni yisizwe; lawe Madimeni, uzathula, inkemba izakulandela.
No one will boast about Moab again; the [enemies of Moab] will plan to destroy [the capital city, ] Heshbon. [They will say, ] ‘Come, let’s cause Moab to no longer be a nation.’ You people in Madmen [town], you also will be silenced; enemy armies [MTY] will pursue you.
3 Ilizwi lokukhala livela eHoronayimi, incithakalo lokwephuka okukhulu!
Listen to the people of Horonaim [town] screaming; [they will be wailing because their town will have been] devastated and destroyed [DOU].
4 UMowabi wephukile; abancinyane bakhe benze ukukhala kuzwakale.
[All of] Moab will be ruined; [even] the little children will cry [loudly].
5 Ngoba ekwenyukeni kweLubithi ukukhala kuzakwenyuka lokukhala, ngoba ekwehleni kweHoronayimi izitha zizwile ukukhala kokuchitheka.
They will cry bitterly as they climb up Luhith [Hill]. [Others will wail] on the road down to Horonaim, being very sad because of [their town being] destroyed.
6 Balekani, likhulule impilo yenu, libe njengesihlahla esiyize enkangala.
[Someone will say to them], ‘Flee! Hide in the desert!’
7 Ngoba ngenxa yokuthembela kwakho emisebenzini yakho lemagugwini akho lawe uzathunjwa; loKemoshi uzaphumela ekuthunjweni, abapristi bakhe lezikhulu zakhe kanyekanye.
But you trusted that because you were rich and powerful, [you would be safe]; so you will be captured. [The statue of your god] Chemosh and all his priests and officials will be taken away to distant lands.
8 Lomchithi uzafikela wonke umuzi, njalo kakulamuzi ozaphunyuka; isihotsha laso sizachitheka, legceke liqothulwe, njengokutsho kweNkosi.
All the towns [in Moab] will be destroyed; none of them will escape. [Towns in] the valleys and on the plateau will [all] be destroyed, because [I, ] Yahweh, have said that is what will happen.
9 Nikani uMowabi amaphiko, ngoba uzaphapha aphume; lemizi yakhe izakuba lunxiwa, engelamhlali kuyo.
Spread salt on the ground in order that it will become a wasteland with [nothing growing there any more], and no one will be living in it!”
10 Uqalekisiwe lowo owenza umsebenzi weNkosi ngokunganakekeli; uqalekisiwe lalowo ogodla inkemba yakhe egazini.
Yahweh will curse anyone who will not eagerly do what he desires, anyone who refrains from using his sword to kill [MTY] others [in Moab].
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 always felt secure; they have never been (exiled/forced [by their enemies] to go to other countries). They are like [MET] wine that has been left undisturbed [in a container for many days to give it good flavor], so now it smells good, and it tastes good.
12 Ngakho, khangela, insuku ziyeza, itsho iNkosi, lapho ngizathuma kuye abathambeki abazamthambeka, bathulule imbiza zakhe, babulale izinqayi zabo.
But Yahweh says that there will be a time when he will send [enemies to attack them]; they will get rid of the people of Moab like people pour out wine [on the ground] and then smash the wine jar.
13 Khona uMowabi uzakuba lenhloni ngoKemoshi, njengalokho indlu kaIsrayeli yaba lenhloni ngeBhetheli, ithemba layo.
Then [the people of] Moab will be ashamed of [their god/idol] Chemosh [because it did not help them], like the Israeli people were ashamed because their gold statue of a calf [was smashed] at Bethel.
14 Lingatsho njani ukuthi: Singamaqhawe lamadoda empi alamandla?
[The soldiers of Moab previously] said, “We are warriors; we have fought bravely in battles!”
15 UMowabi uchithiwe, wenyuka emizini yakhe, lekhethelo lamajaha akhe selehlele ekubulaweni, itsho iNkosi, obizo layo nguJehova wamabandla.
But now our King, who is Yahweh, who is called ‘the Commander of the armies of angels’, says that [the country of] Moab and all the towns in it will be destroyed. Their fine young men will [all] be slaughtered.
16 Inkathazo kaMowabi iseduze ukufika, lobubi bakhe buyaphangisa kakhulu.
Moab will very soon be destroyed. It will soon experience disaster.
17 Mlileleni, lina lonke elimzingelezeleyo, lani lonke elazi ibizo lakhe; lithi: Yephuke njani induku elamandla, udondolo oluhle!
You [people who live in nations] near Moab, who know that it is very famous, should mourn for Moab, and say, “Its glorious power [MTY, DOU] is [completely] ended/broken.”
18 Yehla ebukhosini, uhlale ekomeni, wena ndodakazi ohlala eDiboni; ngoba umchithi kaMowabi usenyukele ukumelana lawe, wachitha inqaba zakho.
You people of Dibon [city], stop being proud because of being honored, and sit in the dust/dirt, because those who will destroy other places in Moab will attack your [city] and destroy your high walls.
19 Mana endleleni, ulinde, mhlalikazi weAroweri, ubuze obalekayo lowesifazana ophunyukileyo, uthi: Kwenzakaleni?
You people of Aroer [town], stand along the road and watch. Shout to the men and women who will be fleeing [from Moab], “What has happened [there]?”
20 UMowabi uyangekile, ngoba udilikile; qhinqani isililo likhale; libike eArinoni ukuthi uMowabi uchithiwe.
[They will reply], “Moab is ruined and [we are] disgraced!” [So] weep and wail [DOU]. Proclaim at the Aroer [River] that Moab has been destroyed.
21 Lesahlulelo sehlele phezu kwelizwe elilamagceke, phezu kweHoloni, laphezu kweJahaza, laphezu kweMefahathi,
[Yahweh] will have punished [the towns in Moab that are on] the (plateau/high level): Holon and Jahaz and Mephaath,
22 laphezu kweDiboni, laphezu kweNebo, laphezu kweBeti-Dibilathayimi,
Dibon and Nebo and Beth-Diblathaim,
23 laphezu kweKiriyathayimi, laphezu kweBeti-Gamuli, laphezu kweBeti-Meyoni,
Kiriathaim and Beth-Gamul and Beth-Meon,
24 laphezu kweKeriyothi, laphezu kweBhozira, laphezu kwayo yonke imizi yelizwe lakoMowabi, ekhatshana leseduze.
Kerioth and Bozrah, cities that are near [each other] and towns that are far away [from each other].
25 Uphondo lukaMowabi luqunyiwe, lengalo yakhe yephukile, itsho iNkosi.
Yahweh says, “The power [MTY] of Moab will be ended; [it is as though] [MET] Moab will have a broken arm.
26 Mdakiseni, ngoba ezikhulisile emelene leNkosi; uMowabi uzazibhixa emahlanzweni akhe, abe yinhlekisa, ngitsho yena.
[You people of] Moab have rebelled against [me, ] Yahweh; so [now] I will cause you all to [stagger like] [SIM] drunken people. [You people of] will wallow in your own vomit and be ridiculed.
27 Ngoba uIsrayeli kabanga yinhlekisa yini kuwe? Watholakala yini phakathi kwamasela? Ngoba kusukela ngesikhathi samazwi akho ngaye wanyikinya ikhanda.
You [people of Moab] ridiculed [the people of] Israel [RHQ]. You treated them as though they were thieves [RHQ]. You shook your head at them scornfully and despised them [RHQ].
28 Tshiyani imizi, lihlale edwaleni, bahlali beMowabi, libe njengejuba elakha isidleke emaceleni omlomo womgodi.
You people who live in Moab, you should abandon your towns and go and live in caves. Be like [SIM] doves that make their nests in the entrances of caves.”
29 Sizwile ngokuzigqaja kukaMowabi (uyazigqaja kakhulu), ukuziphakamisa kwakhe, lokuzigqaja kwakhe, lokuzikhukhumeza kwakhe, lokuphakama kwenhliziyo yakhe.
We have [all] heard that [the people of] are very proud; they are extremely proud and conceited/arrogant. [IDM, DOU]
30 Mina ngiyayazi, itsho iNkosi, intukuthelo yakhe, kodwa kakuyikuba njalo; ukusoma kwakhe kakungenzi njalo.
But Yahweh says, “I know about that, but it is useless for them to boast [because] it will accomplish nothing.
31 Ngalokho-ke ngizaqhinqa isililo ngoMowabi, yebo, ngikhale ngaye wonke uMowabi; bazabubula ngabantu beKiri-Heresi.
So [now] I will wail for Moab; I will cry about all its people. I will moan for the men of Kir-Hareseth [city], [the old capital of Moab].
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.
You people of Sibmah [city], you have many vineyards. [It is as though] the branches of your vines extend across the [Dead] Sea to Jazer [city].
33 Lokuthaba lentokozo kususiwe esivandeni lelizweni lakoMowabi; ngiqedile lewayini ezikhamelweni; kabayikunyathela ngomsindo wentokozo; umsindo wentokozo kawuyikuba ngumsindo wentokozo.
But no one will be joyful or happy in Moab now; your fruit and grapes that ripen in the (summer/hot season) will soon be destroyed. There will be no grape juice coming from the winepresses, [so] there will be no wine. People will not shout joyfully as they tread on the grapes; people will shout, but they will not be shouting joyfully.
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.
Instead, the sound of their wailing will rise from Heshbon [city] to Elealeh [town] and Jahaz [village], from Zoar [city] as far as Horonaim [town] and Eglath-Shelishiyah [village]. Even the water in Nimrim [Stream] will be dried up.
35 Njalo ngizaqeda koMowabi, itsho iNkosi, lowo onikela endaweni ephakemeyo, lotshisela onkulunkulu bakhe impepha.
[I, ] Yahweh, say that I will get rid of the people who offer sacrifices on the hilltops, and burn incense to their gods.
36 Ngenxa yalokho inhliziyo yami izakhalela uMowabi njengemihubhe, lenhliziyo yami izakhala njengemihubhe ngabantu beKiri-Heresi; ngoba inotho ababeyizuzile ichithekile.
I [SYN] moan for the people of Moab and Kir-Hareseth like [SIM] [someone playing a funeral song on] a flute, because [all] their wealth will disappear.
37 Ngoba lonke ikhanda liyimpabanga, lazo zonke indevu zigeliwe; izandla zonke zisikiwe, lokhalweni kulesaka.
The men will shave their heads and their beards [to show that they are mourning]. They all will slash their hands and wear (rough cloth/sackcloth) around their waists.
38 Phezu kwazo zonke impahla zezindlu zakoMowabi lezitaladeni zakhe yonke indawo kulokuqhinqa isililo, ngoba ngimphahlazile uMowabi njengembiza engathokozelwayo, itsho iNkosi.
In every home and in the town plazas/centers in Moab there will be [people who are] mourning, because I will have destroyed Moab like [SIM] someone smashes an [old] jar that no one wants [any more].
39 Bazaqhinqa isililo besithi: Udilike njani! UMowabi uphendule njani umhlana elenhloni! Ngakho uMowabi waba yinhlekisa lesesabiso kuye wonke omzingelezeleyo.
Moab will be completely shattered! And you will hear the people wailing loudly! They will be disgraced. Moab will become a nation that people ridicule. The people in nearby [countries] will be horrified [about what has happened there].
40 Ngoba itsho njalo iNkosi: Khangela, uzaphapha ngesiqubu njengokhozi, elulele impiko zakhe phezu kukaMowabi.
This is what [I, ] Yahweh, say: ‘Look! Their enemies will be swooping/rushing down over Moab like an eagle [SIM] swoops down [to seize an animal].
41 Imizi ithunjiwe, lezinqaba zibanjiwe, lenhliziyo yamaqhawe akoMowabi ngalolosuku ibe njengenhliziyo yowesifazana ohelelwayo.
Its cities will be captured, its fortresses will be seized. [Even] their warriors will be [afraid], like [SIM] a woman who is about to give birth.
42 LoMowabi uzachithwa angabi yisizwe, ngoba wazikhulisa emelene leNkosi.
[The leaders of] Moab boasted against [me, ] Yahweh, so Moab will be destroyed.
43 Ukwesaba lomgodi lomjibila kuphezu kwakho, mhlali wakoMowabi, itsho iNkosi.
[I, ] Yahweh, say that you people of Moab will be terrified, and fall into pits and traps.
44 Obalekela ukwesaba uzawela emgodini, lowenyuka ephuma emgodini uzabanjwa ngumjibila; ngoba ngizakwehlisela phezu kwakhe, phezu kukaMowabi, umnyaka wempindiselo yabo, itsho iNkosi.
Those who are terrified and try to run away will fall into deep pits. Whoever climbs out of a pit will be caught in a trap, because I will punish them at the time that I have chosen.’
45 Emthunzini weHeshiboni ababalekayo bayema bengelamandla, ngoba umlilo uphumile eHeshiboni, lelangabi livela phakathi kukaSihoni, njalo kudlile ingonsi yakoMowabi, lenkanda yabantwana besiphithiphithi.
The people will flee as far as Heshbon [city], but they will not be able to go any further, because a fire will burn in Heshbon, [which is the city] where [King] Sihon lived [long ago], and it will burn up all the people [SYN] in Moab who noisily/loudly boasted very much.
46 Maye kuwe, Mowabi! Abantu bakaKemoshi baphelile, ngoba amadodana akho athethwe asiwa ekuthunjweni, lamadodakazi akho ekuthunjweni.
[You people of] Moab, terrible things will happen to you! You people who worship [your god] Chemosh, you will be destroyed. Your sons and your daughters will be captured and taken away [to other countries].
47 Kodwa ngizabuyisa ukuthunjwa kukaMowabi ekucineni kwezinsuku, itsho iNkosi. Kuze kube lapha kuyisehlulelo sakoMowabi.
But some day, I will enable the people of Moab to return to their land again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.” That is the end of what I prophesied about Moab.

< UJeremiya 48 >