UJeremiya 50
1 Ilizwi iNkosi eyalikhuluma imelene leBhabhiloni, imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya, ngesandla sikaJeremiya umprofethi, lisithi:
The word that Jehovah spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet.
2 Memezani phakathi kwezizwe, lizwakalise; misani uphawu, lizwakalise, lingakufihli, lithi: IBhabhiloni ithunjiwe, uBheli uyangekile, uMerodaki ubhidliziwe; izithombe zayo ziyangisiwe, imifanekiso yayo ibhidliziwe.
Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and lift up a banner; publish, conceal not! Say, Babylon is taken, Bel is put to shame, Merodach is dismayed: her images are put to shame, her idols are dismayed.
3 Ngoba isizwe senyuka simelene layo esivela enyakatho, esizakwenza ilizwe layo libe lunxiwa, ukuze kungabi lomhlali kulo; kusukela emuntwini kusiya enyamazaneni kuyabaleka kuhambile.
For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: both man and beast are fled; they are gone.
4 Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, abantwana bakoIsrayeli bazakuza, bona labantwana bakoJuda kanyekanye; behamba bekhala inyembezi, bazahamba, bedinga iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo.
In those days, and at that time, saith Jehovah, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping as they go, and shall seek Jehovah their God.
5 Bazabuza indlela eZiyoni, ubuso babo bukhangele ngakuyo; wozani, lizihlanganise leNkosi ngesivumelwano esiphakade esingayikukhohlakala.
They shall inquire concerning Zion, with their faces thitherward, [saying, ] Come, and let us join ourselves to Jehovah, in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten.
6 Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo; abelusi babo babaduhisile, bebaphendulela ezintabeni; bahamba besuka entabeni besiya eqaqeni, bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokulala.
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they turned them away on the mountains: they went from mountain to hill, they forgot their resting-place.
7 Bonke ababatholayo babadla, lezitha zabo zathi: Kasiyikuba lacala, ngenxa yokuthi bonile eNkosini, ikhaya lokulunga, ngitsho iNkosi, ithemba laboyise.
All that found them devoured them, and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Jehovah, the habitation of righteousness, even Jehovah, the hope of their fathers.
8 Balekani liphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, liphume elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengezimpongo phambi komhlambi.
Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he-goats before the flock.
9 Ngoba khangela, ngizavusa ngenze ukuthi kwenyukele eBhabhiloni ixuku lezizwe ezinkulu zivela elizweni lenyakatho, zizihlele zimelene layo; kusukela lapho zithunjwe; imitshoko yakhe njengeqhawe elilamandla kayiyikubuyela ize.
For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon, an assemblage of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her: from thence shall she be taken. Their arrows shall be as those of a mighty expert man: none shall return empty.
10 Njalo iKhaladiya izakuba yimpango; bonke abayiphangayo bazasutha, itsho iNkosi.
And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all the spoilers thereof shall be satiated, saith Jehovah.
11 Ngoba lalijabula, ngoba lathokoza, lina bachithi belifa lami, ngoba liqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, likhonye njengamabhiza amaduna;
For ye rejoiced, for ye triumphed, ye plunderers of my heritage; for ye have been wanton as the heifer at grass, and neighed as steeds.
12 unyoko ulenhloni kakhulu, owalizalayo uyangekile. Khangela, ingemuva yezizwe iyinkangala eyomileyo lelugwadule.
Your mother hath been sorely put to shame; she that bore you hath been covered with reproach: behold, [she is become] hindmost of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.
13 Ngenxa yolaka lweNkosi kayiyikuhlalwa, kodwa izakuba yincithakalo yonke; wonke owedlula eBhabhiloni uzamangala kakhulu, ancife ngenxa yazo zonke inhlupheko zayo.
Because of the wrath of Jehovah, it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate; every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and shall hiss, because of all her plagues.
14 Zihleleleni ukumelana leBhabhiloni inhlangothi zonke, lina lonke eligobisa idandili, litshoke kuyo, lingagodli mtshoko, ngoba yonile eNkosini.
Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.
15 Memezani limelene layo inhlangothi zonke; isinike isandla sayo, izisekelo zayo ziwile, imiduli yayo idiliziwe; ngoba lokho kuyimpindiselo yeNkosi; phindiselani kuyo, lenze kuyo njengokwenza kwayo.
Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand; her ramparts are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for this is the vengeance of Jehovah. Take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
16 Qumani umhlanyeli asuke eBhabhiloni, laye ophatha isikela ngesikhathi sokuvuna; ngenxa yenkemba ecindezelayo bazaphenduka, ngulowo lalowo kwabakibo, babaleke, ngulowo lalowo elizweni lakibo.
Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword let them turn every one to his people, and let them flee every one to his own land.
17 UIsrayeli uyimvu ehlakazekileyo; izilwane zimxotshile; kuqala inkosi yeAsiriya yamudla, emva kwalokho lo uNebhukadirezari inkosi yeBhabhiloni wephule amathambo akhe.
Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria devoured him, and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
18 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizayijezisa inkosi yeBhabhiloni lelizwe layo, njengalokho ngayijezisa inkosi yeAsiriya.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will visit the king of Babylon and his land, like as I have visited the king of Assyria.
19 Njalo ngizabuyisela uIsrayeli endaweni yakhe yokuhlala, njalo uzadlisa eKharmeli leBashani, lomphefumulo wakhe usuthe entabeni yakoEfrayimi leGileyadi.
And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and in Gilead.
20 Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, kuzadingwa ububi koIsrayeli, kodwa bungabi khona, lezono zikaJuda, kodwa zingatholwa; ngoba ngizabathethelela labo engibenza babe yinsali.
In those days, and at that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon those whom I leave remaining.
21 Umelene lelizwe leMerathayimi, yenyuka umelene layo, njalo umelene labahlali bePhekhodi; uchithe, utshabalalise emva kwabo, itsho iNkosi, wenze njengakho konke engikulaye khona.
Go up against the land of double rebellion, against it, and against the inhabitants of visitation; waste and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
22 Umsindo wempi uselizweni, lokuchitheka okukhulu.
A sound of battle is in the land, and great destruction.
23 Yeka ukuganyulwa lokwephuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukwenziwa kweBhabhiloni unxiwa phakathi kwezizwe!
How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! How is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!
24 Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, futhi lawe wathunjwa, Bhabhiloni, lawe wawungazi; watholwa, futhi wabanjwa, ngoba waphikisana leNkosi.
I have laid a snare for thee, and thou, Babylon, art also taken, and thou wast not aware; thou art found, and also caught, for thou hast contended with Jehovah.
25 INkosi ivulile isiphala sayo, yakhupha izikhali zolaka lwayo, ngoba lokhu kungumsebenzi weNkosi uJehova wamabandla elizweni lamaKhaladiya.
Jehovah hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for this is a work for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Wozani limelane layo livela ephethelweni, livule izibuya zayo, liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi, liyitshabalalise, ingabi lansali.
Come ye against her from every quarter, open her storehouses; pile her up like sheaves, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.
27 Bulalani amajongosi ayo wonke, kawehlele ekuhlatshweni. Maye kuwo! Ngoba usuku lwawo lufikile, isikhathi sempindiselo yawo.
Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.
28 Ilizwi lababalekayo labaphunyukayo bevela elizweni leBhabhiloni, ukuze bamemeze eZiyoni impindiselo yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, impindiselo yethempeli layo.
The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the vengeance of his temple.
29 Bizani abatshoki bamelane leBhabhiloni, bonke abagobisa idandili, limise inkamba limelane layo inhlangothi zonke; kayingabi lokuphunyuka; liyiphindisele njengomsebenzi wayo, lenze kuyo njengakho konke ekwenzileyo; ngoba yenze ngokuziqhenya imelene leNkosi, imelene loNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
Call together the archers against Babylon, all those that bend the bow: encamp against her round about; let there be no escaping: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath acted proudly against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Ngakho amajaha ayo azakuwa ezitaladeni zayo, lawo wonke amadoda ayo empi azabhujiswa ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi.
Therefore shall her young men fall in her streets; and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith Jehovah.
31 Khangela, ngimelana lawe, wena oziqhenyayo, itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla; ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi engizakuhambela ngaso.
Behold, I am against thee, proud one, saith the Lord Jehovah of hosts; for thy day is come, the time that I visit thee:
32 Khona oziqhenyayo ezakhubeka awe, njalo kungekho ozamvusa; njalo ngizaphemba umlilo emizini yakhe ozakudla konke okumhanqileyo.
and the proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; yea, I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all that are round about him.
33 Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla: Babecindezelwe abantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoJuda ndawonye; njalo bonke ababathumbileyo babagagadlele; bala ukubayekela bahambe.
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: The children of Israel and the children of Judah were together oppressed; and all that took them captives held them fast: they refused to let them go.
34 Umhlengi wabo ulamandla, iNkosi yamabandla libizo layo; isibili izamela udaba lwabo, ukuze inike umhlaba ukuphumula, kodwa inyakazise abahlali beBhabhiloni.
Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of hosts is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 Inkemba iphezu kwamaKhaladiya, itsho iNkosi, laphezu kwabahlali beBhabhiloni, laphezu kweziphathamandla zayo, laphezu kwabahlakaniphileyo bayo.
The sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith Jehovah, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men;
36 Inkemba iphezu kwabaqambimanga ukuze benze ngobuthutha; inkemba iphezu kwamaqhawe ayo ukuze adilizwe.
the sword is upon the liars, and they shall become fools; the sword is upon her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed;
37 Inkemba iphezu kwamabhiza ayo, laphezu kwenqola zayo, laphezu kwayo yonke ingxube yexuku ephakathi kwayo, ukuze babe ngabesifazana; inkemba iphezu kokuligugu kwayo, ukuze kuphangwe.
the sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her, and they shall become as women; the sword is upon her treasures, and they shall be robbed:
38 Imbalela iphezu kwamanzi ayo, ukuze ome, ngoba iyilizwe lezithombe ezibaziweyo; bayahlanya ngenxa yezithombe ezesabekayo.
a drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of graven images, and they are mad after frightful idols.
39 Ngakho izilo zenkangala lamakhanka kuzahlala khona, lamadodakazi ezintshe azahlala kuyo, kakusayikuhlala muntu kuyo kuze kube nininini, kakuyikwakhelwa kuyo esizukulwaneni kusiya esizukulwaneni.
Therefore wild beasts of the desert with jackals shall dwell there, and ostriches shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 Njengoba uNkulunkulu wagenqula iSodoma leGomora labomakhelwane bayo, itsho iNkosi, ngokunjalo kakuyikuhlala muntu khona, njalo kakulandodana yomuntu ezahlala njengowezizwe kuyo.
As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbour cities, saith Jehovah, no one shall dwell there, neither shall a son of man sojourn therein.
41 Khangela, abantu bazavela enyakatho, lesizwe esikhulu, lamakhosi amanengi azavuswa evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.
Behold, a people cometh from the north, and a great nation. And many kings shall arise from the uttermost parts of the earth.
42 Bazabamba idandili lomkhonto; balesihluku, kabayikuba lomusa; ilizwi labo lizahlokoma njengolwandle, bagade amabhiza, ngulowo lalowo ehleliwe njengomuntu wempi emelene lawe, ndodakazi yeBhabhiloni.
They lay hold of bow and spear; they are cruel, and will not shew mercy; their voice roareth like the sea, and they ride upon horses — set in array like a man for the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.
43 Inkosi yeBhabhiloni izwile umbiko wabo, lezandla zayo zaba buthakathaka; ucindezelo lwayibamba, umhelo njengowobelethayo.
The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands wax feeble; trouble hath taken hold of him, pangs as of a woman in travail.
44 Khangela, njengesilwane esivela ekukhukhumaleni kweJordani uzakwenyuka emelene lendawo yokuhlala okungapheliyo, kodwa ngizahle ngimgijimise asuke kuyo; njalo ngubani okhethiweyo engingammisa phezu kwayo? Ngoba ngubani onjengami? Ngubani-ke ozangibizela ukulandisa? Njalo nguwuphi lowomelusi ongema phambi kwami?
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will make him suddenly run away from it; and who is a chosen [man] whom I may appoint over her? For who is like me? and who will assign me a time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
45 Ngakho, zwanini icebo leNKOSI elicebe imelene leBhabhiloni, lemicabango yayo eyicabange imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya: Isibili abancinyane bomhlambi bazabadonsa; isibili izachitha indawo yokuhlala phezu kwabo.
Therefore hear the counsel of Jehovah, which he hath taken against Babylon, and his purposes which he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: The little ones of the flock shall certainly draw them away; he shall certainly make their habitation desolate for them.
46 Ngomsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uyazamazama, lokukhala kuzwakala phakathi kwezizwe.
At the sound of the taking of Babylon the earth hath quaked, and the cry is heard among the nations.
