UJeremiya 50
1 Ilizwi iNkosi eyalikhuluma imelene leBhabhiloni, imelene lelizwe lamaKhaladiya, ngesandla sikaJeremiya umprofethi, lisithi:
The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by 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 amongst the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don’t conceal; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed! Her images are disappointed. 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 a nation comes up out of the north against her, which will make her land desolate, and no one will dwell in it. They have fled. They are gone, both man and animal.
4 Ngalezonsuku langalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, abantwana bakoIsrayeli bazakuza, bona labantwana bakoJuda kanyekanye; behamba bekhala inyembezi, bazahamba, bedinga iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo.
“In those days, and in that time,” says the LORD, “the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together; they will go on their way weeping, and will seek the LORD their God.
5 Bazabuza indlela eZiyoni, ubuso babo bukhangele ngakuyo; wozani, lizihlanganise leNkosi ngesivumelwano esiphakade esingayikukhohlakala.
They will enquire concerning Zion with their faces turned towards it, saying, ‘Come, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten.’
6 Abantu bami bebeyizimvu ezilahlekileyo; abelusi babo babaduhisile, bebaphendulela ezintabeni; bahamba besuka entabeni besiya eqaqeni, bakhohlwa indawo yabo yokulala.
My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have caused them to go astray. They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill. They have forgotten their resting place.
7 Bonke ababatholayo babadla, lezitha zabo zathi: Kasiyikuba lacala, ngenxa yokuthi bonile eNkosini, ikhaya lokulunga, ngitsho iNkosi, ithemba laboyise.
All who found them have devoured them. Their adversaries said, ‘We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of righteousness, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
8 Balekani liphume phakathi kweBhabhiloni, liphume elizweni lamaKhaladiya, libe njengezimpongo phambi komhlambi.
“Flee out of the middle of Babylon! Go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks.
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 stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they will set themselves in array against her. She will be taken from there. Their arrows will be as of an expert mighty man. None of them will return in vain.
10 Njalo iKhaladiya izakuba yimpango; bonke abayiphangayo bazasutha, itsho iNkosi.
Chaldea will be a prey. All who prey on her will be satisfied,” says the LORD.
11 Ngoba lalijabula, ngoba lathokoza, lina bachithi belifa lami, ngoba liqolotsha njengethokazi etshanini, likhonye njengamabhiza amaduna;
“Because you are glad, because you rejoice, O you who plunder my heritage, because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out the grain, and neigh as strong horses,
12 unyoko ulenhloni kakhulu, owalizalayo uyangekile. Khangela, ingemuva yezizwe iyinkangala eyomileyo lelugwadule.
your mother will be utterly disappointed. She who bore you will be confounded. Behold, she will be the least 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 LORD’s wrath she won’t be inhabited, but she will be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon will be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
14 Zihleleleni ukumelana leBhabhiloni inhlangothi zonke, lina lonke eligobisa idandili, litshoke kuyo, lingagodli mtshoko, ngoba yonile eNkosini.
Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her. Spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the LORD.
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 all around. She has submitted herself. Her bulwarks have fallen. Her walls have been thrown down, for it is the vengeance of the LORD. Take vengeance on her. As she has done, do to 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 who handles the sickle in the time of harvest. For fear of the oppressing sword, they will each return to their own people, and they will each flee to their 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 now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones.”
18 Ngakho itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla, uNkulunkulu kaIsrayeli: Khangela, ngizayijezisa inkosi yeBhabhiloni lelizwe layo, njengalokho ngayijezisa inkosi yeAsiriya.
Therefore the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19 Njalo ngizabuyisela uIsrayeli endaweni yakhe yokuhlala, njalo uzadlisa eKharmeli leBashani, lomphefumulo wakhe usuthe entabeni yakoEfrayimi leGileyadi.
I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he will feed on Carmel and Bashan. His soul will be satisfied on the hills of 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 in that time,” says the LORD, “the iniquity of Israel will be sought for, and there will be none, also the sins of Judah, and they won’t be found; for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
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 Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod. Kill and utterly destroy after them,” says the LORD, “and do according to all that I have commanded you.
22 Umsindo wempi uselizweni, lokuchitheka okukhulu.
A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.
23 Yeka ukuganyulwa lokwephuka kwesando somhlaba wonke! Yeka ukwenziwa kweBhabhiloni unxiwa phakathi kwezizwe!
How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation amongst the nations!
24 Ngakuthiya ngomjibila, futhi lawe wathunjwa, Bhabhiloni, lawe wawungazi; watholwa, futhi wabanjwa, ngoba waphikisana leNkosi.
I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren’t aware. You are found, and also caught, because you have fought against the LORD.
25 INkosi ivulile isiphala sayo, yakhupha izikhali zolaka lwayo, ngoba lokhu kungumsebenzi weNkosi uJehova wamabandla elizweni lamaKhaladiya.
The LORD has opened his armoury, and has brought out the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, GOD of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
26 Wozani limelane layo livela ephethelweni, livule izibuya zayo, liyibuthelele njengezinqumbi, liyitshabalalise, ingabi lansali.
Come against her from the farthest border. Open her storehouses. Cast her up as heaps. 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.
Kill all her bulls. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them! For their day has come, the time of their visitation.
28 Ilizwi lababalekayo labaphunyukayo bevela elizweni leBhabhiloni, ukuze bamemeze eZiyoni impindiselo yeNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, impindiselo yethempeli layo.
Listen to those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD 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 who bend the bow. Encamp against her all around. Let none of it escape. Pay her back according to her work. According to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.
30 Ngakho amajaha ayo azakuwa ezitaladeni zayo, lawo wonke amadoda ayo empi azabhujiswa ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi.
Therefore her young men will fall in her streets. All her men of war will be brought to silence in that day,” says the LORD.
31 Khangela, ngimelana lawe, wena oziqhenyayo, itsho iNkosi uJehova wamabandla; ngoba usuku lwakho selufikile, isikhathi engizakuhambela ngaso.
“Behold, I am against you, you proud one,” says the Lord, GOD of Armies; “for your day has come, the time that I will visit you.
32 Khona oziqhenyayo ezakhubeka awe, njalo kungekho ozamvusa; njalo ngizaphemba umlilo emizini yakhe ozakudla konke okumhanqileyo.
The proud one will stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up. I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all who are around him.”
33 Itsho njalo iNkosi yamabandla: Babecindezelwe abantwana bakoIsrayeli labantwana bakoJuda ndawonye; njalo bonke ababathumbileyo babagagadlele; bala ukubayekela bahambe.
The LORD of Armies says: “The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together. All who took them captive hold them fast. They refuse 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. The LORD of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 Inkemba iphezu kwamaKhaladiya, itsho iNkosi, laphezu kwabahlali beBhabhiloni, laphezu kweziphathamandla zayo, laphezu kwabahlakaniphileyo bayo.
“A sword is on the Chaldeans,” says the LORD, “and on the inhabitants of Babylon, on her princes, and on her wise men.
36 Inkemba iphezu kwabaqambimanga ukuze benze ngobuthutha; inkemba iphezu kwamaqhawe ayo ukuze adilizwe.
A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will 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.
A sword is on their horses, on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the middle of her; and they will become as women. A sword is on her treasures, and they will be robbed.
38 Imbalela iphezu kwamanzi ayo, ukuze ome, ngoba iyilizwe lezithombe ezibaziweyo; bayahlanya ngenxa yezithombe ezesabekayo.
A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
39 Ngakho izilo zenkangala lamakhanka kuzahlala khona, lamadodakazi ezintshe azahlala kuyo, kakusayikuhlala muntu kuyo kuze kube nininini, kakuyikwakhelwa kuyo esizukulwaneni kusiya esizukulwaneni.
Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves will dwell there. The ostriches will dwell therein. It will be inhabited no more forever, neither will it be lived 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 its neighbour cities,” says the LORD, “so no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
41 Khangela, abantu bazavela enyakatho, lesizwe esikhulu, lamakhosi amanengi azavuswa evela emikhawulweni yomhlaba.
“Behold, a people comes from the north. A great nation and many kings will be stirred up 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 take up bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea. They ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon.
43 Inkosi yeBhabhiloni izwile umbiko wabo, lezandla zayo zaba buthakathaka; ucindezelo lwayibamba, umhelo njengowobelethayo.
The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of him, pains as of a woman in labour.
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, the enemy will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it. Whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it, for who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who can 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 the LORD that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they will drag them away, even the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
46 Ngomsindo wokuthunjwa kweBhabhiloni umhlaba uyazamazama, lokukhala kuzwakala phakathi kwezizwe.
The earth trembles at the noise of the taking of Babylon. The cry is heard amongst the nations.
