UJeremiya 8
1 Ngalesosikhathi, itsho iNkosi, bazakhupha amathambo amakhosi akoJuda, lamathambo eziphathamandla zayo, lamathambo abapristi, lamathambo abaprofethi, lamathambo abahlali beJerusalema, emangcwabeni abo;
“At that time—this is Yahweh's declaration—they will bring out from the graves the bones of the kings of Judah and its officials, the bones of the priests and the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
2 baweneke elangeni lenyangeni, lakulo lonke ibutho lamazulu, abakuthandayo, labakusebenzelayo, labakulandelayo, labakudingayo, labakukhonzayo; kawayikubuthwa, kawayikungcwatshwa; azakuba ngawomquba phezu kobuso bomhlaba.
Then they will spread them out in the light of the sun and moon and all the stars of the skies; these things in the sky that they have followed and served, that they have walked after and sought, and that they have worshiped. The bones will not be gathered or buried again. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth.
3 Njalo ukufa kuzakhethwa kulempilo yiyo yonke insali yabaseleyo balolusapho olubi, kuzo zonke indawo zabaseleyo lapho engibaxotshele khona, itsho iNkosi yamabandla.
In every remaining place where I have driven them, they will choose death instead of life for themselves, all who are still left over from this evil nation—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.
4 Uzakuthi kibo futhi: Itsho njalo INkosi: Bazakuwa bangavuki yini? Uzaphambuka angaphenduki yini?
So say to them, 'Yahweh says this: Does anyone fall and not get up? Does anyone get lost and not try to return?
5 Pho, baphambukelani lababantu eJerusalema ngokuphambuka okulaphakade? Babambelela enkohlisweni, bayala ukuphenduka.
Why has this people, Jerusalem, turned away in permanent faithlessness? They hold on to treachery and refuse to repent.
6 Ngilalele ngezwa, kabakhulumanga kuhle; kakulamuntu ozisolayo ngobubi bakhe esithi: Ngenzeni? Wonke uphendukela emjahweni wakhe njengebhiza ligijimela empini.
I paid attention and listened, but they did not speak right; no one was sorry for his wickedness, no one who says, “What have I done?” All of them go where they wish, like a stallion rushing toward battle.
7 Yebo ingabuzane emazulwini liyazazi izikhathi zalo ezimisiweyo; lejuba lehemu lenkonjane kuyagcina isikhathi sokubuya kwakho; kodwa abantu bami kabazazi izimiso zeNkosi.
Even the stork in heaven knows the right times; and the doves, swifts, and cranes. They go on their migrations at the right time, but my people do not know Yahweh's decrees.
8 Litsho njani ukuthi: Sihlakaniphile, lomlayo weNkosi ulathi? Khangelani, isibili usiba lwamanga lwababhali lusebenzela ize.
How can you say, “We are wise, for the law of Yahweh is with us”? Indeed, see! The deceitful pen of the scribes has created deceit.
9 Abahlakaniphileyo bayangekile, besabe kakhulu bathethwe; khangela, balalile ilizwi leNkosi; pho balenhlakanipho bani?
The wise men will be ashamed. They are dismayed and trapped. Behold! They reject Yahweh's word, so what use is their wisdom?
10 Ngakho omkabo ngizabanika abanye, amasimu abo kwabazakudla ilifa labo; ngoba kusukela komncinyane kuze kufike komkhulu bonke bayizihwaba zenzuzo embi, kusukela kumprofethi kuze kube kumpristi wonke wenza ngenkohliso.
So I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who will possess them, because from the least to the greatest, all of them are greedy for dishonest gain! From the prophet to the priest, all of them practice deceit.
11 Ngoba balipholise kancane inxeba lendodakazi yabantu bami, besithi: Ukuthula, ukuthula; khona kungelakuthula.
They healed the wounds of my people lightly, saying, “Peace, Peace,” when there was no peace.
12 Baba lenhloni yini lapho sebenze amanyala? Hatshi, kababanga lanhloni lakanye, futhi kabakwazi ukuyangeka; ngakho bazakuwa phakathi kwabawayo; ngesikhathi sokuhanjelwa kwabo bazawiselwa phansi, itsho iNkosi.
Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations? They were not ashamed; they did not know how to blush! So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says Yahweh.
13 Isibili ngizabaqeda, itsho iNkosi; kakuyikuba khona izithelo zevini evinini; njalo kakuyikuba khona imikhiwa emkhiweni, lehlamvu lizabuna; lengibanike khona kuzakwedlula kibo.
I will remove them completely—this is Yahweh's declaration—there will be no grapes on the vine, nor will there be figs on the fig trees. For the leaf will wither, and what I have given to them will pass away.
14 Sihlaleleni? Buthanani, singene emizini evikelweyo, sithule khona; ngoba iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu isithulisile, yasinathisa amanzi enyongo, ngoba sonile eNkosini.
Why are we sitting here? Come together; let us go to the fortified cities, and we will become silent there in death. For Yahweh our God will silence us. He will make us drink poison, since we have sinned against him.
15 Salindela ukuthula, kodwa kakubanga lokuhle; isikhathi sokwelatshwa, kodwa khangela, luhlupho.
We are hoping for peace, but there will be nothing good. We are hoping for a time of healing, but see, there will be terror.
16 Ukuthimula kwamabhiza akhe kwezwakala kusukela koDani; ilizwe lonke lathuthumela emsindweni wokukhonya kwalamandla akhe; ngoba afikile, adla ilizwe lokugcwala kwalo, umuzi labahlala kiwo.
The snorting of his stallions is heard from Dan. The whole earth shakes at the sound of the neighing of his strong horses. For they will come and consume the land and its wealth, the city and the ones living in it.
17 Ngoba khangelani, ngithumela phakathi kwenu izinyoka, amabululu, angelakulunjwa, njalo azaliluma, itsho iNkosi.
For see, I am sending out snakes among you, vipers that you cannot charm. They will bite you—this is Yahweh's declaration.'”
18 Ukududuzwa kwami kusosizini, inhliziyo yami iphelelwa ngamandla kimi.
My sorrow has no end, and my heart is sick.
19 Khangelani, ilizwi lokukhala kwendodakazi yabantu bami livela elizweni elikhatshana. INkosi kayikho eZiyoni yini? Inkosi yayo kayikho phakathi kwayo yini? Bangicunuleleni ngezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo, ngokuyize kwabezizwe?
Behold! The screaming voice of the daughter of my people from a land far away! Is Yahweh not in Zion? Is her king no longer there? Why then do they provoke me to anger with their carved figures and their worthless foreign idols?
20 Isivuno sidlulile, ihlobo liphelile, kanti thina kasisindiswanga.
The harvest has passed on, summer is over. But we have not been saved.
21 Ngokwephuka kwendodakazi yabantu bami ngephukile; ngimnyama; ukumangala okukhulu kungibambile.
I am hurt because of the hurt of the daughter of my people. I mourn at the horrible things that have happened to her; I am dismayed.
22 Kakulabhalisamu yini eGileyadi? Kakho yini umelaphi khona? Ngoba kungani kungaveli ukwelatshwa kwendodakazi yabantu bami?
Is there no medicine in Gilead? Is there no healer there? Why will the healing of the daughter of my people not happen?
