UMikha 5

1 Khathesi buthana ube ngamaviyo, wena ndodakazi yeviyo; yena ubekile ukuvimbezela ngakithi; ngenduku bazatshaya umahluleli wakoIsrayeli esihlathini.

Gather your troops together, Jerusalem! An enemy is besieging us. They will strike Israel's leader on the cheek with a rod.

2 Kodwa wena, Bhethelehema Efratha, lanxa umncinyane phakathi kwezinkulungwane zakoJuda, uzaphuma kuwe eze kimi lowo ozakuba ngumbusi koIsrayeli; okuphuma kwakhe ngokwasendulo, ezinsukwini zaphakade.

But from you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, (though you are only a small place in Judah), will come a ruler of Israel to do my will. His existence is from the ages of eternity past.

3 Ngakho uzabanikela, kuze kube yisikhathi sokuthi lowo ohelelwayo azale; khona insali yabafowabo izabuyela ebantwaneni bakoIsrayeli.

So the Lord will give up on them until the woman in labor has given birth. Then the rest of his brothers will return to the people of Israel.

4 Njalo uzakuma eluse emandleni eNkosi, ekuphakameni kwebizo leNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe; njalo bazahlala; ngoba khathesi uzakuba mkhulu kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba.

He will stand up and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. They will live in safety because his greatness is recognized all over the world.

5 Njalo lumuntu uzakuba yikuthula; lapho umAsiriya engena elizweni lakithi, lalapho enyathela ezigodlweni zethu, kulapho sizamvusela abelusi abayisikhombisa, leziphathamandla zabantu eziyisificaminwembili.

He will be our source of peace when the Assyrians invade our land and destroy our fortresses. Then we will appoint many strong leaders,

6 Njalo bazalidla ilizwe leAsiriya ngenkemba, lelizwe likaNimrodi ezintubeni zalo. Ngalokho uzasophula kumAsiriya lapho engena elizweni lakithi, lalapho enyathela phakathi komngcele wethu.

and they will rule Assyria with their swords, the land of Nimrod with drawn swords. He shall rescue us from the Assyrians when they invade our land, marching across our borders.

7 Lensali kaJakobe izakuba phakathi kwezizwe ezinengi njengamazolo avela eNkosini, njengemikhizo phezu kotshani, okungalindeli muntu, lokungameleli bantwana babantu.

Then those who are left of the people of Jacob shall be in the center of many nations, like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which wait for no one, and which no one can delay.

8 Lensali kaJakobe izakuba phakathi kwezizwe, phakathi kwabezizwe abanengi, njengesilwane phakathi kwezinyamazana zeganga, njengebhongo lesilwane phakathi kwemihlambi yezimvu; elithi lapho lisedlula, linyathelele phansi lidabudabule, kungekho ongophula.

Those who are left of the people of Jacob shall be among many nations, in the center of many peoples. They will be like a lion among the wild animals of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, clawing and tearing as it passes through, with no one to come to the rescue.

9 Isandla sakho sizaphakama phezu kwabamelana lawe, njalo zonke izitha zakho zizaqunywa.

Lift your hand in triumph against your enemies; all of them will be destroyed.

10 Kuzakuthi-ke ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi, ngiqume amabhiza akho aphume phakathi kwakho, ngichithe izinqola zakho.

On that day, says the Lord, I will kill your horses and break your chariots.

11 Njalo ngizaquma imizi yelizwe lakho, ngidilizele phansi zonke izinqaba zakho.

I will tear down your city walls and demolish your fortresses.

12 Njalo ngizaquma ubuthakathi esandleni sakho; kawusayikuba lezanuse.

I will stop the witchcraft you practice; there will be no more fortune-tellers for you.

13 Njalo ngizaquma izithombe zakho ezibaziweyo lezinsika zakho eziyizithombe zisuke phakathi kwakho; kawusayikuphinda ukhothamele umsebenzi wezandla zakho.

I will smash down the idols and stone pillars that stand among you: you shall not bow down and worship idols that you make with your own hands any more.

14 Njalo ngizasiphuna izixuku zakho ziphume phakathi kwakho, ngichithe imizi yakho.

I will pull up the Asherah poles that you have and destroy your pagan places.

15 Njalo ngizakwenza impindiselo ngentukuthelo langolaka kuzo izizwe ezingalalelanga.

In anger and fury I will execute vengeance on those nations that do not obey me.