UMikha 5

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

Now come together in battle ranks, daughter of soldiers; the soldiers have set up a siege around city, with a rod they will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.

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

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, even though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come to me to rule in Israel, whose beginning is from ancient times, from everlasting.

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

Therefore God will give them up, until the time when she who is in labor bears a child, and the rest of his brothers 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 and shepherd his flock in the strength of Yahweh, in the majesty of the name of Yahweh his God. They will remain, for then he will be great to the ends of the earth.

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

For this shall be the peace— when the Assyrians come into our land, and when they march against our fortresses, then we will raise against them seven shepherds and eight leaders over men.

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

They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in its entrances. He will rescue us from the Assyrians, when they come into our land, when they march inside our borders.

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

The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from Yahweh, like showers on the grass, that do not wait for a man, and they do not wait for the children of mankind.

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.

The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples, like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep. When he goes through them, he will trample over them and tear them to pieces, and there will be no one to save them.

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

Your hand will be lifted against your enemies, and it will destroy them.

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

“It will happen in that day”—this is Yahweh's declaration— “that I will destroy your horses from among you and will demolish your chariots.

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

I will destroy the cities in your land and throw down all your strongholds.

12 Njalo ngizaquma ubuthakathi esandleni sakho; kawusayikuba lezanuse.

I will destroy the witchcraft in your hand, and you will no longer have any diviners.

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

I will destroy your carved figures and your stone pillars from among you. You will no longer worship the workmanship of your hands.

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

I will uproot your Asherah poles from among you, and I will destroy your cities.

15 Njalo ngizakwenza impindiselo ngentukuthelo langolaka kuzo izizwe ezingalalelanga.

I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not listened.”