UMikha 6
1 Ake lizwe lokhu iNkosi ekutshoyo: Sukuma, ulwe lezintaba, lamaqaqa kawalizwe ilizwi lakho.
Hear now what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, impikisano leNkosi, lani zisekelo zomhlaba ezihlezi zikhona; ngoba iNkosi ilempikisano labantu bayo, njalo izalungisana loIsrayeli.
Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment, you enduring foundations of the earth. For the LORD has a case against His people, and He will argue it against Israel:
3 Wena sizwe sami, ngenzeni kuwe? Njalo kuyini engikudinise kukho? Fakaza umelene lami.
‘My people, what have I done to you? Testify against Me how I have wearied you!
4 Ngoba ngakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe, ngakuhlenga endlini yobugqili; ngathuma phambi kwakho oMozisi, uAroni, loMiriyamu.
For I brought you up from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery. I sent Moses before you, as well as Aaron and Miriam.
5 Sizwe sami, ake ukhumbule lokho uBalaki inkosi yakoMowabi eyakucebayo, lalokho uBalami indodana kaBeyori owakuphendula kuye, kusukela eShitimi kwaze kwaba seGiligali; ukuze wazi ukulunga kweNkosi.
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
6 Ngizakuza lani phambi kweNkosi, ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo? Ngizakuza phambi kwayo ngileminikelo yokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa yini?
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
7 INkosi izathokoza yini ngezinkulungwane zezinqama, ngezinkulungwane ezilitshumi zemifula yamafutha? Ngizanikela izibulo lami yini ngenxa yesiphambeko sami, isithelo sesisu sami ngenxa yesono somphefumulo wami?
Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 Ikutshengisile, wena muntu, lokho okuhle; njalo iNkosi ifunani kuwe, ngaphandle kokwenza ukulunga, lokuthanda umusa, lokuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu wakho?
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
9 Ilizwi likaJehova liyamemeza kuwo umuzi, lenhlakanipho izabona ibizo lakho; zwanini uswazi, lolumisileyo.
The voice of the LORD calls out to the city (and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name): “Heed the rod and the One who ordained it.
10 Kusekhona inotho yenkohlakalo yini endlini yokhohlakeleyo, le-efa elinciphayo elinengekayo?
Can I forget any longer, O house of the wicked, the treasures of wickedness and the short ephah, which is accursed?
11 Bengingaba ngohlanzekileyo ngesikali sobubi yini, langesikhwama sezilinganiso zenkohliso?
Can I excuse dishonest scales or bags of false weights?
12 Ngoba abanothileyo bayo bagcwele udlakela, labakhileyo bayo bakhuluma amanga, lolimi lwabo lulenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.
For the wealthy of the city are full of violence, and its residents speak lies; their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.
13 Ngakho lami ngizakugulisa ngokukutshaya, ngikwenze incithakalo ngenxa yezono zakho.
Therefore I am striking you severely, to ruin you because of your sins.
14 Wena uzakudla, kodwa ungasuthi; njalo ukuphelelwa ngamandla kwakho kuzakuba ngaphakathi kwakho; futhi uzasusa, kodwa ungakhululi; lalokhu okukhululayo ngizakunikela enkembeni.
You will eat but not be satisfied, and your hunger will remain with you. What you acquire, you will not preserve; and what you save, I will give to the sword.
15 Wena uzahlanyela, kodwa ungavuni; wena uzanyathela izithelo zemihlwathi, kodwa ungazigcobi wena ngamafutha; lewayini elitsha, kodwa unganathi iwayini.
You will sow but not reap; you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil; you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.
16 Ngoba izimiso zikaOmri ziyagcinwa, lawo wonke umsebenzi wendlu kaAhabi, futhi lihamba ngamacebo abo; ukuze ngikwenze ube yincithakalo, labakhileyo bayo babe ngokuncifelwayo; ngokunjalo lizathwala ihlazo labantu bami.
You have kept the statutes of Omri and all the practices of Ahab’s house; you have followed their counsel. Therefore I will make you a desolation, and your inhabitants an object of contempt; you will bear the scorn of the nations.”
