UMikha 6

1 Ake lizwe lokhu iNkosi ekutshoyo: Sukuma, ulwe lezintaba, lamaqaqa kawalizwe ilizwi lakho.

Listen to what the Lord says: Rise, contend in judgment against 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.

Let the mountains listen to the judgment of the Lord, and the strong foundations of the earth. For the judgment of the Lord is with his people, and he will enter into judgment with Israel.

3 Wena sizwe sami, ngenzeni kuwe? Njalo kuyini engikudinise kukho? Fakaza umelene lami.

My people, what have I done to you, or how have I assailed you? Respond to me.

4 Ngoba ngakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe, ngakuhlenga endlini yobugqili; ngathuma phambi kwakho oMozisi, uAroni, loMiriyamu.

For I led you out of the land of Egypt, and I freed you from the house of servitude, and I sent before your face Moses, and 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, I ask you, what Balak the king of Moab planned, and how Balaam the son of Beor responded to him, from Shittim even to Gilgal, so that you may know the justice of the Lord.

6 Ngizakuza lani phambi kweNkosi, ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo? Ngizakuza phambi kwayo ngileminikelo yokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa yini?

What worthy thing might I offer to the Lord, as I bend the knee before God on high? How could I offer holocausts to him, and one 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, or with many thousands of fat he-goats? How could I give up my firstborn because of my evil deed, the fruit of my womb because of the sin of my soul?

8 Ikutshengisile, wena muntu, lokho okuhle; njalo iNkosi ifunani kuwe, ngaphandle kokwenza ukulunga, lokuthanda umusa, lokuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu wakho?

I will reveal to you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires from you, and how to act with judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk carefully with your God.

9 Ilizwi likaJehova liyamemeza kuwo umuzi, lenhlakanipho izabona ibizo lakho; zwanini uswazi, lolumisileyo.

The voice of the Lord cries out to the city, “Listen, you tribes,” and who will confirm it? And salvation will be for those who fear your name.

10 Kusekhona inotho yenkohlakalo yini endlini yokhohlakeleyo, le-efa elinciphayo elinengekayo?

Nevertheless, there is a fire in the house of the impious, the treasury of iniquity, and a small measure, filled with wrath.

11 Bengingaba ngohlanzekileyo ngesikali sobubi yini, langesikhwama sezilinganiso zenkohliso?

Shall I justify unfaithful balances, and the deceitful weighing of a small bag?

12 Ngoba abanothileyo bayo bagcwele udlakela, labakhileyo bayo bakhuluma amanga, lolimi lwabo lulenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.

By this, her wealthy have been filled with iniquity, and her inhabitants have spoken lies, and their tongue was deceitful in their mouth.

13 Ngakho lami ngizakugulisa ngokukutshaya, ngikwenze incithakalo ngenxa yezono zakho.

And I, therefore, began to strike you with perdition 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 consume and not be satisfied, and your humiliation will be in your midst. And you will take hold, and not save, and those whom you will save, I will deliver to the sword.

15 Wena uzahlanyela, kodwa ungavuni; wena uzanyathela izithelo zemihlwathi, kodwa ungazigcobi wena ngamafutha; lewayini elitsha, kodwa unganathi iwayini.

You will sow, and not reap. You will tread the olives, and not be anointed with oil, and crush the grapes, and 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.

For you have kept the precepts of Omri, and all the works of the house of Ahab. And you have walked according their wills, so that I should give you over to perdition and its hissing inhabitants, and you would carry the disgrace of my people.