UMikha 6
1 Ake lizwe lokhu iNkosi ekutshoyo: Sukuma, ulwe lezintaba, lamaqaqa kawalizwe ilizwi lakho.
Listen to what the Lord is saying. Stand up and plead your case. Let the mountains and the hills hear your voice.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, impikisano leNkosi, lani zisekelo zomhlaba ezihlezi zikhona; ngoba iNkosi ilempikisano labantu bayo, njalo izalungisana loIsrayeli.
And now, mountains, hear the Lord's argument. Listen, everlasting foundations of the earth, for the Lord has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel.
3 Wena sizwe sami, ngenzeni kuwe? Njalo kuyini engikudinise kukho? Fakaza umelene lami.
My people, what have I done to you? What is it that I have done to make you tired of me?
4 Ngoba ngakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe, ngakuhlenga endlini yobugqili; ngathuma phambi kwakho oMozisi, uAroni, loMiriyamu.
For I brought you out of the land of Egypt and rescued you from slavery. I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you.
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, planned to do, and what Balaam, son of Beor, told him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, so you could know all the good things the Lord does.
6 Ngizakuza lani phambi kweNkosi, ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo? Ngizakuza phambi kwayo ngileminikelo yokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa yini?
What should I take with me when I approach the Lord, when I bow down before the God of heaven? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
7 INkosi izathokoza yini ngezinkulungwane zezinqama, ngezinkulungwane ezilitshumi zemifula yamafutha? Ngizanikela izibulo lami yini ngenxa yesiphambeko sami, isithelo sesisu sami ngenxa yesono somphefumulo wami?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I sacrifice my firstborn child for my rebellion, my own flesh and blood for the sins I have committed?
8 Ikutshengisile, wena muntu, lokho okuhle; njalo iNkosi ifunani kuwe, ngaphandle kokwenza ukulunga, lokuthanda umusa, lokuhamba ngokuzithoba loNkulunkulu wakho?
The Lord has told you what is good, and what the Lord asks from you: to do what is right, to love kindness, and to walk in humility with your God.
9 Ilizwi likaJehova liyamemeza kuwo umuzi, lenhlakanipho izabona ibizo lakho; zwanini uswazi, lolumisileyo.
The voice of the Lord calls to the city—to respect your name is to be wise—pay attention to the rod and who summoned it.
10 Kusekhona inotho yenkohlakalo yini endlini yokhohlakeleyo, le-efa elinciphayo elinengekayo?
Are there still ill-gotten gains in the houses of the wicked? Are they still using dishonest measures in selling grain?
11 Bengingaba ngohlanzekileyo ngesikali sobubi yini, langesikhwama sezilinganiso zenkohliso?
How can I accept those who use unfair scales and dishonest weights?
12 Ngoba abanothileyo bayo bagcwele udlakela, labakhileyo bayo bakhuluma amanga, lolimi lwabo lulenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.
Your rich people make money by using violence; they tell lies and practice deceit.
13 Ngakho lami ngizakugulisa ngokukutshaya, ngikwenze incithakalo ngenxa yezono zakho.
So I will strike you to make you ill; I will 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 never be satisfied; inside you will still feel hungry. Even though you try to save money, what you save won't be worth anything because I will give it 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 you won't reap; you will press your olives, but not use the oil; you will make your wine, but drink none of it.
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 laws of Omri, and adopted all the practices of the house of Ahab, you have followed their ways. So I will make your country desolate and the people who live there an object of scorn; you will bear the shame of my people.
