UMikha 6
1 Ake lizwe lokhu iNkosi ekutshoyo: Sukuma, ulwe lezintaba, lamaqaqa kawalizwe ilizwi lakho.
Do but hear now what the Lord saith, Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, impikisano leNkosi, lani zisekelo zomhlaba ezihlezi zikhona; ngoba iNkosi ilempikisano labantu bayo, njalo izalungisana loIsrayeli.
Hear ye, O mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and ye strong foundations of the earth! for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and with Israel will he plead.
3 Wena sizwe sami, ngenzeni kuwe? Njalo kuyini engikudinise kukho? Fakaza umelene lami.
O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherewith have I wearied thee? testify against me.
4 Ngoba ngakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe, ngakuhlenga endlini yobugqili; ngathuma phambi kwakho oMozisi, uAroni, loMiriyamu.
Although I had brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bond-men; and I sent before thee Moses, 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.
O my people, do but remember what Balak the king of Moab resolved, and what Bil'am the son of Be'or answered him, from Shittim unto Gilgal, in order that ye may know the gracious benefits of the Lord.
6 Ngizakuza lani phambi kweNkosi, ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo? Ngizakuza phambi kwayo ngileminikelo yokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa yini?
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, bow myself before the God on high? shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves of 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 with myriads of streams of oil? shall I give my first-born 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 hath told thee, O man, what is good; and what the Lord doth require of thee: [nothing] but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God.
9 Ilizwi likaJehova liyamemeza kuwo umuzi, lenhlakanipho izabona ibizo lakho; zwanini uswazi, lolumisileyo.
The voice of the Lord calleth unto the city, —and [the man of] wisdom shall see thy name: —hear ye the rod [of punishment], and who hath ordained it.
10 Kusekhona inotho yenkohlakalo yini endlini yokhohlakeleyo, le-efa elinciphayo elinengekayo?
Are there yet in the house of the wicked man the treasures of wickedness, and the scant accursed measure?
11 Bengingaba ngohlanzekileyo ngesikali sobubi yini, langesikhwama sezilinganiso zenkohliso?
Can I be pure with wicked balances, and with a bag [full] of deceptive weights?
12 Ngoba abanothileyo bayo bagcwele udlakela, labakhileyo bayo bakhuluma amanga, lolimi lwabo lulenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.
For her rich men are full of violence, and her inhabitants have spoken falsehood, and their tongue is deceit [itself] in their mouth.
13 Ngakho lami ngizakugulisa ngokukutshaya, ngikwenze incithakalo ngenxa yezono zakho.
Therefore have I also smitten thee with sore wounds, making [thee] desolate because of thy sins.
14 Wena uzakudla, kodwa ungasuthi; njalo ukuphelelwa ngamandla kwakho kuzakuba ngaphakathi kwakho; futhi uzasusa, kodwa ungakhululi; lalokhu okukhululayo ngizakunikela enkembeni.
Thou wilt indeed eat, but not be satisfied; and what thou hast eaten shall bend thee down; and thou wilt overtake [the enemy], but thou shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 Wena uzahlanyela, kodwa ungavuni; wena uzanyathela izithelo zemihlwathi, kodwa ungazigcobi wena ngamafutha; lewayini elitsha, kodwa unganathi iwayini.
Thou wilt indeed sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou wilt indeed tread out olives, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with oil; and the juice of the grapes, but thou shalt not drink 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 there are observed the statutes of 'Omri, and all the works of the house of Achab, and ye walk in their counsels: in order that I should give thee up unto desolation, and thy inhabitants to derision; and ye shall bear the reproach of my people.
