< UMikha 6 >
1 Ake lizwe lokhu iNkosi ekutshoyo: Sukuma, ulwe lezintaba, lamaqaqa kawalizwe ilizwi lakho.
Listen now to what the LORD says: “Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 Zwanini, lina zintaba, impikisano leNkosi, lani zisekelo zomhlaba ezihlezi zikhona; ngoba iNkosi ilempikisano labantu bayo, njalo izalungisana loIsrayeli.
Hear, you mountains, the LORD’s indictment, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the LORD has a case against his people, and he will contend with Israel.
3 Wena sizwe sami, ngenzeni kuwe? Njalo kuyini engikudinise kukho? Fakaza umelene lami.
My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me!
4 Ngoba ngakukhuphula elizweni leGibhithe, ngakuhlenga endlini yobugqili; ngathuma phambi kwakho oMozisi, uAroni, loMiriyamu.
For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage. I sent before you 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.
My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.”
6 Ngizakuza lani phambi kweNkosi, ngikhothame phambi kukaNkulunkulu ophakemeyo? Ngizakuza phambi kwayo ngileminikelo yokutshiswa, ngilamathole alomnyaka owodwa yini?
How shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the exalted God? 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? With tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my disobedience? 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. 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 LORD’s voice calls to the city— and wisdom fears your name— “Listen to the rod, and he who appointed it.
10 Kusekhona inotho yenkohlakalo yini endlini yokhohlakeleyo, le-efa elinciphayo elinengekayo?
Are there yet treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and a short ephah that is accursed?
11 Bengingaba ngohlanzekileyo ngesikali sobubi yini, langesikhwama sezilinganiso zenkohliso?
Shall I tolerate dishonest scales, and a bag of deceitful weights?
12 Ngoba abanothileyo bayo bagcwele udlakela, labakhileyo bayo bakhuluma amanga, lolimi lwabo lulenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.
Her rich men are full of violence, her inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their speech.
13 Ngakho lami ngizakugulisa ngokukutshaya, ngikwenze incithakalo ngenxa yezono zakho.
Therefore I also have struck you with a grievous wound. I have made you desolate 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 shall eat, but not be satisfied. Your hunger will be within you. You will store up, but not save, and that which you save I will give up 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 won’t reap. You will tread the olives, but won’t anoint yourself with oil; and crush grapes, but won’t 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 the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of Ahab’s house. You walk in their counsels, that I may make you a ruin, and your inhabitants a hissing. You will bear the reproach of my people.”