Isambulo 18
1 Emva kwalezizinto-ke ngabona enye ingilosi isehla ivela ezulwini, ilamandla amakhulu; lomhlaba wakhanyiswa yikukhazimula kwayo.
After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.
2 Yasimemeza ngamandla, ngelizwi elikhulu isithi: Iwile, iwile iBhabhiloni enkulu, isiyindawo yokuhlala amadimoni, lentolongo yawo wonke umoya ongcolileyo, lezongo layo yonke inyoni engcolileyo lezondekayo.
He cried with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hated bird!
3 Ngoba izizwe zonke zinathe okwewayini lolaka lobufebe bayo, lamakhosi omhlaba aphingile layo, labathengisi bomhlaba banothile ngamandla okuzitika ngenotho yayo.
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury.”
4 Ngasengisizwa elinye ilizwi livela ezulwini, lisithi: Phumani kuyo, bantu bami, ukuze lingahlanganyeli kanye lezono zayo, lokuze lingemukeli okwezinhlupheko zayo;
I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you do not receive of her plagues,
5 ngoba izono zayo zixhumene zize zifike ezulwini, loNkulunkulu ukhumbule ukungalungi kwayo.
for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6 Phindiselani kuyo njengokuphindisela kwayo kini, liphinde kabili kuyo njengokwemisebenzi yayo; enkezweni eyixubanisileyo, xubanisani kiyo kabili.
Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.
7 Njengokuzidumisa kwayo okungaka, izitika enothweni, ngokunjalo kupheni yona ubuhlungu lokulila okungaka; ngoba ithi enhliziyweni yayo: Ngihlezi ngiyindlovukazi, njalo kangisuye umfelokazi, futhi kangisoze ngabona ukulila.
However much she glorified herself and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.’
8 Ngakho zizafika ngosuku lunye izinhlupheko zayo, ukufa lokulila lendlala, futhi izatshiswa ngomlilo; ngoba ilamandla iNkosi uNkulunkulu eyigwebayo.
Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire, for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.
9 Lamakhosi omhlaba aphinga layo ezitika enothweni azayikhalela alile ngenxa yayo, lapho ebona intuthu yokutsha kwayo,
The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,
10 esima khatshana ngokwesaba kobuhlungu bayo, esithi: Maye, maye, umuzi omkhulu, iBhabhiloni, umuzi olamandla, ngoba ngehola elilodwa isigwebo sakho sifikile!
standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’
11 Labathengisi bomhlaba bazayikhalela bayililele, ngoba kakulamuntu othenga impahla yabo futhi;
The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more:
12 impahla yegolide, leyesiliva, leyelitshe eliligugu, leyepharele, leyelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu, leyibubende, leyesilika, leyokubomvu; laso sonke isihlahla esilephunga, laso sonke isitsha sempondo zendlovu, laso sonke isitsha sesihlahla esiligugu elikhulukazi, leyethusi, leyensimbi, leyelitshe elimhlophe;
merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;
13 lekinamoni, lokulephunga elimnandi, lenhlaka, lempepha, lewayini, lamafutha, lempuphu ecolekileyo, lengqoloyi, lezifuyo, lezimvu, lamabhiza, lezinqola, lemizimba, lemiphefumulo yabantu.
and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots, and people’s bodies and souls.
14 Lezithelo zesifiso somphefumulo wakho zisukile kuwe, lazo zonke izinto ezinonileyo lezikhazimulayo zisukile kuwe, kawusoze ubuye uzithole.
The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you. All things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.
15 Abathengisi balezizinto, abanothe ngayo, bazakuma khatshana ngokwesabeka kobuhlungu bayo, bekhala belila,
The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning,
16 njalo besithi: Maye, maye, lo umuzi omkhulu, owawembathiswe ngelembu elicolekileyo kakhulu lokuyibubende lokubomvu, uceciswe ngegolide lelitshe eliligugu lamapharele!
saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
17 Ngoba ngehola elilodwa inotho engaka ichithiwe. Layo yonke induna yomkhumbi, lalo lonke ixuku emikhunjini, labomkhumbi, labo bonke abasebenza olwandle bema khatshana,
For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.’ Every ship master, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away,
18 basebekhala bebona intuthu yokutsha kwayo, besithi: Yiwuphi ofanana lawo umuzi omkhulu?
and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like the great city?’
19 Basebethela uthuli emakhanda abo, bememeza bekhala belila, besithi: Maye, maye, umuzi omkhulu, khona lapho bonke ababelemikhumbi olwandle banothe ngawo ngenotho yawo; ngoba ngehola elilodwa uchithiwe!
They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!’ For she is made desolate in one hour.
20 Thokoza ngawo, zulu, lani baphostoli abangcwele labaprofethi; ngoba uNkulunkulu ugwebe isigwebo senu kuwo.
“Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets, for God has judged your judgment on her.”
21 Lengilosi eyamandla yaphakamisa ilitshe elinjengelitshe lokuchola elikhulu, yasiliphosela olwandle, isithi: Ngokunjalo ngodlakela iBhabhiloni umuzi omkhulu izaphoswa, njalo ingabe isaficwa lakanye.
A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
22 Lomsindo wabatshaya amachacho lowabahlabeleli lowabatshaya imihlanga lowabatshaya izimpondo, kawusoze uphinde uzwakale phakathi kwakho, layo yonke ingcwethi loba eyawuphi umunwe kayisayikuficwa phakathi kwakho lakanye, lomsindo welitshe lokuchola kawusoze uphinde uzwakale phakathi kwakho,
The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman of whatever craft will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
23 lokukhanya kwesibane kakusoze kusakhanya phakathi kwakho, lelizwi lomyeni lomakoti kalisayikuzwakala phakathi kwakho lakanye; ngoba abathengisi bakho bebeyizikhulu zomhlaba; ngoba ngokuthakatha kwakho izizwe zonke zikhohlisiwe,
The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you, for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
24 futhi kuyo kwaficwa igazi labaprofethi lelabangcwele, lelabo bonke ababebulewe emhlabeni.
In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth.”
