UZekhariya 10

1 Celani eNkosini izulu ngesikhathi sezulu langemuva; iNkosi yenza imibane, ibanike izihlambo zezulu, kulolo lalolo uhlaza egangeni.

Ask the Lord for rain in springtime, for he makes the rainclouds and sends showers to grow crops for everyone.

2 Ngoba izithombe zikhulume ize, labavumisi babone amanga, balandisa amaphupho ayinkohliso, baduduza ngokuyize. Ngakho-ke bazihambela njengezimvu, badubeka, ngoba kwakungelamelusi.

Household idols give worthless answers, fortune-tellers tell lies, while interpreters of dreams just make things up and offer only false hope. As a result, people wander aimlessly like sheep, suffering because there is no shepherd.

3 Intukuthelo yami yavutha imelene labelusi, ngajezisa izimpongo; ngoba iNkosi yamabandla izawuhambela umhlambi wayo, indlu kaJuda; ibenze babe njengebhiza layo elihlekazi empini.

I am angry with the shepherds, I will punish the leaders. For the Lord Almighty cares for his flock, the people of Judah, and will make them like his splendid warhorse.

4 Kwaphuma kuye igumbi, kuye isikhonkwane, kuye idandili lempi, kuye wonke umcindezeli ndawonye.

From the people of Judah will come the cornerstone, from them the tent-peg, the bow used in battle—all their rulers together.

5 Futhi bazakuba njengamaqhawe anyathela odakeni lwezitalada empini; njalo bazakulwa, ngoba iNkosi ilabo, bayangise abagadi bamabhiza.

They will be like warriors going into battle, trampling their enemies in the mud. Because the Lord is with them they will fight and defeat the enemy cavalry.

6 Njalo ngizaqinisa indlu kaJuda, ngisindise indlu kaJosefa, ngibabuyise, ngoba ngilesihawu kubo. Njalo bazakuba njengokungathi kangizanga ngibalahle; ngoba ngiyiNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo, ngibezwe.

I will strengthen the people of Judah; I will save the people of Joseph. I will bring them back home because I am concerned for them. It will be like I had never rejected them, for I am the Lord their God and I will answer their cries for help.

7 Njalo amaEfrayimi azakuba njengeqhawe, lenhliziyo yawo ithokoze njengangewayini. Yebo abantwana bawo bazakubona, bathokoze; inhliziyo yawo izathokoza eNkosini.

The people of Ephraim will become like warriors, and they will become so happy—as if they had drunk wine. Their children will see what is happening and will be glad too, joyful in the Lord.

8 Ngizabatshayela ukhwelo, ngibabuthe; ngoba ngibahlengile; njalo bazakwanda njengoba sebandile.

I will whistle to them and they will run to me. I will rescue them, and there will be as many as there were before.

9 Njalo ngizabahlanyela phakathi kwezizwe, bangikhumbule endaweni ezikhatshana; baphile labantwana babo, baphenduke.

I have scattered them like seed among the nations, and in distant places they will remember me. They will bring up their children, and together they will return.

10 Ngibabuyise bevela elizweni leGibhithe, ngibaqoqe baphume eAsiriya; ngibalethe elizweni leGileyadi leLebhanoni, kodwa kabayikutholelwa ndawo.

I will bring them back from the land of Egypt; I will gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there won't be enough room for them!

11 Njalo uzadabula olwandle lenhlupheko, atshaye amagagasi olwandle, lazo zonke izinziki zomfula zizakoma; lokuzigqaja kweAsiriya kwehliswe, lentonga yobukhosi yeGibhithe isuke.

They will pass through the sea of trouble and strike the waves of the sea, and the waters of the Nile will dry up. Assyria's pride will be brought down, and Egypt's rule will pass away.

12 Njalo ngizabaqinisa eNkosini; bahambe besiya le lale ebizweni layo, itsho iNkosi.

I will make them strong in the Lord, and they will follow all he says, declares the Lord.