UZekhariya 13

1 Ngalolosuku kuzakuba lomthombo ovulelwe isono lokungcola kuyo indlu kaDavida labahlali beJerusalema.

At that time [it will be as though] [MET] there will be a fountain from which water flows continually to cleanse the descendants [MTY] of [King] David and [all] the [other] people in Jerusalem from the guilt of the sins that they have committed, [especially] from becoming unacceptable to me [by worshiping idols].

2 Kuzakuthi-ke ngalolosuku, itsho iNkosi yamabandla, ngiqume amabizo ezithombe asuke elizweni, kazisayikukhunjulwa; ngenze labaprofethi lomoya ongcolileyo bedlule basuke elizweni.

The Commander of the armies of angels says, “At that time, I will prevent [people from even mentioning] the names of the idols in their country, and no one will remember them any more. I will also expel from the land all the people who falsely claim that they are prophets [DOU].

3 Kuzakuthi-ke, loba ngubani esaprofetha, uyise lonina abamzalayo bathi kuye: Kawuyikuphila, ngoba ukhuluma amanga ebizweni leNkosi. Uyise lonina abamzalayo bazamgwaza lapho eprofetha.

If someone continues to prophesy [falsely], his parents must say to him, ‘You have told lies saying that Yahweh [MTY] gave those messages to you, so you must be executed.’ [So] if someone prophesies [like that], his own father and mother must stab him [and kill him].

4 Kuzakuthi-ke ngalolosuku abaprofethi bazakuba lenhloni, ngulowo lalowo ngombono wakhe ekuprofetheni kwakhe; futhi kabayikugqoka izigqoko zoboya ukuze bakhohlise;

At that time, the false prophets will be ashamed [that they claimed to have received messages from me in] their visions and prophesies [that they told to people]. They will no [longer] deceive people by wearing the clothes [that prophets usually wear], clothes made of [animals’] hair.

5 kodwa uzakuthi: Kangisuye mprofethi, ngingumlimi womhlabathi; ngoba umuntu wangithenga kusukela ebutsheni bami.

[So] each of them will say, ‘I am not [really] a prophet; I am a farmer, and I have been a farmer on my land ever since I was a boy!’

6 Lomunye uzakuthi kuye: Ayini lamanxeba asezandleni zakho? Yena uzakuthi: Engatshaywa ngawo endlini yabangane bami.

But someone, [seeing the wounds on one of those prophet’s bodies, will suspect that he injured himself during rituals to worship idols, and he] will ask ‘Why are those wounds on your body?’ And he [will lie, saying] ‘I was injured [when I was] at my friend’s house.’”

7 Vuka, nkemba, umelane lomelusi wami, umelane lomuntu ongumngane wami, itsho iNkosi yamabandla. Tshaya umelusi, izimvu zihlakazeke; besengiphendulela isandla sami kwezincinyane.

The Commander of the armies of angels says, “[My] sword [APO] must strike [the one who is like] [MET] my shepherd, the man who is (my companion/very (close/dear) to me). When the shepherd is killed, [those who are like] [MET] his sheep will scatter. [And those who are like] [MET] my little sheep will [also] be attacked [IDM].”

8 Kuzakuthi-ke elizweni lonke, itsho iNkosi, ingxenye ezimbili kulo zizaqunywa ziphele; kodwa eyesithathu izasala kulo.

Yahweh [also] says, “Two-thirds [of the people in Judah] will die [DOU]. [Only] one-third [of the people in Judah] will remain alive.

9 Njalo eyesithathu ngizayidabulisa emlilweni, ngibacwengisise njengoba isiliva sicwengisiswa, ngibalinge njengoba igolide lilingwa. Bona bazabiza ibizo lami, mina-ke ngizabaphendula. Ngizakuthi: Bangabantu bami; bona-ke bazakuthi: INkosi inguNkulunkulu wami.

And I will test the ones that remain alive [by causing them to experience great difficulties, to find out if they will continue to worship me]. I will purify them like [MET] a man purifies gold or silver by putting it into a [very hot] fire. [Then] my people will call to me [MTY] [for help], and I will answer them. I will say [to them], ‘You are my people,’ and they will say, ‘Yahweh is our God.’”