UZekhariya 9
1 Umthwalo welizwi leNkosi elizweni leHadiraki, leDamaseko indawo yakho yokuphumula, lapho ilihlo lomuntu lelazo zonke izizwe zakoIsrayeli lizakuba seNkosini.
[This is another] message [that I received] from Yahweh. [Yahweh said, ] “I watch [MTY] everyone, especially the tribes of Israel; [so] I will [punish the people in] the Hadrach [region] and in Damascus [city] [because of what they did to the people of Israel].
2 LeHamathi layo izakhawula kiyo; iTire leSidoni, lanxa ihlakaniphile kakhulu.
[I will also punish the people in] nearby Hamath [city]. I will also [punish the people in] Tyre and Sidon [cities], even though they are [considered to be] [IRO] very wise.
3 LeTire yazakhela inqaba, yabuthelela isiliva njengothuli, legolide njengodaka lwezitalada.
[The people in] Tyre built a high wall [around their city]. They piled up [huge amounts of] silver and gold as though they were [piles of] dirt in the streets.
4 Khangela, iNkosi izayixotsha, itshaye amandla ayo elwandle; yona idliwe ngumlilo.
But [I], Yahweh, will cause their precious possessions to be taken away and all their ships to be destroyed, and their city will be destroyed by a fire.
5 IAshikeloni izabona, yesabe; leGaza, ibe lusizi kakhulu; leEkhironi; ngoba ebikulindele kuzayangisa; njalo inkosi yeGaza izabhubha, leAshikeloni kayiyikuhlalwa.
[The people in Ashkelon city] will see that [happen], and they will become very afraid. [The people in] Gaza [city] will shake because of being terrified, and [the people in Ekron city] will shake too, because they will no longer expect [to prosper]. The king of [the city of] Gaza will be killed, and [the city of] Ashkelon will be deserted.
6 Njalo ozelwe ngobufebe uzahlala eAshidodi; njalo ngizaquma ukuzigqaja kwamaFilisti.
Foreigners will occupy Ashdod [city]. I will cause the [people in all those cities of] Philistia to no longer be proud.
7 Ngizasusa igazi lakhe emlonyeni wakhe, lezinengiso zakhe phakathi kwamazinyo akhe; kodwa oseleyo, ngitsho yena, uzakuba ngokaNkulunkulu wethu, abe njengenduna koJuda, leEkhironi njengomJebusi.
I will no longer allow them to eat [MTY] meat that still has blood in it, and I will forbid them to eat [MTY] food that I [MTY] have not allowed them to eat [because it was offered to idols]. [At that time, ] the people [in Philistia] who survive will worship me, and they will become [my people, like] the people of Judah are. The Philistine people of Ekron will also become my people like [SIM] the people of Jebus did [when they were conquered].
8 Besengimisa inkamba ngasendlini yami ngenxa yebutho, ngenxa yowedlulayo, langenxa yophendukayo, njalo kakusayikudlula umcindezeli kubo; ngoba khathesi sengibonile ngamehlo ami.
I will protect my temple, and I will not allow any [enemy soldiers] to enter it. No [enemies] will harm my people again, because I will be watching [over my people] carefully.
9 Thokoza kakhulu, wena ndodakazi yeZiyoni! Memeza wena ndodakazi yeJerusalema! Khangela, iNkosi yakho iyeza kuwe, ilungile, njalo ilosindiso; ithobekile, igade ubabhemi, lethole, inkonyana kababhemikazi.
Rejoice very much, [you people of] Jerusalem [APO, DOU] and shout joyfully, because your king will be coming to you. He is righteous and victorious; [but he will be] gentle, and [he will be] riding on a donkey, on a young female donkey.
10 Njalo ngizaquma inqola isuke koEfrayimi, lebhiza eJerusalema; ledandili lempi lizaqunywa; njalo izakhuluma ukuthula kwabezizwe; lombuso wayo uzasukela elwandle usiya elwandle, njalo kusukela emfuleni kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba.
I will get rid of the chariots in the Ephraim [region that are used in battles] and [all] the war horses in Jerusalem. [All] the bows used in wars will be broken. [Your king] will proclaim that he will cause things to go well and peacefully in the nations. He will rule [the area] from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Dead] Sea, and from the [Euphrates] River to the most distant places on the earth.
11 Lawe, ngegazi lesivumelwano sakho ngikhuphile izibotshwa zakho emgodini ongelamanzi.
As for you [my people of Jerusalem], because of the blood [of the animals that were sacrificed to make] my agreement with you, I will free your people who were forced to go to other countries where [it was as though they were kept] in a waterless pit.
12 Phendukelani enqabeni, lina zibotshwa ezilethemba; lalamuhla ngiyamemezela ukuthi ngizabuyisela kuwe ngokuphindwe kabili;
[You people who were] prisoners [in those countries] who [still] confidently expect [God to help you], return to [Judah], where you will be safe. This day I declare that I will give you two blessings for [each of the troubles that you have experienced].
13 lapho sengizigobisele uJuda, ngagcwalisa idandili ngoEfrayimi, ngavusa amadodana akho, wena Ziyoni, amelana lamadodana akho, wena Girisi, ngakwenza ube njengenkemba yeqhawe.
I will cause Judah to be like [MET] my bow, and I will cause Israel to be [like] [MET] my arrow. I will enable you young men of Jerusalem to fight against the soldiers of Greece; you will be like [SIM] a warrior’s sword.”
14 Njalo iNkosi izabonakala phezu kwabo, lomtshoko wayo uzaphuma njengombane; iNkosi uJehova izavuthela uphondo, ihambe lezivunguzane zeningizimu.
[Some day] Yahweh will appear [in the sky] above his people, and the arrows that he shoots will be like [SIM] lightning. Yahweh [our] Lord will blow his trumpet, and he will march [fiercely] like [MET] the storms from the south.
15 INkosi yamabandla izabavikela; njalo bazakudla, behlisele phansi amatshe esavutha; banathe, benze umsindo njengewayini; bagcwale njengomganu, njengamagumbi elathi.
The Commander of the armies of angels will protect [his people]; [the soldiers of Judah] will attack and defeat [their enemies who attack them] using slingshots. [Those soldiers of Judah] will drink and celebrate and shout like [SIM] people who are drunk; they will be as full [of wine] as the bowl that holds [the blood of the animals that are sacrificed] and [which is then] sprinkled on the corners of the altar.
16 Njalo iNkosi uNkulunkulu wabo izabasindisa ngalolosuku njengomhlambi wabantu bayo; ngoba bazakuba ngamatshe omqhele, bephakanyisiwe phezu kwelizwe lakhe.
On that day, Yahweh our God will save his people [like a shepherd saves] his flock [of sheep from danger]. In their land, they will be like [SIM] jewels that sparkle on a crown.
17 Ngoba kungakanani ukulunga kwakhe, njalo bungakanani ubuhle bakhe! Amabele azathokozisa amajaha, lewayini elitsha izintombi.
They will be delightful and beautiful. The young men will become strong from [eating] grain, and the young women will [become strong] from [drinking] new wine.
