UZefaniya 3
1 Maye kowenyanyekayo longcolileyo, umuzi ocindezelayo!
Woe to her who is rebellious and polluted, to the oppressing city!
2 Kawulalelanga ilizwi; kawemukelanga ukulaywa; kawuthembelanga eNkosini; kawusondelanga kuNkulunkulu wawo.
She obeyed not the voice. She received not correction. She trusted not in Jehovah. She did not draw near to her God.
3 Iziphathamandla zawo phakathi kwawo ziyizilwane ezibhongayo; abahluleli bawo bazimpisi zokuhlwa; kazikhukhuzi ithambo ekuseni.
Her rulers in the midst of her are roaring lions. Her judges are evening wolves. They leave nothing till the morrow.
4 Abaprofethi bawo bangabangakhathaliyo, abantu abakhohlisayo; abapristi bawo sebengcolise indawo engcwele, benze udlakela kumthetho.
Her prophets are airy and treacherous men. Her priests have profaned the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law.
5 INkosi elungileyo iphakathi kwawo, kayiyikwenza ububi; ukusa ngokusa ibeka isahlulelo sayo ekukhanyeni, kayiphuthi; kodwa ongalunganga kazi inhloni.
Jehovah in the midst of her is righteous. He will not do iniquity. Every morning he brings his justice to light. He does not fail, but the unjust man knows no shame.
6 Ngiziqumile izizwe, izingonsi zazo zingamanxiwa, ngenzile izitalada zazo incithakalo, ukuze kungadluli muntu; imizi yazo idiliziwe, kakusekho muntu, kakulamhlali.
I have cut off nations. Their battlements are desolate. I have made their streets waste, so that none passes by. Their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, so that there is no inhabitant.
7 Ngathi: Isibili uzangesaba, wemukele ukulaywa; ukuze indawo yakhe yokuhlala ingaqunywa, konke engimjezisa ngakho; sibili bavuka ngovivi, bazonakalise zonke izenzo zabo.
I said, Only fear thou me. Receive correction, so her dwelling shall not be cut off, according to all that I have appointed concerning her. But they rose early and corrupted all their doings.
8 Ngakho ngilindelani, itsho iNkosi, kuze kube lusuku engizavukela impango ngalo. Ngoba isahlulelo sami siyikubuthelela izizwe, ukuze ngiqoqe imibuso, ngithululele phezu kwabo intukuthelo yami, konke ukuvutha kolaka lwami; ngoba umhlaba wonke uzaqothulwa ngumlilo wobukhwele bami.
Therefore wait ye for me, says Jehovah, until the day that I rise up to the prey. For my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them my indignation, even all my fierce anger. For all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9 Ngoba ngalesosikhathi ngizabuyisela ebantwini ulimi oluhlambulukileyo, ukuze bonke babize ibizo leNkosi, ukuze bayikhonze ngahlombe linye.
For then I will turn to the peoples of a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of Jehovah, to serve him with one consent.
10 Kusukela phetsheya kwemifula yeEthiyophiya abancengi bami, indodakazi yabahlakazekileyo bami, bazaletha umnikelo wami.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring my offering.
11 Ngalolosuku kawuyikuyangeka ngenxa yezenzo zakho zonke, ophambuke ngazo kimi, ngoba ngalesosikhathi ngizakhupha phakathi kwakho abathokoza ekuzikhukhumezeni kwakho; futhi kawusayikubuya uziphakamise entabeni yami engcwele.
In that day thou shall not be put to shame for all thy doings, in which thou have transgressed against me. For then I will take away out of the midst of thee those who rejoice in thy pride, and thou shall no more be haughty in my holy mountain.
12 Njalo ngizatshiya phakathi kwakho abantu abahluphekileyo labangabayanga; bona bazathemba ebizweni likaJehova.
But I will leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall take refuge in the name of Jehovah.
13 Insali yakoIsrayeli kayiyikwenza ububi, kayiyikukhuluma amanga; njalo kakuyikufunyanwa ulimi olukhohlisayo emlonyeni wayo; ngoba bona bazakudla balale phansi, njalo kungekho obesabisayo.
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. For they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.
14 Hlabelela, ndodakazi yeZiyoni; memeza, Israyeli; thokoza, ujabule ngenhliziyo yonke, ndodakazi yeJerusalema.
Sing, O daughter of Zion. Shout, O Israel. Be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15 INkosi isusile izahlulelo zakho, isixotshile isitha sakho; inkosi yakoIsrayeli, uJehova, iphakathi kwakho; kawusayikubona okubi.
Jehovah has taken away thy judgments. He has cast out thine enemy. The King of Israel, even Jehovah, is in the midst of thee. Thou shall not fear evil any more.
16 Ngalolosuku kuzakuthiwa kuyo iJerusalema: Ungesabi; lawe Ziyoni, kazingadangali izandla zakho.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not, O Zion. Let not thy hands be slack.
17 INkosi uNkulunkulu wakho phakathi kwakho ilamandla, izasindisa; izajabula ngawe ngentokozo; izathula othandweni lwayo, ithabe ngawe ngokuhlabelela.
Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over thee with joy. He will rest in his love. He will joy over thee with singing.
18 Ngizababutha abadabuka ngenxa yenhlangano emisiweyo, bevela kuwe; ihlazo lingumthwalo kubo.
I will gather those who sorrow for the solemn assembly, who were of thee, to whom the burden upon her was a reproach.
19 Khangela, ngalesosikhathi ngizakuba lokwenza labo bonke abakuhluphayo; ngisindise oqhulayo, ngibuthe oxotshiweyo; ngibabeke babe yindumiso lebizo kulo lonke ilizwe lehlazo labo.
Behold, at that time I will deal with all those who afflict thee. And I will save that which is lame, and gather that which was driven away, and I will make them a praise and a name, whose shame has been in all the earth.
20 Ngalesosikhathi ngizalingenisa, langesikhathi engizalibuthelela ngaso; ngoba ngizalenza libe libizo lendumiso phakathi kwabantu bonke bomhlaba, lapho sengibuyisa abathunjiweyo benu phambi kwamehlo enu, itsho iNkosi.
At that time I will bring you in, and at that time I will gather you. For I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth when I bring back your captivity before your eyes, says Jehovah.
