UZefaniya 3
1 Maye kowenyanyekayo longcolileyo, umuzi ocindezelayo!
Woe to her that is filthy 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 the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
3 Iziphathamandla zawo phakathi kwawo ziyizilwane ezibhongayo; abahluleli bawo bazimpisi zokuhlwa; kazikhukhuzi ithambo ekuseni.
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
4 Abaprofethi bawo bangabangakhathaliyo, abantu abakhohlisayo; abapristi bawo sebengcolise indawo engcwele, benze udlakela kumthetho.
Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted 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.
The just LORD is in the middle thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning does he bring his judgment to light, he fails not; but the unjust 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 the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passes by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
7 Ngathi: Isibili uzangesaba, wemukele ukulaywa; ukuze indawo yakhe yokuhlala ingaqunywa, konke engimjezisa ngakho; sibili bavuka ngovivi, bazonakalise zonke izenzo zabo.
I said, Surely you will fear me, you will receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: 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 you on me, says the LORD, 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 on 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 will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call on the name of the LORD, 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 shall you not be ashamed for all your doings, wherein you have transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the middle of you them that rejoice in your pride, and you shall no more be haughty because of my holy mountain.
12 Njalo ngizatshiya phakathi kwakho abantu abahluphekileyo labangabayanga; bona bazathemba ebizweni likaJehova.
I will also leave in the middle of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
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; neither 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.
The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the middle of you: you shall not see evil any more.
16 Ngalolosuku kuzakuthiwa kuyo iJerusalema: Ungesabi; lawe Ziyoni, kazingadangali izandla zakho.
In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear you not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be slack.
17 INkosi uNkulunkulu wakho phakathi kwakho ilamandla, izasindisa; izajabula ngawe ngentokozo; izathula othandweni lwayo, ithabe ngawe ngokuhlabelela.
The LORD your God in the middle of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing.
18 Ngizababutha abadabuka ngenxa yenhlangano emisiweyo, bevela kuwe; ihlazo lingumthwalo kubo.
I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.
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 undo all that afflict you: and I will save her that halts, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.
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 will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, said the LORD.
