< UZekhariya 8 >

1 Lafika njalo kimi ilizwi likaThixo uSomandla.
The word of Jehovah of hosts came to me.
2 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla: “Ngilobukhwele kabi ngeZiyoni; ngiyatsha ngobukhwele ngayo.”
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath."
3 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Ngizabuyela eZiyoni ngihlale eJerusalema. Lapho-ke iJerusalema izathiwa nguMuzi weQiniso, lentaba kaThixo uSomandla izabizwa ngokuthi yiNtaba eNgcwele.”
Thus says Jehovah: "I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called 'The City of Truth;' and the mountain of Jehovah of hosts, 'The Holy Mountain.'"
4 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Kuzakwenzakala njalo ukuthi amaxhegu lezalukazi bahlale nje ezitaladini zeJerusalema, ngulowo lodondolo lwakhe esandleni ngenxa yokuluphala.
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5 Izitalada zedolobho zizaphithizela abafana lamantombazana bezidlalela khona.”
The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets."
6 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Kungabonakala njengesimanga kwabayinsalela yalababantu ngalesosikhathi, kodwa kambe kungabonakala njengesimanga kimi na?” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "If it is marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvelous in my eyes?" says Jehovah of hosts.
7 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Ngizabasindisa abantu bami emazweni asempumalanga lasemazweni asentshonalanga.
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "Look, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8 Ngizababuyisela bayehlala eJerusalema; bazakuba ngabantu bami, lami ngizathembeka njalo ngibe lokulunga kubo njengoNkulunkulu wabo.”
and I will bring them, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness."
9 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Lina okwamanje eliwezwayo amazwi la akhulunywa ngabaphrofethi ababekhona kubekwa isisekelo sendlu kaThixo uSomandla, qinisani izandla zenu ukuze ithempeli lakhiwe.
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of Jehovah of hosts was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
10 Mandulo kwesikhathi leso kwakungekho imbadalo ngomsebenzi womuntu loba owenyamazana. Umuntu loba engubani wayengazihambeli loba azenzele okwakhe ekhululekile ngenxa yezitha, ngoba abantu ngasengibaxabanise labomakhelwane babo.
For before those days there was no wages for man, nor any wages for an animal; neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbor.
11 Kodwa khathesi kangisayikwenza kulaba abayinsalela njengalokho engakwenzayo endulo,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla.
But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days," says Jehovah of hosts.
12 “Inhlanyelo izakhula kuhle, ivini lizakhupha izithelo zalo, umhlabathi uzakhulisa amabele, lamazulu azakwehlisa amazolo awo. Zonke lezizinto ngizazinika njengelifa kwabayinsalela yalababantu.
"For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
13 Njengoba beliyinto eqalekisiweyo phakathi kwezizwe, wena Juda lo-Israyeli, ngakho ngizalisindisa libe yisibusiso. Lingesabi, kodwa qinisani izandla zenu.”
It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse among the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid. Let your hands be strong."
14 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Kanjengalokhu ngasengimisile ukwehlisela umonakalo phezu kwenu angaze ngatshengisa uzwelo lapho okhokho benu bangizondisa,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla,
For thus says Jehovah of hosts: "As I thought to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath," says Jehovah of hosts, "and I did not repent;
15 “yikho manje sengimisile ukwenza ubuhle njalo eJerusalema lakoJuda. Lingesabi.
so again have I thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Do not be afraid.
16 Nanzi izinto okumele lizenze: Khulumani iqiniso omunye komunye, njalo lehlulelane ngeqiniso langokuqonda emithethwandaba yenu;
These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates,
17 lingakheli umakhelwane wenu amacebo amabi, njalo lingaze lathanda ukufunga ngokungamanga. Konke lokhu ngiyakuzonda,” kutsho uThixo.
and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbor, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate," says Jehovah.
18 Ilizwi likaThixo uSomandla laphinda labuya kimi.
The word of Jehovah of hosts came to me.
19 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo uSomandla, uthi, “Amazilo awenyanga yesine, leyesihlanu, leyesikhombisa kanye leyetshumi azakuba yizikhathi zokuthokoza lokujabula, abe yimikhosi yokuthaba koJuda. Ngakho-ke thandani iqiniso lokuthula.”
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "The fasts of the fourth fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace."
20 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo uSomandla: “Abantu abanengi lezakhamizi zamadolobho amanengi basezakuza,
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;
21 njalo izakhamizi zedolobho leli zizakuya kwezakuleliyana zifike zithi, ‘Kasihambe khathesi lokhu siyoncenga uThixo, simfune uThixo uSomandla. Mina sengihamba.’
and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, 'Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of Jehovah, and to seek Jehovah of hosts. I will go also.'
22 Kuzakuthi abantu abanengi lezizwe ezilamandla zizakuza eJerusalema ukuzafuna uThixo uSomandla bezocela kuye.”
Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek Jehovah of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favor of Jehovah."
23 Nanku akutshoyo uThixo uSomandla, uthi: “Ngalezonsuku amadoda alitshumi aphuma kuzozonke izindimi lezizwe azagagadlela umphetho wengubo yomJuda oyedwa athi, ‘Wothi sihambe lawe ngoba sesizwile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulani.’”
Thus says Jehovah of hosts: "In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, 'We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'"

< UZekhariya 8 >