U-Isaya 58

1 Memeza ngomphimbo, ungayekeli, uphakamise ilizwi lakho njengophondo, utshele abantu bami isiphambeko sabo, lendlu kaJakobe izono zabo.

Cry aloud, and spare not; lift up your voice as with a trumpet, and declare to my people their sins, and to the house of Jacob their iniquities.

2 Kanti bayangidinga mina usuku ngosuku, bethokoza ukwazi indlela zami; njengesizwe esenza ukulunga, esingadelanga isimiso sikaNkulunkulu waso, babuza kimi izimiso zokulunga, bathokoza ekusondeleni kuNkulunkulu.

They seek me day by day, and desire to know my ways, as a people that had done righteousness, and had not forsaken the judgment of their God: they now ask of me righteous judgment, and desire to draw near to God,

3 Besithi: Kungani sizile ukudla, wena-ke ungaboni? Kungani sihluphe umphefumulo wethu, wena-ke ungakwazi? Khangelani, ngosuku lokuzila kwenu ukudla, lithola intokozo, licindezele zonke izisebenzi zenu.

saying, Why have we fasted, and you regard not? [why] have we afflicted our souls, and you did not know it? Nay, in the days of your fasts you find your pleasures, and all them that are under your power you wound.

4 Khangelani, lizila ukudla lisenzela ingxabano lokuphikisana, lokutshaya ngenqindi yenkohlakalo; lingazili ukudla njengalamuhla, ukwenza ilizwi lenu lizwakale phezulu.

If you fast for quarrels and strifes, and strike the lowly with [your] fists, therefore do you fast to me as [you do] this day, so that your voice may be heard in crying?

5 Kunjalo yini ukuzila ukudla engikukhethileyo? Lusuku lokuthi umuntu ahluphe umphefumulo wakhe yini? Ukuthi akhothamise ikhanda lakhe njengomhlanga, endlale phansi kwakhe isaka lomlotha? Lokhu ungakubiza yini ngokuthi yikuzila ukudla, losuku olwemukelekayo eNkosini?

I have not chosen this fast, nor [such] a day for a man to afflict his soul; neither though you should bend down your neck as a ring, and spread under you sackcloth and ashes, neither thus shall you call a fast acceptable.

6 Kayisikho lokhu yini ukuzila ukudla engikukhethileyo: Ukuthukulula izibopho zobubi, ukukhulula imichilo yejogwe, ukuyekela abacindezelweyo bahambe bekhululekile, lokuthi lephule lonke ijogwe?

I have not chosen such a fast, says the Lord; but do you loose every burden of iniquity, do you untie the knots of hard bargains, set the bruised free, and cancel every unjust account.

7 Kayisikho yini ukwabela olambileyo isinkwa sakho, lokungenisa abayanga abayimihambuma endlini, lapho ubona onqunu umembese, lokuthi ungacatsheli inyama yakho?

Break your bread to the hungry, and lead the unsheltered poor to your house: if you see one naked, clothe [him], and you shall not disregard the relations of your own seed.

8 Khona ukukhanya kwakho kuzaqhamuka njengokusa, lokusila kwakho kuhlume masinyane; lokulunga kwakho kuhambe phambi kwakho; inkazimulo yeNkosi ibe ngumvikeli wakho ngasemuva.

Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall speedily spring forth: and your righteousness shall go before you, and the glory of God shall compass you.

9 Khona uzabiza, iNkosi iphendule, uzakhala, ibisisithi: Khangela ngilapha. Uba ususa phakathi kwakho ijogwe, ukukhomba ngomunwe, lokukhuluma okubi,

Then shall you cry, and God shall listen to you; while you are yet speaking he will say, Behold, I am here. If you remove from you the band, and the stretching forth of the hands, and murmuring speech;

10 ukhuphele olambileyo umphefumulo wakho, usuthise umphefumulo ohluphekileyo, khona ukukhanya kwakho kuzaphuma emnyameni, lobumnyama bakho bube njengemini enkulu.

and [if] you give bread to the hungry from your heart, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light spring up in darkness, and your darkness [shall be] as noon-day:

11 Njalo iNkosi izakukhokhela njalonjalo, isuthise umphefumulo wakho engwaduleni, iqinise amathambo akho, ube njengesivande esithelelwayo, lanjengomthombo wamanzi, omanzi awo angapheliyo.

and your God shall be with you continually, and you shall be satisfied according as your soul desires; and your bones shall be made fat, and shall be as a well-watered garden, and as a fountain [from] which the water has not failed.

12 Labakho bazakwakha amanxiwa amadala; uzavusa izisekelo zezizukulwana ngezizukulwana; uzabizwa ngokuthi: UMvalisikhala, uMbuyiseli wemikhondo yokuhlala.

And your old waste desert [places] shall be built up, and your foundations shall last through all generations; and you shall be called a repairer of breaches, and you shall cause your paths between to be in peace.

13 Uba uphendula unyawo lwakho lusuka kusabatha, ungenzi intokozo yakho ngosuku lwami olungcwele; ulibize isabatha ngokuthi yintokozo, olungcwele lweNkosi, oluhloniphekayo; njalo uluhlonipha, ungenzi indlela zakho, ungatholi intokozo yakho, loba ukhulume ilizwi lakho,

If you turn away your foot from the sabbath, so as not to do your pleasure on the holy days, and shall call the sabbaths delightful, holy to God; [if] you shall not lift up your foot to work, nor speak a word in anger out of your mouth,

14 khona uzazithokozisa eNkosini, ngizakugadisa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba, ngizakwenza udle ilifa likaJakobe uyihlo; ngoba umlomo weNkosi ukhulumile.

then shall you trust on the Lord; and he shall bring you up to the good places of the land, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken this.