< UMikha 1 >

1 Ilizwi leNkosi elafika kuMika umMorashethi ensukwini zikaJothamu, uAhazi, loHezekhiya, amakhosi akoJuda, alibona mayelana leSamariya leJerusalema.
The LORD’s word that came to Micah of Morasheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Zwanini, lina zizwe lonke; ulalele, wena mhlaba, lokugcwala kwawo; kakuthi iNkosi uJehova ibe ngumfakazi omelene lani, iNkosi isethempelini layo elingcwele.
Hear, you peoples, all of you! Listen, O earth, and all that is therein. Let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
3 Ngoba khangela, iNkosi iyaphuma endaweni yayo, yehle inyathele endaweni eziphakemeyo zomhlaba.
For behold, the LORD comes out of his place, and will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
4 Lezintaba zizancibilika ngaphansi kwayo, lezihotsha ziqhekezeke, njengengcino phambi komlilo, njengamanzi athululwa emthezukweni.
The mountains melt under him, and the valleys split apart like wax before the fire, like waters that are poured down a steep place.
5 Konke lokhu kungenxa yesiphambeko sikaJakobe, langenxa yezono zendlu kaIsrayeli. Siyini isiphambeko sikaJakobe? KakusiSamariya yini? Njalo ziyini izindawo eziphakemeyo zikaJuda? KakusiJerusalema yini?
“All this is for the disobedience of Jacob, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the disobedience of Jacob? Isn’t it Samaria? And what are the high places of Judah? Aren’t they Jerusalem?
6 Ngakho ngizakwenza iSamariya ibe yinqumbi yensimu, ibe zindawo zokuhlanyelwa kwesivini; njalo ngizathululela amatshe ayo esihotsheni, ngembule izisekelo zayo.
Therefore I will make Samaria like a rubble heap of the field, like places for planting vineyards; and I will pour down its stones into the valley, and I will uncover its foundations.
7 Lazo zonke izithombe zayo ezibaziweyo zizaphahlazwa, layo yonke imivuzo yayo yewule izatshiswa ngomlilo, lazo zonke izithombe zayo ngizazenza zibe yincithakalo. Ngoba izibuthelele ngenhlawulo yewule, njalo zizabuyela kunhlawulo yewule.
All her idols will be beaten to pieces, all her temple gifts will be burnt with fire, and I will destroy all her images; for of the hire of a prostitute has she gathered them, and to the hire of a prostitute shall they return.”
8 Ngenxa yalokhu ngizalila ngiqhinqe isililo, ngizahamba ngihlutshulwe nginqunu; ngenze isililo njengamakhanka, ngikhale njengamadodakazi ezintshe.
For this I will lament and wail. I will go stripped and naked. I will howl like the jackals and mourn like the ostriches.
9 Ngoba inxeba layo kalelapheki; ngoba sekufikile koJuda; kufinyelele esangweni labantu bami, eJerusalema.
For her wounds are incurable; for it has come even to Judah. It reaches to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
10 Lingakukhulumi eGathi, lingalili lokulila; lizibhuquze othulini endlini kaAfera.
Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t weep at all. At Beth Ophrah I have rolled myself in the dust.
11 Dlula wena, mhlalikazi weShafiri, ohlazo lakho linqunuliwe; umhlalikazi weZawanani kaphumanga; isililo siseBhethi-Ezeli; uzakwemukela ukuma kwakhe kini.
Pass on, inhabitant of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame. The inhabitant of Zaanan won’t come out. The wailing of Beth Ezel will take from you his protection.
12 Ngoba umhlalikazi weMarothi ulomhelo ngokuhle, ngoba okubi kwehla kuvela eNkosini, kwaze kwaba sesangweni leJerusalema.
For the inhabitant of Maroth waits anxiously for good, because evil has come down from the LORD to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 Bophela inqola emabhizeni alejubane, wena mhlalikazi weLakishi; yona iyikuqala kwesono kundodakazi yeZiyoni; ngoba iziphambeko zakoIsrayeli zatholakala kuwe.
Harness the chariot to the swift steed, inhabitant of Lachish. She was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion; for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14 Ngakho uzakupha uMorashethi-Gathi izipho zokuvalelisana; izindlu zeAkizibi zizakuba yinkohliso emakhosini akoIsrayeli.
Therefore you will give a parting gift to Moresheth Gath. The houses of Achzib will be a deceitful thing to the kings of Israel.
15 Ngisezakulethela indlalifa, wena mhlalikazi weMaresha; uzakuza eAdulamu udumo lukaIsrayeli.
I will yet bring a conqueror to you, inhabitants of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
16 Zenze ube lempabanga uziphuce, ngenxa yabantwana bothando lwakho; khulisa impabanga yakho njengokhozi, ngoba bathunjiwe besuka kuwe.
Shave your heads, and cut off your hair for the children of your delight. Enlarge your baldness like the vulture, for they have gone into captivity from you!

< UMikha 1 >