Isaiah 51
1 [Yahweh says], “You people who desire to act righteously/justly, who want to do what I want you to do, listen to me! Think about Abraham! [It is as though] [MET] he was a huge rock cliff; and when you [people of Israel became a nation], [it was as though] [MET] you were cut from that rock [DOU].
“Lalelani kimi lina elilandela ukulunga lidinga loThixo: Khangelani edwaleni elacezulwa kulo lasegodini lamatshe elambiwa kulo;
2 Think about your ancestor Abraham and [his wife] Sarah, of whom [all of] you are descendants. When I first spoke to Abraham, he had no children. But after I blessed him, he had a huge number of descendants.
khangelani ku-Abhrahama, uyihlo, lakuSara owalizalayo. Ekumbizeni kwami wayemunye, ngambusisa ngamandisa.
3 [Some day I], Yahweh, will encourage his descendants [again], and I will comfort all [the people who live in] the ruins [of Jerusalem]. The desert in that area will become like Eden, like the garden that I, Yahweh, [made/planted]. All the people there will be joyful and happy; they will thank me and sing.
Ngeqiniso uThixo uzaduduza iZiyoni abe lesihawu kuwo wonke amanxiwa alo; uzakwenza izinkangala zalo zibe njenge-Edeni, amazwe alo alugwadule afane lesivande sikaThixo. Ukuthaba lentokozo kuzafunyanwa kulo, kanye lokubonga lelizwi lokuhlabela.
4 My people of Judah, listen carefully [DOU] to me, because [I want you to] proclaim my laws; the just/right things that I do will be [like] [MET] a light for the people of the nations.
Lalelani kimi, bantu bami; ungizwe lawe sizwe sami: Kuzaphuma umthetho uvela kimi; ukulunga kwami kuzakuba yikukhanya ezizweni.
5 I will soon/quickly rescue you [DOU]; by my power [MTY] I will bring you back [from being exiled in Babylonia] [DOU]. The people who live on islands in the ocean will wait for me [to help them], confidently expecting for me to use my power [MTY].
Ukulunga kwami kusondela ngokuphangisa, insindiso yami iyeza, ingalo yami izaletha ukulunga ezizweni. Izihlenge zizakhangela kimi, zilinde zithembe amandla ami.
6 Look up at the sky, and look at the earth, [and see what they are like now], because [some day] the sky will disappear like [SIM] smoke, and the earth will wear out like [SIM] old clothes wear out, and people on the earth will die like gnats/flies. But I will rescue/save you, and you will remain free forever, and I will rule you righteously/fairly forever.
Phakamiselani amehlo enu phezulu emazulwini, likhangele lasemhlabeni phansi; amazulu azanyamalala njengentuthu; umhlaba uzaguga njengesigqoko abakhe kuwo bafe njengempukane. Kodwa insindiso yami izakuba khona kuze kube nininini, ukulunga kwami akuyikuphela.
7 You people who know what things are right to do, and who know in your inner beings [what is written in] my laws, listen to me! Do not be afraid of people who taunt/insult you; do not be disturbed/upset when people revile you,
Ngizwani lina elikwaziyo okulungileyo lina bantu abagcina umthetho wami ezinhliziyweni zenu: Lingakwesabi ukugconwa ngabantu, kumbe lethuswe yizithuko zabo.
8 because [some day they will be destroyed] like [MET] clothing that is eaten by ([larvae of] moths/cockroaches), like wool garments that have been eaten by worms. I will save you people, and you will be saved forever.”
Ngoba inondo izabadla njengesigqoko; impethu ibadle njengewulu. Kodwa ukulunga kwami kuzakuba khona kuze kube nininini; lensindiso yami ikhona kuzizukulwane zonke.”
9 Yahweh, wake up [and do something for us]! Show your power! Do mighty things like you did long ago, when you stabbed [RHQ] that sea monster/dragon Rahab and cut it into pieces.
Vuka, vuka, wena ngalo kaThixo; uzigqokise ngamandla akho! Vuka njengasezinsukwini zendulo, lanjengakuzizukulwane zakudala. Kayisuwe yini owaquma uRahabi waba yiziqa, wagwaza lesilo lesiyana na?
10 Surely you are [RHQ] the one who caused the [Red] Sea to become dry and made a path through that deep water in order that your people could cross it!
Kawusuwe yini owomisa ulwandle, amanzi atshona kakhulu, wenza umgwaqo ezinzikini zolwandle ukuze abahlengiweyo bachaphe na?
11 And those whom Yahweh will rescue [from being exiled in Babylonia] will [similarly] return to Jerusalem, singing. Their being joyful forever will be [like] [MET] a crown on their heads. They will not be sad or mourn any more; they will be [completely] joyful and happy.
Labahlengiweyo bakaThixo bazabuyela. Bazangena eZiyoni behlabelela, intokozo engapheliyo izakuba ngumqhele emakhanda abo. Bazakuba lokuthula lenjabulo, usizi lokububula kuzaphela.
12 [Yahweh says], “I am the one who encourages you. So (why are you/you should not be) [RHQ] afraid of humans who will [wither and disappear like] [MET] grass.
“Mina, mina uqobo, nginguye oliduduzayo. Ungubani wena ukuba wesabe abantu abafayo, amadodana abantu, abutshani nje,
13 (Why have you/You should not have) [RHQ] forgotten [me], Yahweh, the one who created your nation, the one who stretched out the sky and laid the foundations of the earth. (Why are you/You should not be) [RHQ] continually afraid of those who are angry with you and (oppress you/treat you cruelly) and want to get rid of you. [You should not be afraid of them now], because those angry people have now disappeared!
uze ukhohlwe uThixo, uMenzi wakho, owendlala amazulu wabeka lezisekelo zomhlaba, ukuthi uhlale ngokwesaba okungapheliyo nsuku zonke ngenxa yolaka lomncindezeli, ohlose ukuchitha na? Ngoba lungaphi na ulaka lomncindezeli?
14 Soon you people who have been caused to be slaves [in Babylonia] will be freed! You will not remain in prison, and you will not die of hunger,
Izibotshwa ezitshotshobeleyo zizakhululwa masinyazana, aziyikufela emajele azo, kumbe ziswele ukudla.
15 because I am Yahweh, your God, the one who stirs up the sea and causes the waves to roar; I am the Commander of the armies of angels!
Ngoba mina nginguThixo uNkulunkulu wakho, ophehla ulwandle ukuze amagagasi alo ahlokome, ibizo lakhe nguThixo uSomandla.
16 I have given you my message [MTY] to proclaim, and I have protected you with my hand [MTY]. I stretched out the sky and laid the foundation of the earth. And I am the one who says to you Israeli people, ‘You are my people!’”
Ngifake amazwi ami emlonyeni wakho ngakwembesa ngomthunzi wesandla sami, mina engabeka amazulu endaweni yawo, ngabeka izisekelo zomhlaba, njalo othi kuZiyoni, ‘Lina lingabantu bami.’”
17 [You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, wake up [DOU]! You have experienced Yahweh severely punishing [MTY] you. Yahweh has caused you to suffer much, all that he wanted you to suffer, like [MET] someone who causes another person to suffer by forcing him to drink every drop of [MTY] a cupful of bitter liquid.
Vuka, vuka! Phakama wena Jerusalema, wena onathe enkezweni esandleni sikaThixo inkezo yolaka lwakhe, wena oyikhoce wafika enzeceni zayo; inkezo eyenza amadoda adiyazele.
18 [Now] you do not have any children who are alive [DOU] and able to take your hand and guide you.
Kuwo wonke amadodana eliwazeleyo, kayikho eyayingalikhokhela; kuwo wonke amadodana elawondlayo, kayikho eyayingalibamba ngesandla.
19 You have experienced several disasters: Your country has become desolate/deserted; [your cities have been] destroyed; [many people have] died from hunger; [many people have been] killed by your enemies’ swords. Now, there is no one [RHQ] left to console/comfort you and sympathize with you.
Lezizingozi ezimbili zikwehlele; ngubani ongakududuza na? Incithakalo lokubhujiswa, indlala lenkemba, ngubani ongakududuza na?
20 Your children have fainted and lie in the streets; they are [as helpless as] [SIM] an antelope [that has been caught] in a net. What has happened to them is because Yahweh has been very angry with them; he has rebuked them severely.
Amadodana akho asephele amandla, aselala ezihlokweni zemigwaqo yonke njengebhalabhala elibanjwe ngumambule. Agcwele ulaka lukaThixo lokukhuza kukaNkulunkulu wakho.
21 So now, you people who have suffered much, [you act as though] you are drunk, but it is not because you have drunk a lot of wine.
Ngakho-ke zwana lokhu wena ohluphekayo, lodakisiweyo kodwa kungasingewayini.
22 Yahweh, your Lord and your God, the one who argues/pleads your case, says this: “Note this: [It is as though] [MET] I have taken that cup of bitter liquid from your hands; I will not be angry with you and cause you to suffer any more.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo Wobukhosi bakho, uNkulunkulu wakho ovikela abantu bakhe: “Khangela, sengiyisusile esandleni sakho inkezo ekwenza udiyazele; leyonkezo engeyolaka lwami, awuyikunatha ngayo futhi.
23 Instead, I will cause those who have tormented you to suffer; [I will severely punish] those who said to you, ‘Prostrate yourselves in order that we may walk on you; [lie down on your stomachs] in order that your backs will be like [SIM] streets that we can walk on.’”
Ngizayibeka ezandleni zabakuhluphayo, abathi kuwe, ‘Cambalala ukuze sihambe phezu kwakho.’ Wena-ke wenza umhlane wakho waba njengenhlabathi, lanjengomgwaqo okungahanjwa kuwo.”
