< Revelation 17 >

1 One of the seven angels, who had [one of] the seven bowls, came to me. He said to me, “Come [with me], and I will show you how [God] will punish the very evil [city that is represented by] [SYM] a prostitute, a city in which there are many canals [of] water.
Enye yezingilosi eziyisikhombisa ezazilemiganu eyisikhombisa yeza kimi yathi, “Woza ngikutshengise ukujeziswa kwesiphingi esikhulu esihlezi phezu kwamanzi amanengi.
2 [It is as though] the rulers of earth have acted immorally [and idolatrously] with the people of that city [MET], and they [have persuaded people] who live on the earth to act immorally [and idolatrously] with them [MET], [just like a prostitute persuades men to drink] the [strong] wine [she gives them, resulting in their] becoming drunk [and] then committing sexual immorality. with her.”
Amakhosi omhlaba afeba laso njalo abahlezi emhlabeni badakwa yiwayini yobufebe baso.”
3 Then, as [God’s] Spirit [controlled me], the angel carried me away to a desolate area. There I saw a woman who was sitting on a red beast. The beast had names [written] all over itself. They were names that (insulted/spoke evil against) [God]. The beast had seven heads and ten horns.
Ingilosi yasingithatha ngiseMoyeni yangisa enkangala. Khonapho ngabona owesifazane ehlezi phezu kwesilo esibomvu gebhu sigcwele amabizo ahlambazayo njalo yayilamakhanda ayisikhombisa lempondo ezilitshumi.
4 The woman [that I saw] was wearing purple and red [clothes]; and gold, precious stones, and pearls were fastened to her [clothes and her body]. She held in her hand a golden cup. The cup was full of [a liquid that represents] [SYM] the detestable/disgusting, idolatrous things and filthy immoral things that she [does].
Owesifazane lowo wayegqoke okuyibubende lokubomvu gebhu njalo wayekhazimula ngegolide langamatshe aligugu kanye langobuhlalu. Esandleni sakhe wayephethe inkezo igcwele izinto ezenyanyekayo kanye lamanyala obufebe bakhe.
5 This name, that has a hidden/secret [meaning], was written on her forehead: “[This woman is] Babylon, the very evil [city! She acts like] the mother of the prostitutes on the earth. She teaches them to [act] immorally and to worship idols.”
Umbhalo owawulotshwe ebunzini lakhe wawusesabeka: iBhabhiloni eliKhulu uNina weziPhingi kanye lamaNyala wonke oMhlaba.
6 I saw that the woman had become drunk as a result of drinking the blood of God’s people, those who had told others about Jesus. When I saw her, I was very bewildered/perplexed.
Ngabona ukuthi owesifazane lowo wayedakwe ligazi labangcwele, igazi lalabo abalobufakazi bukaJesu. Ekumboneni kwami ngamangala kakhulu.
7 The angel said to me, “Do not be bewildered [RHQ]! I will explain to you the hidden/secret meaning of the woman and of the beast on which she rides, the beast that has the seven heads and the ten horns.
Ingilosi yasisithi kimi, “Kungani umangala? Ngizakuchazela imfihlakalo yowesifazane lesilo asigadileyo esilamakhanda ayisikhombisa lempondo ezilitshumi.
8 The beast that you saw [lived] previously. Eventually God will destroy him, but now he is dead. He is [about to] come up (from the underworld/from the deep dark pit). [When] the beast who had previously lived, and who then had died, reappears, the people who live on the earth will be amazed. [They are people whose] names were not in the book in which are written the names of people [who will] have eternal life. [The angels have been writing those names in a list] (from the beginning of the world/from the time when the world began). (Abyssos g12)
Isilo osibonileyo sake saba khona, kodwa khathesi kasisekho njalo sizaphuma eMgodini ongelamkhawulo siye ekubhujisweni kwaso. Abahlezi emhlabeni abalamabizo abo angalotshwanga encwadini yokuphila kusukela ekudalweni komhlaba bazamangala lapho besibona lesosilo ngoba sake saba khona, kodwa khathesi kasisekho, kodwa sizabuya sivele. (Abyssos g12)
9 Those who [think] wisely [can understand] this: The seven heads [of the beast] on which the woman sits [symbolize] the seven hills [of the city that the woman represents]. They also [symbolize] seven rulers.
Lokhu kufuna ingqondo elokuhlakanipha. Amakhanda ayisikhombisa ngamaqaqa ayisikhombisa owesifazane ahlezi phezu kwawo.
10 Five [of those rulers] have died. One is [still alive]. The seventh [ruler] has not yet come. When he comes, he must remain on earth for [only] a short [time].
Njalo angamakhosi ayisikhombisa. Amahlanu kudala awa, eyodwa ikhona, enye kayikaveli, kodwa nxa isisiza kumele ihlale isikhatshana.
11 The beast that [lived] before and then was not [alive] will be the eighth [ruler]. He will be [evil like] the seven [rulers were, but God] will surely destroy him.
Isilo esake saba khona njalo khathesi esingasekho yinkosi yesificaminwembili. Ngenye yalawo ayisikhombisa njalo isisiya ekubhujisweni kwayo.
12 The ten horns that you saw [represent] ten rulers who have not yet begun to rule. They, together with the beast, will be authorized to rule [people for only a short time, as if it were] [MET] for one hour.
Impondo ezilitshumi ozibonileyo ngamakhosi alitshumi angakatholi mbuso, kodwa azathola amandla obukhosi okwehola elilodwa kanye lesilo.
13 Those [rulers] will all agree to do the same thing. [As a result] they will give to the beast their power [to rule people] as well as their authority [to rule people] [DOU].
Alenjongo yinye njalo azakupha isilo amandla awo kanye lelungelo.
14 The rulers and the beast will fight against [Jesus], the [one who is like a] lamb. He will defeat them, because he is Lord [who rules over all other] lords and the King [who rules over all other] kings. Those [people] who are with [and helping him] are the ones whom [God] has chosen, and who keep [serving him] faithfully.”
Azakulwa impi leWundlu, kodwa iWundlu lizawanqoba ngoba liyiNkosi yamakhosi loMbusi wababusi, njalo lizabe lilababiziweyo balo abangabalandeli abakhethiweyo labathembekileyo.”
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw in the city where the prostitute sits represent people-[groups], multitudes [of people], nations, and [speakers of many languages] [MTY].
Ingilosi yabuya yathi kimi, “Amanzi owabonileyo lapho isiphingi esihlezi khona ngabantu bemihlobo yonke, amaxuku lezizwe kanye lezindimi.
16 The ten horns that you saw [represent rulers] [SYM]. They and the beast will hate [the people in the city] [MTY] that the prostitute [represents]. As a result, they will [take away everything that is in the city, as if] they were [MET] leaving it naked. They will [destroy it as if] [MET] devouring flesh/meat, and they will burn it with fire.
Isilo lempondo ezilitshumi ozibonileyo kuzasizonda isiphingi. Zizasichitha zisitshiye size; zizakudla inyama yomzimba waso zisitshise ngomlilo.
17 They will do that because God has caused them to decide to do what he wants them to do. As a result, they will let the beast have their power to rule until what God has said is fulfilled {until [they] fulfill what God has said} [MTY].
Ngoba uNkulunkulu ubeke ezinhliziyweni zazo ukuba afeze injongo yakhe ngokuvuma ukunika isilo amandla azo okubusa amazwi kaNkulunkulu aze agcwaliseke.
18 The prostitute that you saw [represents] the very evil city [whose leaders] [MTY] rule over the kings of the earth.”
Owesifazane ombonileyo lidolobho elikhulu elibusa amakhosi omhlaba.”

< Revelation 17 >