Isambulo 17

1 Kwasekusiza enye yengilosi eziyisikhombisa ezazilemiganu eyisikhombisa, yasikhuluma lami, isithi kimi: Woza lapha, ngizakutshengisa isigwebo sesifebe esikhulu, esihlezi phezu kwamanzi amanengi,

And one of the seven Angels, those who hold the seven bowls, approached and spoke with me, saying: “Come, I will show you the condemnation of the great harlot, who sits upon many waters.

2 afeba laso amakhosi omhlaba, labakhileyo emhlabeni badakwe liwayini lobufebe baso.

With her, the kings of the earth have fornicated. And those who inhabit the earth have been inebriated by the wine of her prostitution.”

3 Yasingithwalela enkangala ngikuMoya; ngasengibona owesifazana ehlezi phezu kwesilo esibomvu, sigcwele amabizo enhlamba, silamakhanda ayisikhombisa lempondo ezilitshumi.

And he carried me away in spirit to the desert. And I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast, filled with names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

4 Njalo owesifazana wayembethe okuyibubende lokubomvu, futhi ececiswe ngegolide langamatshe aligugu langamapharele, elenkezo yegolide esandleni sakhe, igcwele amanyala lokungcola kobufebe bakhe,

And the woman was clothed all around with purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, holding a golden cup in her hand, filled with the abomination and with the filth of her fornication.

5 njalo ebunzini lakhe kwakulotshiwe ibizo lokuthi: IMFIHLO, IBHABHILONI ELIKHULU, UNINA WEZIFEBE LOWAMANYALA OMHLABA.

And a name was written upon her forehead: Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of the fornications and the abominations of the earth.

6 Ngasengibona owesifazana edakwe ligazi labangcwele, legazi labafakazi bakaJesu. Sengimbonile ngamangala ngokumangala okukhulu.

And I saw that the woman was inebriated from the blood of the saints and from the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And I was amazed, when I had seen her, with a great wonder.

7 Ingilosi yasisithi kimi: Umangalelani? Mina ngizakutshela imfihlo yowesifazana, leyesilo esimthweleyo, esilamakhanda ayisikhombisa lempondo ezilitshumi.

And the Angel said to me: “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has seven heads and ten horns.

8 Isilo, osibonileyo, sasikhona, njalo kasisekho, futhi sizakwenyuka sivela emgodini ongelamkhawulo, sibe sesisiya ekubhujisweni; labakhileyo emhlabeni bazamangala, abamabizo abo ayengabhalwanga egwalweni lwempilo, kusukela ekusekelweni komhlaba, bebona isilo esasikhona, njalo singasekho, lanxa sikhona. (Abyssos g12)

The beast that you saw, was, and is not, and is soon to ascend from the abyss. And he goes forth unto destruction. And the inhabitants upon the earth (those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world) shall be amazed upon seeing the beast who was and is not. (Abyssos g12)

9 Nanku ukuqedisisa okulenhlakanipho. Amakhanda ayisikhombisa azintaba eziyisikhombisa owesifazana ahlezi khona phezu kwazo;

And this is for one who understands, who has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains, upon which the woman sits, and they are seven kings.

10 futhi angamakhosi ayisikhombisa, amahlanu asewile, lenye ikhona, lenye kayikafiki, njalo nxa isifikile imele ukuhlala isikhatshana.

Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet arrived. And when he arrives, he must remain for a brief time.

11 Lesilo esasikhona, njalo singasekho, yona-ke ingeyesificaminwembili, njalo ivela kwayisikhombisa, ibisisiya ekubhujisweni.

And the beast who was, and is not, the same is also the eighth, and he is of the seven, and he goes forth unto destruction.

12 Lempondo ezilitshumi, ozibonileyo, zingamakhosi alitshumi, angakemukeli umbuso, kodwa emukele amandla njengamakhosi ngehola linye kanye lesilo.

And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings; these have not yet received a kingdom, but they shall receive authority, as if they were kings, for one hour, after the beast.

13 Wona angqondonye, njalo abela isilo awawo amandla lokubusa.

These hold to one plan, and they shall hand over their power and authority to the beast.

14 La azakulwa leWundlu, njalo iWundlu lizawanqoba, ngoba liyiNkosi yamakhosi loMbusi wababusi, labakanye lalo ngababiziweyo labakhethiweyo labathembekileyo.

These shall fight against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall conquer them. For he is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. And those who are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

15 Yasisithi kimi: Amanzi owabonileyo, lapho esihlezi khona isifebe, angabantu lamaxuku lezizwe lendimi.

And he said to me: “The waters that you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples and nations and languages.

16 Lempondo ezilitshumi, ozibonileyo esilweni, zona zizasizonda isifebe, besezisichitha zisinqunule, zidle inyama yaso, zisitshise ngomlilo.

And the ten horns that you saw on the beast, these shall hate the woman who fornicates, and they shall make her desolate and naked, and they shall chew her flesh, and they shall burn her completely with fire.

17 Ngoba uNkulunkulu ufakile enhliziyweni zazo ukuthi zenze ingqondo yakhe, lokwenza ngqondonye, lokunika isilo umbuso wazo, kuze kupheleliswe amazwi kaNkulunkulu.

For God has granted to their hearts that they may do to her whatever is pleasing, so that they may give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God may be completed.

18 Lowesifazana ombonileyo ungumuzi omkhulu olombuso phezu kwamakhosi omhlaba.

And the woman that you saw is the great City, which holds a kingdom above that of the kings of the earth.”