1

1 Ilizwi likaYehova elafika kuMika waseMoreshete, ngemihla kaYotam, ka-Ahazi, kaHezekiya, ookumkani bakwaYuda, awalibonayo ngokusingisele kwelakwaSamari neYerusalem.

2 Yivani nonke, zizwe niphela; bazani indlebe, hlabathi nenzaliseko yalo; mayibe lingqina iNkosi uYehova ngani, iNkosi etempileni yayo engcwele.

3 Kuba nanko uYehova ephuma endaweni yakhe, eya kuhla, anyathele phezu kwemimango yehlabathi.

4 Ziya kunyibilika iintaba phantsi kwakhe, zicandeke izihlambo, njengomthwebeba phambi komlilo, njengamanzi ephalazwé exandekeni.

5 Konke oko kungesikreqo sakwaYakobi, kungesono sendlu kaSirayeli. Ngubani na obange isikreqo sakwaYakobi? AsingowakwaSamari na? Ngubani na obange izigánga zakwaYuda? AsingowaseYerusalem na?

6 Ngoko ke ndolenza elakwaSamari libe yimfumba yamatye esisimi, libe ziindawo zokutyala imidiliya; ndiwaphose amatye alo emfuleni, ndizityhile iziseko zalo.

7 Iya kuqotywa yonke imifanekiso yalo eqingqiweyo, lutshiswe ngomlilo lonke utsheqo lwalo, ndizichithe zonke izithixo zalo; ngokuba lizibuthe ngotsheqo lwehenyukazi, ziya kubuya ke zibe lutsheqo lwehenyukazi.

8 Ngoko ke ndiya kumbambazela, ndibhomboloze; ndiya kuhamba ndíbhunyulwe, ndíshiywe ndizé; ndiya kukhala njengempungutye, ndilile njengenciniba.

9 Kuba amanxeba alo akanakunyangwa; ngokuba kude kwafika nakwaYuda, kwada kwafika esangweni labantu bam eYerusalem.

10 Musani ukukuxela eGati, musani ukulila nokulila; eBhetele-afra ndizigaléle ngothuli.

11 Dlulani, bemi baseShafire, nihambe zé ngokulihlazo; abemi baseTsanan abaphumanga; umbambazelo lwaseBhete-etsele lunihlutha ukuma kwenu kuyo.

12 Kuba abemi baseMaroti bazibhijabhija ngenxa yokulungileyo; kuba kuhlé ububi buphuma kuYehova, beza esangweni leYerusalem.

13 Bophani iimbaleki ezinqwelweni zokulwa, bemi baseLakishe; ibikukuqala kwesono entombini enguZiyon, ukuthi zifunyanwe kuyo izikreqo zakwaSirayeli.

14 Ngako oko ùya kuyinika iMoreshete yaseGati inqakwe; izindlu zaseAkezibhi ziya kuba ngumlambo okhohlisayo kookumkani bakwaSirayeli.

15 Ndisaya kuyizisa indlalifa kuni, bemi baseMaresha; baya kufika eAdulam abazukileyo bakwaSirayeli. Chebani, niziguye iintloko, ngenxa yoonyana beziyolo zenu;

16 kwenzeni banzi ukucheba kwenu, njengexhalanga; kuba bathinjiwe kuwe.

2

1 Athi ke, abo bacinga ubutshinga, basebènze ububi ezililini zabo! abathi ekukhanyeni kwengomso babenze, ngokuba isandla sabo singuthixo wabo.

2 Banqwenela amasimi, bawahluthe; kwanezindlu, bazithabathe; bacudisa umfo nendlu yakhe, indoda nelifa layo.

3 Ngako oko utsho uYehova ukuthi, Yabonani, ndicinga ububi ngale mizalwane, eningayi kuzirhola iintamo zenu kubo, ningahambi niqhankqalaza; kuba lixesha lobubi.

4 Ngaloo mini kuya kwenziwa umzekeliso ngani, bameme isimema, kuthiwe, Kwenzekile; sìbhuqiwe sabhuqwa. Isahlulo sabantu bakowethu usananisile; hayi, ukusísusa kwakhe kum! amasimi ethu úwabela amaphamba.

5 Ngako oko akuyi kuba naye okuphosela ulutya kwiqashiso ebandleni likaYehova.

6 Bathi, Musani ukuwisa intetho, bewisa intetho; ukuba àbathe bawisa intetho kubo abo, akayi kubuya umva amahlazo.

7 Wena kùthiwa ùyindlu kaYakobi, úyazekaneka na uMoya kaYehova? kukwenza kwakhe na oku? Akalungisi na amazwi am kohamba ngokuthe tye?

8 Izolo eli abantu bam basuke ngokotshaba; nibahluba ingubo ende yokwaleka kwengaphantsi, ábadlula bekholosile, bengathandi kulwa.

9 Abafazi babantu bam niyabagxotha ezindlwini zeziyolo zabo; ebantwaneni babo nizithabathile izivatho zam ngonaphakade.

10 Sukani, nihambe; kuba asiyiyo indawo yokuphumla kwenu le; ngenxa yobunqambi bayo obonákalisayo, obonákalisayo kakhulu.

11 Ukuba bekukho umntu ohamba nomoya, exokisa ngamanga, esithi, Ndiya kuwisa intetho kuwe ngokusingisele kwiwayini, nakwisiselo esinxilisayo, ubeya kuba ngumwisi-ntetho kwaba bantu.

12 Ndiya kukuhlanganisa okunene, Yakobi, uphela; okunene ndiya kuwabutha amasalela akwaSirayeli; ndiya kubenza babe banye, njengempahla emfutshane yaseBhotsera, njengomhlambi ophakathi kwedlelo lawo; baya kuxokozela ngokuba baninzi kwabantu.

13 Únyuké phambi kwabo umgqobhozi; bayagqobhoza, bayangena esangweni, bayaphuma kwangalo; ukumkani wabo uhamba phambi kwabo, uYehova esentloko kubo.

3

1 Ndathi, Khanive, zintloko zakwaYakobi, nani baphathi bendlu kaSirayeli; asikokwenu na ukukwazi okusesikweni?

2 nina, bathiyi bokulungileyo, bathandi bokubi; nina bahlinzi bolùsu lwabantu, nenyama yabo emathanjeni abo;

3 nina, bayidlileyo inyama yabantu bam; balobula ulùsu lwabo; bawaphula amathambo abo; bawaxhaxha ngathi ngawembiza, ngathi yinyama kungxawu.

4 Baya kwandula bakhale kuYehova, angabaphenduli; asuke abusithelise ubuso bakhe kubo ngelo xesha, njengoko bazenzé zambi iintlondi zabo.

5 Utsho uYehova ngokusingisele kubaprofeti ababandwendwisàyo abantu bakowethu; abathi, xa banokuhlafunwayo, baze bamemeze uxolo; bathi, osukuba engafaki nto emlonyeni wabo, bamngcwalisele imfazwe, ukuthi:

6 Ngako oko niya kuba nobusuku, iphuthe imibono; nibe nobumnyama, kuphuthe ukuvumisa; litshone ilanga kubaprofeti, ibe mnyama imini kubo.

7 Ziya kudana iimboni, babe neentloni abavumisi, bazigqubuthele iindevu bonke bephela; ngokuba kungekho mpendulo kaThixo.

8 Ke mna ndizele ngamandla ngomoya kaYehova, ndizele kokusesikweni nobugora, ukuze ndimxelele uYakobi ukreqo lwakhe, uSirayeli isono sakhe.

9 Khanive oku, nina zintloko zendlu kaYakobi, nani baphathi bendlu kaSirayeli, abakwenza amasikizi okusesikweni, bakujikajike konke okuthe tye;

10 ábayakha iZiyon ngamagazi, neYerusalem ngobugqwetha.

11 Iintloko zayo zigweba ngenxa yesicengo, nababingeleli bayo bayayala ngenxa yomvuzo, nabaprofeti bayo bavumisa ngenxa yemali; baze bayame ngoYehova, besithi, UYehova àkaphakathi kwethu, yini na? àsiyi kuzelwa bubi.

12 Ngako oko, ngenxa yenu iya kulinywa iZiyon ibe yintsimi, iYerusalem ibe yimiwewe, intaba yayo indlu ibe yimimango yehlathi.

4

1 Ke kaloku, ekupheleni kwemihla, intaba yendlu kaYehova iya kuzinza encotsheni yazo iintaba, yona iziphakamele iinduli, zibe ngumsinga izizwe ukuya kuyo.

2 Ziya kuhamba iintlanga ezininzi, zithi, Hambani, sinyuke siye entabeni kaYehova, endlwini yoThixo kaYakobi, ukuze asiyalele iindlela zakhe, sihambe ngomendo wakhe; kuba uya kuphuma eZiyon umyalelo, nelizwi likaYehova eYerusalem.

3 Úya kugweba phakathi kwezizwe ezininzi, ohlwaye iintlanga ezinamandla, ade ase kùde; ziwakhande, amakrele azo abe ngamakhuba, nezikhali zazo zibe zizitshetshe zokuthena imidiliya. Uhlanga aluyi kuphakamisela kuhlanga ikrele lalo, bangabi safunda ukulwa.

4 Baya kuhlala elowo phantsi komdiliya wakhe, naphantsi komkhiwane wakhe, kungabikho uboyikisayo; kuba umlomo kaYehova wemikhosi uthethile.

5 Kuba zonke izizwe zihamba, sona eso egameni lothixo waso; thina ke sihamba egameni likaYehova uThixo wethu, ngonaphakade kanaphakade.

6 Ngayo loo mini, utsho uYehova, ndiya kubahlanganisa abaqhwalelayo, ndibabuthe abagxothiweyo, nabendibaphethe kakubi;

7 ndibenze abaqhwalelayo babe ngamasalela, nabakhweleliselwa kùde babe luhlanga olunamandla, uYehova abe ngukumkani kubo entabeni yeZiyon, kususela ngoku kude kuse ephakadeni.

8 Wena ke, nqaba ende yomhlambi, nduli yentombi enguZiyon, luya kuza lufikelele kuwe olwangaphambili ulawulo, lokuba bubukumkani bentombi enguYerusalem.

9 Ngokunje ùkhalelani na ngoku kukhala? Akakho na ukumkani kuwe? Umcebisi wakho ubhubhile na, ukuba ubanjwe nje kukuzibhijabhija, njengozalayo?

10 Zibhijabhije, ubhanyalaze njengozalayo, ntombi inguZiyon; ngokuba ngoku ùya kuphuma phakathi komzi, uhlale endle, ude uye eBhabheli; ùya kuhlangulwa khona; úya kukukhulula khona uYehova esandleni seentshaba zakho.

11 Ngoku ke kuhlanganisene iintlanga ezininzi ngawe, zisithi, Mayihlanjelwe, ayibone amehlo ethu iZiyon.

12 Ke zona ezi azizazi iingcinga zikaYehova, aziliqondi icebo lakhe; kuba uzibuthile njengezithungu zesandá.

13 Suk' ume, ubhule, ntombi inguZiyon, kuba uphondo lwakho ndilwenza isinyithi, neempuphu zakho ndizenza ubhedu. Ùya kucola iintlanga ezininzi, uyisingele phantsi kuYehova inzuzo yazo embi, ubusingele phantsi kwiNkosi yehlabathi lonke ubutyebi bazo.

5

1 Kaloku ngungelanani, ntombi yongungelwano; bayasingqinga, babetha ngentonga esidleleni nakumgwebi wakwaSirayeli.

2 Ke wena, Bhetelehem-efrata, ùmncinane kunokuba ubekho emawakeni akwaYuda, kuya kuphuma kuwe, eze ngenxa yam, oya kuba ngumlawuli kwaSirayeli, oziphumo zakhe zisusela kumandulo, zisusela kwimihla yasephakadeni.

3 Ngako oko úya kubanikela kude kube lixesha lokuzala kozalayo, ade abuye amasalela abazalwana bakhe, kunye noonyana bakaSirayeli;

4 úya kuma, aluse enamandla kaYehova, enobungangamsha begama likaYehova uThixo wakhe; bahlale; ngokuba ngoku úya kuba mkhulu, ese eziphelweni zehlabathi.

5 Wóba luxolo lowo. Xa uAsiriya azileyo ezweni lakowethu, xa anyathelayo ezingxandeni zethu ezinde, siya kumisela abalusi abasixhenxe, neenkosi zabantu ezisibhozo, zimelane naye.

6 Baya kulalúsa ilizwe laseAsiriya ngekrele, nelizwe lakwaNimrodi emasangweni alo; asihlangule kuma-Asiriya, xa azileyo ezweni lakowethu, xa anyathelayo emideni yethu.

7 Amasalela akwaYakobi aya kuba phakathi kwezizwe ezininzi, njengombethe ophuma kuYehova, njengamathontsi emvula ebutyanini; engathembele mntwini, engalindele koonyana babantu.

8 Amasalela akwaYakobi oba sezintlangeni, phakathi kwezizwe ezininzi, njengengonyama phakathi kweenyamakazi zehlathi; njengengonyama entsha phakathi kwemihlambi yeegusha, yona ithi, ìngàcanda kuzo, isuke inyhashe, iqwenge, kungabikho mhlanguli.

9 Masiphakame isandla sakho, sibe phezu kwababandezeli bakho, zinqunyulwe zonke iintshaba zakho.

10 Kothi ngaloo mini, utsho uYehova, ndiwanqumle amahashe akho, angabikho phakathi kwakho, ndizitshabalalise iinqwelo zakho zokulwa.

11 Ndoyinqumla imizi yelizwe lakowenu, ndizigungxule zonke iinqaba zakho;

12 ndibanqamle abakhafuli, bangabikho esandleni sakho; amatola angabikho kuwe.

13 Ndiya kuyinqumla imifanekiso yakho eqingqiweyo, nezimiso zakho zamatye, zingabikho phakathi kwakho; ungabi saqubuda kumsebenzi wezandla zakho.

14 Ndobanyothula ooAshera* bakho, bangabikho phakathi kwakho; ndiyitshabalalise imizi yakho. Ndiya kuphindezela ndinomsindo, ndíshushu ezintlangeni ezingevayo.

6

1 Khanive akuthethayo uYehova; uthi, Suk' ume, ubambane neentaba, iinduli zilive ilizwi lakho.

2 Yivani, zintaba, ukubambana kukaYehova, nani zimakade, ziseko zehlabathi; kuba uYehova ubambene nabantu bakhe, uya kuphikisana namaSirayeli.

3 Bantu bam, ndenzé ntoni na kuni? Ndinidinisé ngantoni na?

4 Ndíphenduleni. Ngokuba ndaninyusa ezweni laseYiputa, ndanikhulula endlwini yamakhoboka, ndathuma phambi kwenu ooMoses, noAron, noMiriyam.

5 Bantu bam, khanikukhumbule ukucebisa kukaBhalaki ukumkani wakwaMowabhi, nokuphendula kukaBhileham unyana kaBhehori, ethabathela eShitim, wada wesa eGiligali, ukuze niyazi imisebenzi kaYehova yobulungisa.

6 Ndiya kumkhawulela uYehova ndinantoni na? Ndiye kuzigoba na kuThixo ophezulu? Ndiya kumkhawulela ndinamadini anyukayo na, ndínamathole amnyaka mnye na?

7 Wókholiswa na uYehova ngamawaka eenkunzi zezimvu, ngamawaka alishumi emilambo yeoli? Ndorhola owamazibulo na ngenxa yesikreqo sam, isiqhamo somzimba wam na ngenxa yesono somphefumlo wam?

8 Ùxelelwe, mntundini, okulungileyo: akubizayo uYehova kuwe, kukuthi wenze okusesikweni, uthande inceba, uhambe noThixo wakho ngokuthozamileyo.

9 Izwi likaYehova libhekisa kuwo umzi ukubiza, igama lakho liyayibona eyona nto iyiyo. Yiveni intonga, nalowo uyiyalelayo.

10 Busekho na ubuncwane bokungendawo endlwini yongendawo, ne-efa* edlekileyo, ebhavunyelweyo?

11 Ndoqaqamba na ndinesikali* sokungendawo, ndinengxowa yamatye* enkohliso?

12 Kuba izityebi zakhona zizele lugonyamelo, nabemi bakhona bathethé ubuxoki, nolwimi lwabo lubé lunenkohliso emlonyeni wabo.

13 Nam ke ndikuxábele ngokubulalayo, ndikuphanzisile ngenxa yezono zakho.

14 Wena uya kudla, ungahluthi, uhlale unephango; usabise, ungasindisi; nokusindileyo ndikunikèle ekreleni.

15 Wena uya kuhlwayela, ungàvuni; wena uya kuxovula umnquma, ungàzithambisi ngeoli; uxovule iwayini entsha, ungàseli wayini.

16 Bazigcinela imimiselo kaOmri, nezenzo zonke zendlu ka-Ahabhi, nisuke nihambe ngamacebo abo; ukuze ndinènze nibe ngummangaliso, nabemi bayo babe ngumsondlo; ngoko niya kuthwala ukungcikivwa kwabantu bam.

7

1 Athi ke mna! Kuba ndisuke ndaba njengokuhlanganiswa kweziqhamo zasehlotyeni, njengokubhikicwa kweediliya; akukho sihloko sakudliwa; akukho khiwane liqalelayo, linqwenelwayo ngumphefumlo wam.

2 Udakile owenceba, àkabakho ehlabathini; akasekho nothe tye phakathi koluntu; bonke bephela balalela igazi, elowo uzingela umzalwana wakhe ngomnatha.

3 Izandla zabo zozibini zisentweni embi ukuba ziyifeze; uthi umthetheli acele ngegunya, umgwebi enzele umvuzo; omkhulu yena uthetha ububi bomphefumlo wakhe; benjenjalo ke ukuyiphotha.

4 Olungileyo kubo unjengomtholo, othe tye ugqithisele nakuthango lweminga; iyéza imini yababoniseli bakho, yokuvelelwa kwakho, kubekho ngoku ukudideka kwabo.

5 Musani ukukholwa nguwenu, ningakholosi ngekholwane; nakolele esifubeni sakho, zígcine iingcango zomlomo wakho.

6 Ngokuba unyana úmenza isidenge uyise, intombi isukela phezulu kunina, umolokazana kuninazala; iintshaba zomntu ngabantu bendlu yakhe.

7 Mna ke ndiya kuqwalasela kuYehova; ndiya kulindela kuThixo wokusindiswa kwam; úya kundiva uThixo wam.

8 Musa ukundivuyelela, lutshaba lwam; kuba, ndíwile nje, ndiya kubuya ndivuke; kuba, ndíhleli emnyameni nje, uYehova uya kuba kukukhanya kum.

9 Ukujala kukaYehova ndiya kukuthwala, kuba ndonile kuye, ade andithethelele etyaleni lam, andilungisele; uya kundikhuphela ekukhanyeni; ndiya kububona ubulungisa bakhe.

10 Ke utshaba lwam luya kubona, lugutyungelwe kukudana, obe lusithi kum, Uphi na uYehova, uThixo wakho? Amehlo am aya kulubona; kungoku luya kunyathelwa njengodaka lwezitrato.

11 Iyéza imini yokwakhiwa kweendonga zakho; ngaloo mini úya kuba kude ummiselo.

12 Ngaloo mini boza kuwe, bevela eAsiriya nasemizini yaseYiputa, bethabathela eYiputa, bade base kuwo uMlambo;* bethabathela elwandle, base elwandle; bethabathela entabeni base entabeni.

13 Kuya kuba senkangala elizweni, ngenxa yabemi balo, ngenxa yeziqhamo zeentlondi zabo.

14 Yalusa abantu bakho ngentonga yakho, iigusha zelifa lakho, ezihleli zodwa, ehlathini phakathi kweKarmele; mazidle eBhashan nakwelaseGiliyadi, ngokweemini zasephakadeni.

15 Ngokweemini zokuphuma kwakho ezweni laseYiputa, ndiya kubabonisa imisebenzi ebalulekileyo.

16 Iintlanga ziya kubona, zibudanele ubugorha bazo bonke; ziya kubeka isandla emlonyeni, iindlebe zazo ziya kuba zizithulu.

17 Ziya kukhotha uthuli njengenyoka, njengezinambuzane zehlabathi; ziya kuphuma zigungqa ekuvingcelweni kwazo; ziya kuya zinkwantya kuYehova uThixo wethu, zoyike phambi kwakho.

18 Ngubani na onguThixo onjengawe, oxolela ubugwenxa, adlule esikreqweni samasalela elifa lakhe? Akawugcini unaphakade umsindo wakhe; kuba yena uthanda ukwenza inceba.

19 Wóbuya abe nemfesane kuthi, abunyathelele phantsi ubugwenxa bethu; wòziphosa ezinzulwini zolwandle zonke izono zabo.

20 Ùya kumnika uYakobi inyaniso, umnike uAbraham inceba, owabafungela yona oobawo kususela kwimihla yamandulo.