3
Ukukhuzwa Kwabakhokheli Labaphrofethi
1 Lapho-ke mina ngathi,
“Lalelani lina bakhokheli bakoJakhobe,
lina babusi bendlu yako-Israyeli.
Ukulunga akumelanga likwazi na,
2 lina elizonda okuhle lithande okubi;
elixebula isikhumba ebantwini bami
lenyama emathanjeni abo;
3 lina elibadla inyama abantu bami,
lihlubule isikhumba sabo
lichoboze lamathambo abo abe yizicucu;
elibaqumaquma njengenyama yepani,
lanjengenyama yembiza?”
4 Lapho-ke bazakhala kuThixo,
kodwa kayikubaphendula.
Ngalesosikhathi uzabafihlela ubuso bakhe
ngenxa yobubi ababenzileyo.
5 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo:
“Okunjengabaphrofethi,
abedukisa abantu bami,
umuntu angabapha ukudla,
bamemezela ‘ukuthula’
nxa engabaphi balungisela
ukumhlasela ngempi.
6 Ngakho ubusuku buzakwehlela phezu kwenu, kungekho mibono,
kanye lomnyama, kungekho kuhlahlula.
Ilanga lizabatshonela abaphrofethi,
losuku luzakuba mnyama kubo.
7 Ababonisayo bazayangeka
labahlahluli babe lenhloni.
Bonke bazamboza ubuso babo
ngoba kungelampendulo evela kuNkulunkulu.”
8 Kodwa mina ngiphiwe amandla,
loMoya kaThixo,
lokulunga kanye lesibindi,
ukuba ngitshele uJakhobe ukona kwakhe
lo-Israyeli isono sakhe.
9 Zwanini lokhu lina bakhokheli bendlu kaJakhobe,
lani babusi bendlu ka-Israyeli,
eleyisa ukulunga
lihlanekele konke okuqondileyo;
10 elakha iZiyoni ngokuchitha igazi;
leJerusalema ngobubi.
11 Abakhokheli bayo bahlulela ngokufunjathiswa,
abaphristi bayo bafundisela inhlawulo,
labaphrofethi bayo baphrofithela imali;
ikanti bathembele kuThixo njalo bathi,
“Kanti uThixo kakho phakathi kwethu na?
Akulancithakalo engasehlela.”
12 Ngakho-ke ngenxa yenu,
iZiyoni izalinywa njengensimu,
iJerusalema izakuba yinqwaba yemfucuza,
intaba yethempeli ibe yindunduma eyande izixukwana.