Joweli Chapter 3

1. “Ngokuba ngalezo zinsuku nangaleso sikhathi, lapho ngiyakubuyisa ukuthunjwa kukaJuda neJerusalema,

2. ngiyakubutha zonke izizwe, ngizehlisele esigodini sikaJehoshafati, ngahlulelane nazo khona ngenxa yabantu bami nesabelo sami u-Israyeli, ezibahlakazile phakathi kwezizwe, zabela izwe lami.

3. Zenza inkatho ngabantu bami, zanika umfana ngesifebe, zathengisa ngentombazana ngenxa yewayini, zaliphuza.

4. “Niyini kimi, nina Tire neSidoni, nayo yonke imikhawulo yaseFilistiya na? Niyakungibuyisela utho na? Uma ningibuyisela utho ngiyakushesha ngibuyisele masinyane phezu kwekhanda lenu izenzo zenu,

5. njengalokho nithathile isiliva lami negolide lami, nangenisa izinto zami ezinhle emathempelini enu,

6. nathengisa ngabantwana bakwaJuda nangabantwana baseJerusalema kumadodana aseJavani ukuba nibadedisele kude nemikhawulo yabo.

7. “Bhekani, ngiyakubavusa endaweni enithengisile kuyo ngabo, ngibuyisele ekhanda lenu isenzo senu.

8. Ngiyakuthengisa ngamadodana enu nangamadodakazi enu esandleni sabantwana bakwaJuda, bona bathengise ngabo kumaSheba, isizwe esikude,” ngokuba uJehova ukhulumile.

9. Memezelani lokhu phakathi kwabezizwe, ningcwelise impi, niwavuse amaqhawe; mawasondele, enyuke onke amadoda empi.

10. Khandani amakhuba enu abe yizinkemba, ocelemba benu babe yimikhonto, obuthakathaka asho ukuthi ngiyiqhawe.

11. Sheshani nifike nina bezizwe zonke nxazonke, nibuthane, wehlisele khona amaqhawe akho, Jehova.

12. “Mabazivuse abezizwe, benyukele esigodini sikaJehoshafati, ngokuba ngahlulele bonke abezizwe nxazonke.

13. Fakani isikela, ngokuba okuzakuvunwa sekuvuthiwe; ngokuba isikhamo sewayini sigcwele, nezikhongozelo ziyachichima, ngokuba ububi babo bukhulu.”

14. Yizixuku ngezixuku esigodini sokwahlulela, ngokuba usuku lukaJehova lusondele esigodini sokwahlulela.

15. Ilanga nenyanga kuba mnyama, izinkanyezi zisusa ukukhanya kwazo.

16. UJehova uyaduma eseSiyoni, ezwakalise izwi lakhe eseJerusalema; izulu nomhlaba kuyazamazama, kepha uJehova uyisiphephelo sabantu bakhe, nenqaba yabantwana bakwa-Israyeli.

17. Bese nikwazi ukuthi nginguJehova uNkulunkulu wenu engihlala eSiyoni, intaba yami engcwele; iJerusalema liyakuba ngcwele, abafokazi abasayikulidabula.

18. “Kuyakuthi ngalolo suku izintaba ziconse iwayini elimnandi, amagquma agobhoze ubisi, yonke imifula yakwaJuda igobhoze amanzi; kuyakuvela umthombo endlini kaJehova oyakunisela isigodi saseShithimi.

19. IGibithe liyakuba yincithakalo, u-Edomi abe yihlane lencithakalo ngenxa yendluzula eyenziwe kubantwana bakwaJuda, ngokuba bachithile igazi elingenacala ezweni labo.

20. Kepha uJuda uyakuhlala kuze kube phakade, neJerusalema ezizukulwaneni ngezizukulwane.

21. Ngiyakuphindisela igazi labo engingakaliphindiseli,” ngokuba uJehova wakhile eSiyoni.