God's Faithful People Suffer
1 God's faithful people
are dragged off and killed,
and no one even cares.
Evil sweeps them away,
2 but in death they find peace
for obeying God.
The Lord Condemns Idolatry
3 You people are unfaithful!
You go to fortunetellers,
and you worship idols.
Now pay close attention!
4 Who are you making fun of?
Who are you sneering at?
Look how your sins
have made fools of you.
5 All you think about is sex
under those green trees
where idols are worshiped.
You sacrifice your children
on altars built in valleys
under rocky slopes.
6 You have chosen to worship
idols made of stone;
you have given them offerings
of wine and grain.
Should I be pleased?
7 You have spread out your beds
on the tops of high mountains,
where you sacrifice to idols.
8 Even in your homes
you have placed pagan symbols
all around your huge beds.
Yes, you have rejected me,
sold yourselves to your lovers,
and gone to bed with them.
9 You smear on olive oil
and all kinds of perfume
to worship the god Molech.
You even seek advice
from spirits of the dead.
10 Though you tired yourself out
by running after idols,
you refused to stop.
Your desires were so strong
that they kept you going.
11 Did you forget about me
and become unfaithful
because you were more afraid
of someone else?
Have I been silent so long
that you no longer fear me?
12 You think you're so good,
but I'll point out the truth.
13 Ask your idols to save you
when you are in trouble.
Be careful though—
it takes only a faint breath
to blow them over.
But if you come to me
for protection,
this land and my holy mountain
will always belong to you.
The Lord Helps the Helpless
14 The Lord says,
“Clear the road!
Get it ready for my people.”
15 Our holy God lives forever
in the highest heavens,
and this is what he says:
Though I live high above
in the holy place,
I am here to help those
who are humble
and depend only on me.
16 My people, I won't stay angry
and keep on accusing you.
After all, I am your Creator.
I don't want you to give up
in complete despair.
17 Your greed made me furious.
That's why I punished you
and refused to be found,
while you kept returning
to your old sinful ways.
18 I know what you are like!
But I will heal you, lead you,
and give you comfort,
until those who are mourning
19 start singing my praises.
No matter where you are,
I, the Lord, will heal you
and give you peace.
20 The wicked are a restless sea
tossing up mud.
21 But I, the Lord, have promised
that none who are evil
will live in peace.
Kuthigamila midzimu ye zwifano ateiko
1 Balulwami banoloba,
ngono akuna mmwe unokuyela njele,
banogalamoyo banodusiwa,
koga kusina unohwisisa,
Balulwami banodusiwa,
kutizhisiwa bubi gu mbeli.
2 Ibabo banotjila butjilo gwakatambunuka
banowana kunyalala,
banonyaluluka mu malalo abo
ibabo bakatambunuka.
3 Koga imwi izhani ngeno,
imwi bakololo be nloyikadzi,
bana be phombgwe ne fukula.
4 Ndiani wamunoseka kene?
Apa ndiani wa munodadila kene?
Wamunowhong'ola ndiani?
Apa ate muli lutshinga gwe bapanduki
kene bana be banyepi kene?
5 Mopisika nge yemula mbi pakati kwe mioko
na kusi kwe miti mimwe ne mimwe yakapasha ina mazhani matshwa,
modusa bana benyu zwibhayilo mu mikuku
ne mu phaswa dze shongwe.
6 Motola mabgwe akakuyungika mu nkuku se gobe lenyu,
i hakata dzenyu.
Moatebulila tjipo tje tjing'o kuanamata,
mukaadusila tjipo tje mathunde.
Apa ndakafanila ndishathile izwezwi zwithu kene?
7 Pezhugwi kwe dombo lefulefu
makawala thobo dzenyu,
ndiko kwamunotathila ikweno kunodusa zwibhayilo zwenyu.
8 Makabiga zwifano zwenyu shule kwe matendele nekwe makwasayile e mikoba.
Makati mundisiya mukapengula thobo dzenyu,
mukati malala padzili mufumula kwazo,
mukadumana naibabo bamunoda thobo dzabo,
ngono mukalinga mbujo dzabo.
9 Makayenda ku ndzimu Moleki ne mafuta
mukapaphidza mafuta enyu anonuhwa zwinozipa,
makatuma thumwa kulekule,
mukadelukila mu ikumbu.
10 Makanyadziwa ngothama zwithu zwenyu izwezwi,
koga amuzotongoti, “Azwina nshingo.”
Makamusidzila matatabuko enyu
mukasitimbame.
11 Ndiani wakamupalusa moyo mukatja,
mube musingabe ne malebeswa kundili,
naiko mukasitongo ndikumbula
kene kuli kundialakana mu mimoyo yenyu?
Apa ate kuli kuti ndatola tjibaka ndilinyelele
ndizo wali musinganditje kene?
12 Ndowomubonyolola ndulamo yenyu ne mishingo yenyu ikaboneka,
ngono akuna tjainga bhatsha natjo.
13 Mowoti mulila, muletje mbunga we midzimu yenyu umubhatshe.
Phepo inoyisengela kutjena,
phetshwana koga inowoiwulusila kutjena.
Koga unotizhila mundili unowothuwa shango,
ngono kathuwa ne dombo langu lakayengemala.
14 Kowolebelekwa kuyi,
“Bakani, bakani mululwamise zila.
Dusani zwidzibilidzi zose mu zila ye bathu bangu.”
15 Ngoti woku ndiko kunoleba upezhugwizhugwi,
iye unotjila kusingapele, we zina lakayengemala,
“Ndogala mu bugalo gupezhugwi gwakayengemala,
ndogala ne bathu bamu buyendasi banozwiisa pasi mu meya,
kuti ndimuse meya ye unozwiisa pasi,
ndinyaladze moyo we umu buyendasi.
16 Ngoti anditowopila nthu nlandu tjose,
naiko anditowogwadza moyo misi yose,
ngoti meya ye nthu ingatimbama mbeli kwangu,
meya ye butjilo yandakabumba.
17 Ndakabe ndagwadzisiwa moyo nge tjibi tjabo nenge yemula dzabo mbi,
ndakabaloba, asumbika tjiso tjangu mu kugwadza moyo,
koga banodwilila bepanduka mu zila dze mimoyo yabo.
18 Ndakabona zila dzabo koga ndowobapodza,
ndowobatungamila abuza kunyaladza mubali.
Balili babo ndowothama kuti banyaladzike bapululudze.
19 Kunyalala ngakubepo, kunyalala kubepo kuna bakule ne bapejo,
ngono ndowobapodza. Koleba Yahwe.”
20 Koga babiibi banonga gungwa linodzongeka
lisikatongodzikama,
vula yalo inokabhunganya matope ne misetje.
21 “Akuna kunyalala mu babiibi.” Kojalo Ndzimu wangu.