Zefanias 2

1 Saml jer, saml jer, I Folk, som ej kender Skam,

Come together, yes, gather together, you worthless nation—

2 før l endnu er blevet som flyvende Avner, før HERRENs glødende Harme kommer over eder, før HERRENs Vredes Dag kommer over eder.

before the decree is issued, before you wither and die like a flower, before the burning anger of the Lord falls on you, before the day of the Lord's anger comes on you.

3 Søg HERREN, alle l ydmyge i Landet, som holder hans Bud, søg Retfærd, søg Ydmyghed! Måske kan l skjule jer på HERRENs Vredes Dag.

Look to the Lord, all you people of the land who are humble and who follow his commands. Look to do what is right; look to live in humility. Perhaps you will be protected on the day of the Lord's anger.

4 Thi Gaza skal ligge forladt og Askalon øde, Asdod drives bort ved Middag, Ekron udryddes.

Gaza will be abandoned, Ashkelon will become desolate, Ashdod will be emptied by noon, Ekron will be ripped up.

5 Ve dem, som bor ved Stranden, Kreternes Folk; HERRENs Ord over dig, Kana'an, Filisternes Land! Jeg gør dig til intet, så ingen bor der.

What disaster is coming to you Philistines, you sea-people who live along the coast and in the land of Canaan! The Lord has passed judgment on you. I will destroy you—there will be no survivors.

6 Du skal blive til Græsmark for Hyrder, til Folde for Småkvæg.

Your seacoast will become pastures, with meadows for shepherds and sheep pens for flocks.

7 Og Stranden skal tilfalde Resten af Judas Hus; de skal græsse derpå. Lejr skal de slå ved Kvæld i Askalons Huse. Thi HERREN deres Gud ser til dem og vender deres Skæbne.

It will belong to those who remain of the people of Judah. They will graze their flocks there, and the shepherds will sleep in the abandoned houses of Ashkelon. For the Lord their God will be with them and make them prosperous again.

8 Jeg hørte Moabs Spot, Atnmoniternes hånende Ord, med hvilke de spotted mit Folk, hovmoded sig over deres Land.

I have heard the mocking taunts of the Moabites and the scornful derision of the Ammonites who have insulted my people and made threats against their territory.

9 Derfor, så sandt jeg lever, lyder det fra Hærskarers HERRE, Israels Gud: Moab skal blive som Sodoma, Ammoniterne som Gomorra, Jord for Nælder, et Salthul, Ørken til evig Tid. Resten af mit Folk skal plyndre dem; hvad der levnes af mit Folk skal eje dem.

Consequently, as I live, declares the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, the Moabites will become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah. Their land will become a place of weeds and salt pits and ruins forever. Those who remain of my people will plunder them and occupy their land.

10 Dette skal times dem for deres Hovmod, fordi de hånede Hærskarers HERREs Folk og gjorde sig store over for det.

This is what they will receive for their pride because they mocked and threatened the people of the Lord Almighty.

11 Frygtelig er HERREN for dem; thi han udrydder alle Jordens Guder, og alle Hedningemes fjerne Strande skal tilbede ham, hver på sit Sted.

The Lord will make them terribly afraid as he starves to death all the gods of the land. Every nation will worship the Lord wherever they are—all around the world.

12 Også I Ætiopere skal falde for HERRENs Sværd,

You Ethiopians will be killed by the sword.

13 og han udrækker Hånden mod Nord og tilintetgør Assur, Nineve gør han til Ødemark, tørt som en Ørk;

The Lord will strike the Assyrians in the north and destroy them. He will make Nineveh desolate, a dry wasteland like the desert.

14 Hjorde skal lejre sig deri, hvert Slettens Dyr; på dets Søjlehoveder sover Pelikan og Rørdrum, i Vinduet skriger Uglen, Ravnen på Tærsklen.

Herds will lie down in the middle of the city. It will become the home for every kind of wild animal. Eagle owls and screech owls will roost on its columns. Their calls will echo through the windows. Rubble will block the doors, and the cedar woodwork will be exposed.

15 Det er den jublende By, som lå så trygt, som sagde i sit Hjerte: "Jeg og ellers ingen." Hvor er den dog blevet øde, et Raststed for Dyr! Enhver, som kommer forbi den håner med Fløjt og Hånd.

This is what will happen to this triumphant city that thought it was so secure. “Look at me!” it said proudly to itself. “There is no city as great as me!” But it has become a desolate place—just a home for wild animals. Everyone who passes by will point their finger and laugh in derision.