< Nahum 2 >

1 He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power exceedingly.
撃ち破る者があなたに向かって上って来る。城を守れ、道をうかがえ。腰に帯せよ、大いに力を強くせよ。
2 For the Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of Israel: because the spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred their vine branches.
主はヤコブの栄えを回復して、イスラエルの栄えのようにされる。かすめる者が彼らをかすめ、そのぶどうづるを、そこなったからである。
3 The shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his preparation, and the drivers are stupefied.
その勇士の盾は赤くいろどられ、その兵士は紅に身をよろう。戦車はその備えの日に、火のように輝き、軍馬はおどる。
4 They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning running to and fro.
戦車はちまたに狂い走り、大路に飛びかける。彼らはたいまつのように輝き、いなずまのように飛びかける。
5 He will muster up his valiant men, they shall stumble in their march: they shall quickly get upon the walls thereof: and a covering shall be prepared.
将士らは召集され、彼らはその道でつまずき倒れ、城壁に向かって急いで行って大盾を備える。
6 The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down to the ground.
川々の門は開け、宮殿はあわてふためく。
7 And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts.
その王妃は裸にされて、捕われゆき、その侍女たちは悲しみ、胸を打って、はとのようにうめく。
8 And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool, but the men flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return back.
ニネベは池のようであったが、その水は注ぎ出された。「立ち止まれ、立ち止まれ」と呼んでも、ふりかえるものもない。
9 Take ye the spoil of the silver, take the spoil of the gold: for there is no end of the riches of all the precious furniture.
銀を奪え、金を奪え。その宝は限りなく、もろもろの尊い物はおびただしい。
10 She is destroyed, and rent, and torn: the heart melteth, and the knees fail, and all the loins lose their strength: and the faces of them all are as the blackness of a kettle.
消えうせ、むなしくなり、荒れはてた。心は消え、ひざは震え、すべての腰には痛みがあり、すべての顔は色を失った。
11 Where is now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young lion, and there was none to make them afraid?
ししのすみかはどこであるか。若いししの穴はどこであるか。そこに雄じしはその獲物を携え行き、その子じしと共にいても、これを恐れさせる者はない。
12 The lion caught enough for his whelps, and killed for his lionesses: and he filled his holes with prey, and his den with rapine.
雄じしはその子じしのために引き裂き、雌じしのために獲物を絞め殺し、獲物をもってその穴を満たし、引き裂いた肉をもってそのすみかを満たした。
13 Behold I come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of thy messengers shall be heard no more.
万軍の主は言われる、見よ、わたしはあなたに臨む。わたしはあなたの戦車を焼いて煙にする。つるぎはあなたの若いししを滅ぼす。わたしはまた、あなたの獲物を地から断つ。あなたの使者の声は重ねて聞かれない。

< Nahum 2 >