< Zephaniah 1 >

1 This is the message that the Lord gave to Zephaniah. He was the son of Cushti, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. This happened when Josiah, son of Amon, was king of Judah.
Yehova anayankhula ndi Zefaniya mwana wa Kusi, mwana wa Gedaliya, mwana wa Amariya, mwana wa Hezekiya pa nthawi ya Yosiya, mwana wa Amoni, mfumu ya Yuda.
2 I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord.
“Ndidzawononga kotheratu zinthu zonse pa dziko lapansi,” akutero Yehova.
3 I will sweep away people and animals, I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked; I will destroy human beings from the face of the earth.
“Ndidzawononga anthu pamodzi ndi nyama zomwe; ndidzawononga mbalame zamlengalenga ndi nsomba za mʼnyanja. Ndidzawononga anthu oyipa, ndipo ndidzafafaniza mtundu wa anthu pa dziko lonse lapansi,” akutero Yehova.
4 I will strike Judah and everyone who lives in Jerusalem. I will destroy all that remains of their Baal worship along with their pagan priests so that even their names will be forgotten.
Ndidzatambasula dzanja langa pa Yuda ndi onse okhala mu Yerusalemu. Ndidzawononga pamalo pano otsalira opembedza Baala, mayina a anthu osapembedza pamodzi ndi ansembe a mafano:
5 I will destroy those who go up to the rooftops to bow down before the sun, moon, and stars. They also bow down and swear allegiance to the Lord, but then they do the same to Milcom.
amene amagwada pa madenga a nyumba zawo kupembedza zolengedwa zamumlengalenga, amene amagwada ndi kulumbira mʼdzina la Yehova, komanso mʼdzina la Moleki,
6 I will destroy those who once worshiped the Lord but don't anymore. They don't seek the Lord or ask for my help.
amene abwerera mʼmbuyo osatsata Yehova, osafunafuna kapena kupempha nzeru kwa Yehova.
7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near: the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
Khalani chete pamaso pa Ambuye Yehova, chifukwa tsiku la Yehova layandikira. Yehova wakonzekera kupereka nsembe; wapatula iwo amene wawayitana.
8 Then on the day of the Lord's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons, and those who follow pagan ways.
Pa tsiku la nsembe ya Yehova ndidzalanga akalonga ndi ana aamuna a mfumu ndi onse amene amavala zovala zachilendo.
9 I will also punish those who jump over the threshold. On that day I will punish those who fill up their masters' houses using violence and deception.
Pa tsiku limenelo ndidzalanga onse amene safuna kuponda pa chiwundo, amene amadzaza nyumba ya ambuye awo ndi chiwawa ndi chinyengo.
10 On that day, declares the Lord, a cry of grief will come from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.
“Pa tsiku limenelo,” akutero Yehova, “Kufuwula kwakukulu kudzamveka pa Chipata cha Nsomba, kulira kwa chisoni kuchokera mʼChigawo Chatsopano, ndi phokoso la kugumuka kochokera ku mapiri.
11 Those who live in the Market District will wail in sorrow, for all the merchants are destroyed, along with those who trade in silver.
Lirani mwachisoni, inu amene mumakhala kumene kuli msika; a malonda anu onse adzapululidwa, ndiponso onse amene ali ndi siliva adzawonongedwa.
12 At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish those self-satisfied people, who are like wine left on its dregs, who say to themselves, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.”
Pa nthawi imeneyo ndidzafufuzafufuza mu Yerusalemu ndi nyale ndi kulanga onse amene sakulabadira, amene ali ngati vinyo wosakhutchumulidwa, amene amaganiza kuti, ‘Yehova sadzachita chilichonse, chabwino kaya choyipa.’
13 Their possessions will be looted; their houses will be demolished. They will build houses, but not live in them; they will plant vineyards, but not drink the wine.
Chuma chawo chidzafunkhidwa, nyumba zawo zidzagwetsedwa. Adzamanga nyumba, koma osakhalamo; adzadzala minda ya mpesa koma sadzamwako vinyo wake.”
14 The great day of the Lord is near and approaching rapidly. It will be a bitter day—even warriors will cry out loud.
Tsiku lalikulu la Yehova layandikira, layandikira ndipo lifika msanga. Tamverani! Kulira kwa pa tsiku la Yehova kudzakhala kowawa, ngakhale munthu wolimba mtima adzalira kwambiri.
15 It will be a day of anger, a day of trouble and distress, a day of disaster and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
Tsiku limenelo lidzakhala la ukali, tsiku losautsa ndi lomvetsa chisoni, tsiku la mavuto ndi la chiwonongeko, tsiku la mdima ndi lachisoni, tsiku la mitambo ndi la mdima wandiweyani.
16 a day of trumpet calls and battle cries against fortified cities and watchtowers.
Tsiku loliza lipenga ndi la mfuwu wankhondo, tsiku la kugwa kwa mizinda yotetezedwa ndi nsanja za pa ngodya.
17 I will bring trouble on humanity, making them walk like blind people because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be spilled like so much dust; their intestines like dung.
Ndidzabweretsa msautso pa anthu ndipo adzayenda ngati anthu osaona, chifukwa achimwira Yehova, magazi awo adzamwazika ngati fumbi ndi mnofu wawo ngati ndowe.
18 Their silver and their gold won't help to save them on the day of the Lord's anger. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of his jealous anger. He will make sure the end of the people of the world is sudden and complete.
Ngakhale siliva wawo kapena golide wawo sadzatha kuwapulumutsa pa tsiku la ukali wa Yehova. Dziko lonse lapansi lidzanyeka mʼmoto wa nsanje yake chifukwa adzakantha modzidzimutsa onse okhala pa dziko lapansi.

< Zephaniah 1 >