Zephaniah 2
1 Bend yourselves, indeed, bend, O nation not desired,
Buthanani ndawonye, buthanani ndawonye, wena sizwe esiyangisayo,
2 Before the bringing forth of a statute, The day has passed on as chaff, While the heat of the anger of YHWH has not yet come in on you, While [the] Day of the anger of YHWH has not yet come in on you,
isikhathi esimisiweyo singakafiki losuku ludlule njengamakhoba, ukuthukuthela okwesabekayo kukaThixo kungakafiki kuwe, usuku lolaka lukaThixo lungakafiki kuwe.
3 Seek YHWH, all you humble of the land, Who have done His judgment, Seek righteousness, seek humility, It may be you are hidden in the Day of the anger of YHWH.
Dingani uThixo, lonke lina abathobekileyo belizwe, lina elenza lokho akulayayo. Dingani ukulunga, dingani ukuthobeka; mhlawumbe lingavikelwa ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaThixo.
4 For Gaza is forsaken, And Ashkelon [is] for a desolation, Ashdod! At noon they cast her forth, And Ekron is rooted up.
IGaza izadelwa le-Ashikheloni isale isingamanxiwa. Abantu base-Ashidodi bazaxotshwa emini, le-Ekroni isitshulwe.
5 Behold! O inhabitants of the seacoast, Nation of the Cherethites, A word of YHWH [is] against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines, “And I have destroyed you without an inhabitant.”
Maye kini lina elihlala ngasolwandle, lina sizwe samaKherethi; ilizwi likaThixo limelana lani, wena Khenani, lizwe lamaFilistiya. “Ngizakutshabalalisa, njalo kakho ozasala.”
6 And the seacoast has been habitations, Cottages [for] shepherds, and folds [for] a flock.
Ilizwe elingasolwandle lizakuba yindawo yabelusi lezibaya zezimvu.
7 And the coast has been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon they lie down at evening, For their God YHWH inspects them, And He has turned back [to] their captivity.
Ilizwe lizakuba ngelabaseleyo abendlu kaJuda; bazathola amadlelo khona. Kusihlwa bazalala phansi ezindlini zase-Ashikheloni. UThixo uNkulunkulu wabo uzabalondoloza; uzabenza baphumelele futhi.
8 “I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they reproached My people, And magnify [themselves] against their border.
“Ngizizwile izithuko zeMowabi lokuchothoza kwama-Amoni, abathuka abantu bami besongela lelizwe labo.
9 Therefore, [as] I live,” A declaration of YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel, “Surely Moab is as Sodom, And the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, An overrunning of nettles and salt-pits, And a desolation for all time. A remnant of My people seizes them, And a remnant of My nation inherits them.”
Ngakho ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, “impela iMowabi izakuba njengeSodoma, ama-Amoni abe njengeGomora, indawo yokhula lemigodi yetshwayi, ilizwe elichithekileyo nini lanini. Abaseleyo babantu bami bazabaphanga; abaphephileyo babantu bami bazathatha ilizwe labo.”
10 This [is] to them for their arrogancy, Because they have reproached, And they magnify [themselves] against the people of YHWH of Hosts.
Lokhu yikho abazakuthola kungumvuzo wokuzigqaja kwabo, ngenxa yokuthuka lokuklolodela abantu bakaThixo uSomandla.
11 Fearful [is] YHWH against them, For He made all gods of the land bare, And all islanders of the nations bow themselves to Him, Each from his place.
UThixo uzakwesabeka kubo lapho esetshabalalisa bonke onkulunkulu belizwe. Izizwe ezisemakhunjini wonke zizamkhonza, ngulowo elizweni lakhe.
12 “Also you, O Cushim, they [are] pierced of My sword.”
“Lani futhi, lina maKhushi lizabulawa ngenkemba yami.”
13 And He stretches His hand against the north, And destroys Asshur, And He sets Nineveh for a desolation, A dry land like a wilderness.
Uzakwelulela isandla sakhe enyakatho achithe i-Asiriya, atshiye iNiniva itshabalele ngokupheleleyo njalo yome njengenkangala.
14 And droves have crouched in her midst, Every beast of the nation, Both pelican and hedgehog lodge in her knobs, A voice sings at the window, “Destruction [is] at the threshold, For the cedar-work is exposed.”
Imihlambi yezimvu leyenkomo izalala phansi khonapho, lezidalwa zezinhlobo zonke. Isikhova senkangala lomandukulo kuzahlala ensikeni zakhe. Ukukhala kwazo kuzezwakala emawindini, imfucuza izakuba eminyango, imijabo yemisedari ichayeke.
15 This [is] the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, “I [am], and there is none beside me,” How she has been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Everyone passing by her hisses, He shakes his hand!
Leli lidolobho elingakhathaliyo elalizihlalele livikelekile. Lazitshela lathi: “Ngiyimi, kakho omunye ngaphandle kwami.” Yeka ukuchitheka eseliyikho, isikhundla sezinyamazana zeganga! Bonke abadlula kulo bahleka usulu balikhombe ngeminwe.
