< Nahum 1 >

1 The oracle, on Nineveh, —the scroll of the vision of Nahum, the Elkoshite.
Umthwalo weNineve. Ugwalo lombono kaNahume umElikoshi.
2 A GOD jealous and avenging, is Yahweh, an avenger, is Yahweh, and a lord of wrath, an avenger, is Yahweh towards his adversaries, and, a retainer [of anger], is he to his foes.
INkosi inguNkulunkulu olomona lophindiselayo; iNkosi ingumphindiseli, njalo ilolaka; iNkosi ingumphindiseli ezitheni zayo, igcinela izitha zayo ulaka.
3 Yahweh, is slow to anger, but great in vigour, He will not leave, unpunished, as for Yahweh, in storm-wind and in tempest, is his way, and, clouds, are the dust of his feet.
INkosi iyaphuza ukuthukuthela, njalo yinkulu ngamandla, kayiyikumkhulula lokumkhulula olecala; iNkosi, indlela yayo isesivunguzaneni lesiphepheni, lamayezi aluthuli lwenyawo zayo.
4 Who rebuketh the sea and hath made it dry, and, all the streams, hath he dried up, —withered are Bashan and Carmel, Even the bloom of Lebanon, is withered:
Ikhuza ulwandle, ilwenze lome, yomise yonke imifula: IBashani iyabuna, leKharmeli, leluba leLebhanoni liyabuna.
5 Mountains, have trembled because of him, and, the hills, have melted, —and the earth, hath lifted itself up, at his presence, the world also, and all who dwell therein.
Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwayo, lamaqaqa ayancibilika; lelizwe liyaphakama phambi kwayo, lomhlaba, labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
6 Before his indignation, who shall stand? And who shall abide the glow of his anger? His wrath, hath been poured forth like fire, and, the rocks, have been broken down because of him.
Ngubani ongema phambi kwentukuthelo yayo? Njalo ngubani ongema ekuvutheni kolaka lwayo? Intukuthelo yayo iyathululeka njengomlilo, lamadwala adilizwe yiyo.
7 Good is Yahweh, as a protection in the day of distress, —and one who acknowledgeth them who seek refuge in him.
INkosi ilungile, iyinqaba ngosuku lwenhlupheko; iyabazi abathembela kuyo.
8 But, with an overflow rolling on, a full end, will he make of them who rise up against him, —and, his foes, will he pursue into darkness.
Kodwa ngesikhukhula esiphuphumayo izaqeda indawo yakho, lobumnyama buxotshane lezitha zayo.
9 What can ye devise against Yahweh? A full end, is he making, —Distress, shall not rise up twice:
Lenza amacebo bani amelane leNkosi? Yona izakwenza isiphetho esipheleleyo; ukuhlupheka kakuyikuvuka ngokwesibili.
10 Though they were like thorns intertwined, and as drunkards drenched with their drink, yet have they been devoured, like stubble fully dry.
Ngoba besathandelene njengameva, bedakiwe njengezidakwa, bazaqedwa njengamabibi omileyo ngokugcweleyo.
11 Out of thee, hath one come forth—plotting, against Yahweh, wickedness, —A counselor of the Abandoned One.
Kuphumile kuwe onakana okubi emelene leNkosi, umcebisi omubi.
12 Thus, saith Yahweh, Though they be in full force, and so in great numbers, yet, even so, have they been cut off, and have passed away, —If I humble thee [once], I will not humble thee again.
Itsho njalo iNkosi: Loba bevikelekile, langokunjalo bebanengi, kanti ngokunjalo bazaqunywa, lapho esedlula. Loba ngikuhluphile, kangisayikukuhlupha.
13 Now, therefore, will I break his yoke from off thee, —and, thy fetters, will I tear off.
Ngoba khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe lakhe lisuke kuwe, ngiqamule izibopho zakho.
14 Then will Yahweh give command concerning thee, None of thy name shall be sown any more, —out of the house of thy gods, will I cut off carved image and molten image, I will appoint thy grave, for thou art of little esteem.
Njalo iNkosi ilayile ngawe ukuthi kakusayikuhlanyelwa lutho lwebizo lakho; ngizaquma izithombe ezibaziweyo lezithombe ezibunjwe ngokuncibilikisa ziphume endlini yabonkulunkulu bakho; ngizakwenza ingcwaba lakho; ngoba udelelekile.
15 Lo! upon the mountains, The feet of one, who bringeth Good Tidings! who publisheth Prosperity! Celebrate, O Judah, thy pilgrim festivals, fulfil thy vows, for, not again, any more, shall the Abandoned One, pass through thee, he hath been wholly cut off.
Khangelani ezintabeni izinyawo zoletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula! Wena Juda, gubha imikhosi yakho, khokha izifungo zakho; ngoba omubi kasayikudabula kuwe futhi, uqunyiwe ngokupheleleyo.

< Nahum 1 >