Nahum 1
1 [I am] Nahum, from Elkosh [village]. [This is] a message about Nineveh [city, the capital of Assyria that was given] to me in a vision [by Yahweh].
Isiqalekiso ngeNiniva. Incwadi yombono kaNahume umʼElikhoshi.
2 Yahweh our God (is jealous/does not want people to worship any other god). He is very angry [with those who worship other gods], and he gets revenge [DOU] [on all] those who oppose him [DOU].
UThixo uNkulunkulu olobukhwele lophindiselayo; uThixo uyaphindisela njalo ulolaka olukhulu. UThixo uyaphindisela ezitheni zakhe lolaka lwakhe lukhulu ezitheni zakhe.
3 Yahweh does not quickly become angry; but he is very powerful, and he will certainly punish [LIT] those who have done evil things [MTY]. He shows his power by sending whirlwinds and storms, and clouds are [like] [MET] the dust [stirred up by] his feet.
UThixo uyaphuza ukuthukuthela njalo ulamandla amakhulu; uThixo kayikumyekela olecala engajeziswanga. Indlela yakhe iphakathi kwesivunguzane lesiphepho, amayezi aluthuli lwezinyawo zakhe.
4 When he commands oceans and rivers to become dry, they dry up. [He causes the grass in the fields in] the Bashan [region] and [on the slopes of] Carmel [Mountain] to wither, [and causes] the flowers in Lebanon to fade.
Ukhuza ulwandle alomise; wenza yonke imifula itshe. IBhashani leKhameli kuyabuna lemiqhakazo yaseLebhanoni ibune.
5 When he appears, [it is as though] the mountains shake and the hills melt; the earth quakes and [the people on] the earth tremble.
Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwakhe, lamaqaqa ayancibilika. Umhlaba uyagedezela ngobukhona bakhe, umhlaba labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
6 There is no one [RHQ] who can resist him when he becomes extremely angry; there is no one [RHQ] who can survive when his anger is very hot. When he is very angry, [it is as though] his anger is like [SIM] a blazing fire, and [it is as though] mountains are shattered into pieces.
Ngubani ongamelana lentukuthelo yakhe na? Ngubani ongalumela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo na? Ulaka lwakhe luthululeka njengomlilo; amadwala ayaqhekezeka phambi kwakhe.
7 But he is good; he protects [us his people] when we experience troubles. He takes care of those who trust in him.
UThixo ulungile, uyisiphephelo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Uyabakhathalela abathembele kuye,
8 But he will get rid of his enemies; he will be to them [like] [MET] a flood that destroys everything. He will chase his enemies into the darkness [of the place where the dead are].
kodwa ngesikhukhula esikhulu uzatshabalalisa iNiniva; uzaxotshela izitha zakhe emnyameni.
9 [So], it is useless [RHQ] for you [people of Nineveh] to plot against Yahweh. He will not [need to] strike you two times to destroy you; he will destroy you [by striking you only once].
Loba engamacebo bani abawenza ngoThixo, uzawaqeda; ukuhlupheka akuyikubuya kabili.
10 [It will be as though his enemies] are tangled in thorns, and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine. They will be burned up like [SIM] a fire completely burns up stubble/straw.
Bazathandeleka phakathi kwameva, bedakwe liwayini labo; bazaqothulwa njengenhlanga ezomileyo.
11 In Nineveh [city] there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things to Yahweh.
Wena Nineve, kuwe sekufike lowo oceba okubi ngoThixo, eluleke okubi.
12 But this is what Yahweh says [about you Israeli people]: “Although the people of Assyria have very many people and their army is very powerful, they will be destroyed and will disappear. [I say to my people in Judah, ] ‘have [already] punished you, but I will not punish you again.
Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Lanxa belababambene labo njalo bebanengi, bazaqothulwa banyamalale. Lanxa ngikuhluphile, wena Juda, kangisayikukuhlupha futhi.
13 Now I will cause the [people of Assyria] to no longer control/oppress you [MET]; [it will be as though] I will tear off the shackles/chains on your [hands and feet].”
Khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe labo elisentanyeni yakho, ngiqamule lamaketane akho.”
14 [And this is what] Yahweh also declares about you people of Nineveh: “You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names. And I will destroy all the statues of your gods that were carved or formed in molds. I will cause you [to be killed and] sent to your graves, because you are vile/despicable!”
UThixo usekhuphe ilizwi ngawe Nineve elithi, “Kawuyikuba lezizukulwane ezibizwa ngebizo lakho. Ngizachitha izifanekiso ezibaziweyo lezithombe ezibunjiweyo ezisethempelini labonkulunkulu bakho. Ngizalungisa ingcwaba lakho, ngoba ungcolile.”
15 [You people of Judah, ] look! A messenger will be coming across the mountains, and he [SYN] will be bringing good news [to you]. He will be declaring [that you will now have] peace [because Assyria will have been conquered]. [So, ] celebrate your festivals, and do what you solemnly promised to do [when your enemies were threatening to attack you], because your wicked [enemies] will not invade your country again, [because] they will be completely destroyed.
Khangela ezintabeni le, inyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula! Thakazelela imikhosi yakho we Juda, ugcwalise lezifungo zakho. Ababi kabasayikukuhlasela futhi; bazachithwa ngokupheleleyo.
