< Zephaniah 3 >

1 Terrible things will [also] happen [to Jerusalem], that city whose people have rebelled [against Yahweh] and who have become unacceptable to him [because of the sins that they have committed]. [They act violently toward others] and they (oppress/treat cruelly) [other people].
Lozan’ ny tanàna miodina sady voaloto, Dia ilay mampahory!
2 [The people there] do not pay attention to people who tell them [the wrong things that they are doing] and [try to] (correct them/cause them to quit doing those things). [The people in Jerusalem] do not trust in Yahweh or draw near to ask help from their God.
Tsy nihaino ny feo izy, Na nino anatra; Jehovah tsy nitokiany, Andriamaniny tsy nohatoniny.
3 Their leaders are [like] [MET] roaring lions; they are [like] [MET] wolves that [attack other animals] during the evening, [and eat everything that they kill], with the result that the next morning there is nothing left [of those animals to eat].
Liona mierona ao aminy ireo lehibeny; Amboadia hariva ny mpitsarany Ka tsy mamela ho tra-maraina.
4 The prophets in Jerusalem are proud, [and they give messages that are] not to be trusted. Their priests cause the temple to be unholy by doing things that are opposed to the laws [of Moses].
Vavana sady mpamitaka ny mpaminaniny; Mandoto izay masìna ny mpisorony, Eny, mamadika ny lalàna izy.
5 But Yahweh is [also] in the city; and he never does what is wrong. He treats people justly/fairly; he does that every day, but wicked people are never ashamed [about their doing what is wrong].
Jehovah no marina ao afovoany, Tsy manao izay tsy marina Izy; Isa-maraina isa-maraina no amoahany ny fitsarany ho amin’ ny mazava, ka tsy diso izany. Fa ny tsy marina tsy mba mahalala henatra.
6 [Yahweh says this]: “I have destroyed [many] nations; I have destroyed their strong/high city walls and towers. [Now] I have caused the streets in those cities to be completely deserted [DOU]; the cities are ruined. There are no people [still alive] in the cities; they are all dead [LIT].
Efa nahafongana firenena Aho, Rava ny tilikambo eny amin’ ny zorony; Nosimbako ny lalany tsy hisy mpandeha; Rava ny tanànany, ka tsy misy olona, Eny, tsy misy mponina.
7 [So] I thought [to myself], ‘[Because of what I have done to those other nations], surely the people [of Jerusalem] will revere me [now], and they will accept (my correcting them/my telling them to quit doing what is wrong). [If they do that, I] will not destroy their houses; I will not punish them like I said that I would do.’ But [in spite of knowing how I punished those other nations], they were still eager to get up early each morning and continue to do evil things.
Hoy Izaho: Hatahotra Ahy tokoa ianao ka hino anatra, Dia tsy ho rava ny fonenanao, Araka izay rehetra voatendriko hamelezana anao; Kanefa nifoha maraina koa izy ka nanao Izay ratsy rehetra.
8 Therefore I, Yahweh, say, ‘Wait for the day in which I will testify [in court about your evil things].’ I have decided to gather the people of the kingdoms [of the earth] [DOU] and cause them to know that I am very angry with them. All [over] the earth I will punish and destroy people; my being angry with them because I (am jealous/want people to worship no other god) is [like] [MET] a (raging/very hot) fire.
Koa miandrasa Ahy ianareo, hoy Jehovah, Ambara-pihavin’ ny andro hitsanganako haka babo; Fa izao no kasaiko hatao: Hamory firenena sy hanangona fanjakana Aho, Hanidinako ny fahatezerako amin’ ireo, dia ny firehetan’ ny fahatezerako rehetra, Ka ho levon’ ny afon’ ny fahasaro-piaroko ny tany rehetra.
9 When that happens, I will cause [all] people [MTY] to be changed and enable them to speak [only] what is (pure/pleasing to me), in order that everyone can worship me [MTY] and unitedly/together serve me [MTY].
Fa amin’ izany dia hovako ho madio ny molotry ny firenena, Hiantsoan’ izy rehetra ny anaran’ i Jehovah, hanompoany Azy amin’ ny firaisan-kina.
10 [Then] my people who [were forced to go to other countries], those who live along the upper part of the [Nile] River in Ethiopia will come to me and bring offerings to me.
Avy any an-dafin’ ny onin’ i Etiopia no hitondrana ny mpivavaka amiko, Dia ny zanakavavin’ izay naeliko, ho fanatitra ho Ahy.
11 At that time, you [people in Jerusalem] will no [longer] be ashamed [about what has happened to you], because you no longer will be rebelling against me. I will get rid of all the people among you who are very proud [DOU]. No one on [Zion], my holy hill, will [strut around] proudly.
Amin’ izany andro izany dia tsy ho menatra ianao tamin’ izay nataonao rehetra, Izay nanotanao tamiko; Ka dia hesoriko aminao ireo mibitaka amim-pireharehana, Ary tsy hiavonavona eo an-tendrombohitro masìna intsony ianao.
12 Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
Nefa hamelako olona ory sy malahelo ihany ao aminao, Ary ny anaran’ i Jehovah no hialofany,
13 Those people who are still alive [there] in Israel will not do [things that are] wrong; they will not tell lies or deceive [MTY] people. They will eat and sleep [safely], [because] no one will cause them to be afraid.”
Ny sisa amin’ ny Isiraely dia tsy hanao meloka na handainga, Ary tsy hisy lela mamitaka eo am-bavany; Fa hihinana sy handry izy, ka tsy hisy hanaitaitra azy.
14 You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
Mihobia, ry Ziona zanakavavy; Manaova feo fifaliana, ry Isiraely; Mifalia sy miravoravoa amin’ ny fonao rehetra, ry Jerosalema zanakavavy.
15 [because] Yahweh will stop punishing [MTY] you, and he will send away from you [the armies of] your enemies! And Yahweh [himself], the king of [us] Israeli people, will live among us, and never again will we be afraid that [others will] harm us.
Jehovah efa nampitsahatra ny fitsarana anao ka nandroaka ny fahavalonao; Jehovah, Mpanjakan’ ny Isiraely, no ao aminao; Tsy hahita loza intsony ianao.
16 At that time, [other people] will say to us people of Jerusalem, “[You people of] [APO] Jerusalem, do not be afraid; do not become afraid or discouraged,
Amin’ izany andro izany dia holazaina amin’ i Jerosalema hoe: Aza matahotra Ary aza miraviravy tanana, ry Ziona.
17 [because] Yahweh your God is [living] among you. He is mighty, and he will rescue/save you. He will be very happy with you; because he loves you, he will cause you to not be afraid; he will sing loudly to rejoice over you.”
Jehovah Andriamanitrao no ao aminao, Mahery Izy ka hamonjy; Hiravoravo anao amin’ ny fifaliana Izy; Ho sondriana amin’ ny fitiavany Izy; Hifaly anao amin’ ny fihobiana Izy.
18 [Yahweh says, ] “You people were sad and ashamed because [you were unable to attend] your religious festivals; but I will cause you to no longer be disgraced.
Hangoniko izay manina ny fotoam-pivavahana; Avy aminao ihany ireny, Ary itambesaran’ ny latsa izy.
19 Truly, I will [severely] punish all those who (oppressed you/caused you to suffer). I will rescue those who are helpless and those who were forced to go to other countries. I will enable them to be praised and honored in every country to which they were (exiled/forced to go), places where they were disgraced.
Indro, hasiako amin’ Izany andro izany izay rehetra nampahory anao; Hovonjeko ny mandringa, ary hovoriko ny noroahina, Eny, hataoko ho fiderana sy ho anarana ireny izay efa nitondra henatra tany amin’ ny tany rehetra.
20 At that time, I will gather you together and bring you [back] home [to Israel]. I will cause you to (have a good reputation/be honored) and be [greatly] praised among all the nations of the earth. You [MTY] will see me causing you to prosper again. [That will surely happen because I, ] Yahweh, have said it.”
Amin’ izany andro izany no hitondrako anareo miditra, Eny, amin’ izany andro izany no hanangonako anareo; Fa hataoko ho anarana sy ho fiderana any amin’ ny firenena rehetra amin’ ny tany ianareo, Raha hampodiko avy amin’ ny fahababoana ianareo, ka ho hitan’ ny masonareo izany, hoy Jehovah.

< Zephaniah 3 >