< Nahum 2 >

1 Ninive, futɔwo ƒe asrafowo ƒo ɖe dziwò vɔ. Kpɔ wò mɔ sẽsewo ta. Wò ŋkuwo nenɔ mɔ la ŋu. Mibla ali dzi sesĩe eye miƒo aʋawɔlawo nu ƒu.
Nineveh! The destroyer has come up against you; mount guard upon the rampart; watch the road; brace yourselves; strengthen your might to the utmost.
2 Yehowa agbugbɔ Yakob ƒe atsyɔ̃ nɛ, eye wòanɔ abe Israel tɔ ene. Togbɔ be futɔwo gblẽ wò, Yakob ƒe anyigba, eye woha wò waingblewo hã.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Futɔwo ƒe asrafowo ƒe akpoxɔnu biã dzẽe, eye wodo awu dzĩ. Tasiaɖamŋugawo le dzo dam gbe si gbe wobla akpa na aʋawɔwɔ, eye kalẽtɔwo le woƒe akplɔwo nyem le yame.
The shields of his warriors are dyed red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet, his chariots gleam like fire on the day he prepares for battle spears are shaken.
4 Tasiaɖamwo le zi nyem le mɔtatawo dzi, eye wole du ƒum le ablɔwo me le yiyim le gbɔgbɔm. Woƒe dzedzeme le abe akakatiwo ene, eye wole dzo kem abe dzikedzo ene.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Fia la ado ɣli ayɔ eƒe aʋafiawo; woanɔ du dzi anɔ anyi dzem, anɔ fɔfɔm be yewoayi aɖaɖo gli sesẽwo, ale be futɔwo mate ŋu akpɔ mɔ ava o.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Agbo si le tɔsisi la nu la aʋu siaa, eye fiasã la ƒe gliwo anye kpo, amu adze anyi.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Woɖe gbe be woaɖe aboyo dua me tɔwo. Eƒe kosiviwo anɔ xɔxlɔ̃m abe ahɔnɛ ene, eye woanɔ akɔta ƒom.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Ninive le abe ta si ƒe tsi le sisim ene. Ne woado ɣli be: “Mitɔ, mitɔ,” la, ame aɖeke manye kɔ akpɔ megbe o.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Miha klosalowo! Mìha sika! Kesinɔnuwo sɔ gbɔ fũu, xexlẽme meli na nu xɔasi siawo o.
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
10 Woɖi gbɔlo dua keŋkeŋ, wohae eye woɖe amae. Amewo ƒe dzi gbã, klowo le ƒoƒom kpakpakpa, ameti blibo la le dzodzom nyanyanya, eye ŋkume sia ŋkume afu tititi.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Afi ka dzatawo ƒe do la le azɔ? Afi si wonyia dzataviwo le, afi si dzatatsu kple dzatanɔ kple dzatavi ɖia tsa le vɔvɔ̃manɔmee ɖe?
Where now is the den of lions? Where now the lair of their young? Where the lion used to withdraw, with his cubs, with none to disturb them?
12 Dzatatsu léa nu si ade viawo kple dzatanɔ nu; etsɔa nuléleawo yɔa eƒe mlɔƒe kple eƒe dowo me fũu.
The lion tore enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses. He filled his caves with the kill, he filled his lairs with fresh meat.
13 Yehowa, Dziƒoʋakɔwo ƒe Aƒetɔ la gblɔ be: “Metso ɖe ŋuwò; matɔ dzo wò tasiaɖamwo, eye wò dzataviwo atsi yi nu. Nyemagblẽ ame aɖeke ɖe anyigba dzi nàgada adzoe o, eye womagase wò ame dɔdɔwo ƒe gbe le teƒe aɖeke azɔ o.”
“But see, I am against you,” the Lord of hosts declares, “I will burn your chariots in smoke and fire. The sword will devour your young lions. You will never again prey on the land. No more will your messengers be heard.”

< Nahum 2 >