< Nawoun 2 >
1 Sila ki konn kaze brize a gen tan monte kont ou. Kenbe fò a! Veye chemen an! Ranfòse ren ou! Ranmase tout kouraj ou!
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 Paske SENYÈ a va restore tout glwa a Jacob, menm jan ak glwa Israël la, paske piyajè yo fin piyaje yo, e te rache branch rezen li yo.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Boukliye a mesye pwisan li yo vin wouj. Gèrye yo vin abiye an kramwazi. Cha yo klere an asye nan jou derape a. Lans an bwa pichpen yo vin parèt.
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 Cha yo kouri fou nan lari. Yo sikile san kontwòl sou wout yo. Aparans yo tankou tòch, yo kouri patou tankou kout loray.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Li rele gèye pi chwa li yo. Yo manke tonbe nan fòme yo. Yo prese rive nan miray la. Gwo barikàd syèj defans la fin prepare.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Pòtay rivyè yo ouvri e palè a fin kraze nèt.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Bagay la fin fèt; Ninive vin toutouni, li fin pote ale nèt. Sèvant li yo ap plenyen ak vwa toutrèl; y ap bat lestonmak yo.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Men Ninive te tankou ti lak dlo depi lontan; malgre sa, y ap sove ale. “Rete, Rete”! Yo kriye fò, Men pèsòn pa gade dèyè.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Pran piyaj ajan! Pran piyaj lò! Paske gen trezò san limit—gen valè nan tout bagay presye yo.
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
10 Li vin vid nèt! Wi, li vin dezole e gate. Kè yo ap fann e jenou yo si tèlman ap sekwe, youn bat lòt. Doulè ak laperèz domine tout kò a, e figi yo vin blèm!
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Kote fòs lyon yo ye? Kote plas la tout jenn lyon yo te manje? Kote andwa a manman lyon an ak ti lyon an te konn mache? Plas la kote okenn pa t konn fè yo pè?
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 Lyon an te kon chire viktim yo an mòso ase pou manje ti lyon li yo. Li te touye pou manman lyon li yo. Li te plen kav li ak chè ki dechire e tanyè li ak viktim.
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 “Gade byen Mwen kont ou”, pale SENYÈ dèzame yo. “Mwen va brile cha lagè li yo nan lafimen. Nepe a va devore jenn lyon ou yo. Mwen va retire nan peyi a, tout chè nou te konn manje. Konsa, vwa mesaje nou yo p ap tande ankò.”
“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.”