< Sofonias Propheta 2 >

1 Convenite, congregamini gens non amabilis:
Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation,
2 Priusquam pariat iussio quasi pulverem transeuntem diem, antequam veniat super vos ira furoris Domini, antequam veniat super vos dies indignationis Domini.
before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
3 Quærite Dominum omnes mansueti terræ, qui iudicium eius estis operati: quærite iustum, quærite mansuetum: si quomodo abscondamini in die furoris Domini.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
4 Quia Gaza destructa erit, et Ascalon in desertum, Azotum in meridie eiicient, et Accaron eradicabitur.
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
5 Væ qui habitatis funiculum maris, gens perditorum: verbum Domini super vos Chanaan terra Philisthinorum, et disperdam te, ita ut non sit inhabitator.
Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”
6 Et erit funiculus maris requies pastorum, et caulæ pecorum:
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
7 et erit funiculus eius qui remanserit de domo Iuda: ibi pascentur, in domibus Ascalonis ad vesperam requiescent: quia visitabit eos Dominus Deus eorum, et avertet captivitatem eorum.
The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.
8 Audivi opprobrium Moab, et blasphemias filiorum Ammon: quæ exprobraverunt populo meo, et magnificati sunt super terminos eorum.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders.
9 Propterea vivo ego, dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israel, quia Moab ut Sodoma erit, et filii Ammon quasi Gomorrha, siccitas spinarum, et acervi salis, et desertum usque in æternum: reliquiæ populi mei diripient eos, et residui gentis meæ possidebunt illos.
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”
10 Hoc eis eveniet pro superbia sua: quia blasphemaverunt, et magnificati sunt super populum Domini exercituum.
This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts.
11 Horribilis Dominus super eos, et attenuabit omnes deos terræ: et adorabunt eum viri de loco suo, omnes insulæ Gentium.
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
12 Sed et vos Æthiopes interfecti gladio meo eritis.
“You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”
13 Et extendet manum suam super Aquilonem, et perdet Assur: et ponet speciosam in solitudinem, et in invium, et quasi desertum.
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.
14 Et accubabunt in medio eius greges, omnes bestiæ Gentium: et onocrotalus, et ericius in liminibus eius morabuntur: vox cantantis in fenestra, corvus in superliminari, quoniam attenuabo robur eius.
Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.
15 Hæc est civitas gloriosa habitans in confidentia: quæ dicebat in corde suo: Ego sum, et extra me non est alia amplius: quomodo facta est in desertum cubile bestiæ? omnis, qui transit per eam, sibilabit, et movebit manum suam.
This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

< Sofonias Propheta 2 >