Zeffaniya 3
1 Zikisanze ekibuga ekijooga, ekijeemu era ekyonoonefu!
What disaster is coming to corrupted, rebellious Jerusalem, you who oppress people!
2 Tekigondera ddoboozi lya Mukama, wadde okukkiriza okubuulirirwa; tekyesiga Mukama; wadde okusemberera Katonda waakyo.
You don't listen to anybody, you don't accept correction, you don't trust in the Lord, you don't ask for God's help.
3 Abakungu baakyo mpologoma eziwuluguma, era n’abalamuzi baakyo misege gya kiro, bakirimululu abatafissaawo kantu.
Your leaders are as greedy as roaring lions; your judges are ravenous wolves that leave nothing behind by morning.
4 Bannabbi baakyo si ba buvunaanyizibwa era ba nkwe; bakabona baakyo baweebuusizza ekifo ekitukuvu, era bamenya amateeka.
Your prophets are arrogant, deceitful men who defile what is sacred and who openly break the law.
5 Mukama ali wakati mu kyo, mutuukirivu era tasobya. Buli nkya alamula mu bwenkanya, era buli lukya talemwa; naye atali mutuukirivu taswala.
But the Lord who does right is still among you, he does no wrong. Every morning he gives his judgment, every day without fail. But those who act unjustly have no shame.
6 “Nsanyizzaawo amawanga, era ebigo byabwe bifufuggaziddwa; nzisizza enguudo zaabwe, ne wataba ayitamu. Ebibuga byabwe bizikiridde, ne watabaawo muntu n’omu abeeramu.
I have destroyed nations. Their fortresses are deserted; their streets are empty; their cities are destroyed—there are no survivors, not one.
7 Nagamba eri ekibuga nti, ‘Ddala onontya, era onokkiriza okubuulirirwa.’ Ennyumba zaakyo tezandimaliddwawo, n’ebibonerezo byange byonna tebyandimutuuseeko. Naye beesunganga nnyo okukola ebitasaana mu byonna bye baakolanga.
I told myself, “Surely they will respect me now and accept my correction. Then their homes would not be destroyed to teach them a lesson.” But instead you're just as eager to go on doing evil.
8 Noolwekyo munnindirire,” bw’ayogera Mukama. Olunaku lwe ndiyimirira ne ntegeeza byonna kubanga mmaliridde okukuŋŋaanya amawanga, ndireeta obwakabaka wamu okubayiwako obusungu bwange, n’ekiruyi kyange kyonna. Omuliro ogw’obuggya bwange gulisaanyaawo ensi yonna.
You just wait, declares the Lord. The day is coming when I will rise to give evidence. For I have decided to gather together all the nations and kingdoms and to pour out on them my anger, my fury and my rage. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of my jealous anger.
9 “Mu biro ebyo ndirongoosa enjogera ey’amawanga; bonna balikoowoola erinnya lya Mukama, okumuweereza n’omwoyo gumu.
For then I will give the nations pure speech so they can all pray and worship the Lord together.
10 Okuva emitala w’emigga egy’Obuwesiyopya, abo abansinza, abantu bange abasaasaana, balindeetera ssaddaaka.
From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my scattered people, my worshipers, will come to bring their offerings to me.
11 Ku lunaku olwo toliswala olw’ebyo byonna by’osobezza gye ndi: kubanga ndiggya wakati mu ggwe abo abeenyumiririza mu malala, toliddayo nate kwegulumiza ku lusozi lwange olutukuvu.
On that day you won't be ashamed because of what you did in rebelling against me, for I will remove from among you those who are proud and boastful. Never again will you be conceited on my holy mountain.
12 Naye ndireka wakati mu ggwe abantu abakakkamu era abeetoowaze, abo abesiga erinnya lya Mukama.
I will leave among you those who are meek and humble, those who trust in the name of the Lord.
13 Ekitundu kya Isirayiri ekirisigalawo tebalikola bitali bya butuukirivu so tebalyogera bya bulimba wadde okuba abakuusa. Balirya, baligalamira, so tewaliba alibatiisa.”
The people of Israel who remain will not act wickedly nor will they tell lies. They will not deceive one another. They will be able to eat in peace and sleep in safety for there will be nothing to frighten them.
14 Yimba, ggwe omuwala wa Sayuuni; yogerera waggulu, ggwe Isirayiri; sanyuka ojaguze n’omutima gwo gwonna, ggwe omuwala wa Yerusaalemi.
Sing out, Jerusalem! Shout aloud, Israel! Jerusalem, be happy and celebrate with all your heart!
15 Mukama akuggyeeko ekibonerezo kyo, agobyewo omulabe wo. Kabaka wa Isirayiri, Mukama, ali naawe; tokyaddayo kutya kabi konna.
For the Lord has turned aside from punishing you, and he has turned back your enemies. The Lord, the king of Israel, is with you, and you will never again have to fear disaster.
16 Ku lunaku olwo Yerusaalemi kirigambibwa nti, “Totya, ggwe Sayuuni; emikono gyo gireme okuddirira.
On that day the message to the people of Jerusalem will be, “Don't be afraid; don't be discouraged!”
17 Mukama Katonda ali naawe, ow’amaanyi alokola: alikusanyukira, alikukkakkanyiza mu kwagala kwe, alikusanyukira n’okuyimba.”
The Lord your God is among you as a mighty warrior who saves. He will be so happy with you. He will renew his love for you. He will celebrate over you with loud singing.
18 “Ennaku eyabakwatanga olw’embaga ezabakuŋŋaanyanga ndigibaggyako; kubanga kibafuukidde omugugu.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the religious festivals—you will no longer have to bear the disgrace.
19 Laba, mu biro ebyo ndibonereza abo bonna abaakubonyaabonya: era ndinunula omulema, ne nkuŋŋaanya n’abo abaasaasaanyizibwa; era ndibafuula ettendo ne mbawa ekitiibwa mu nsi zonna gye baaswazibwa.
Look at what I am going to do! At that time I am going to deal with all those who have oppressed you. I will save those who are helpless and bring back those who were scattered, and I will turn their shame into praise, and all the world will respect them.
20 Mu biro ebyo ndibakuŋŋaanya; mu kiseera ekyo ndibazza eka. Weewaawo ndibawa ekitiibwa n’ettendo mu mawanga gonna ag’omu nsi zonna, bwe ndikomyawo obugagga bwammwe nga mulaba,” bw’ayogera Mukama.
At that time I will bring you home, gathering you together. I will give you a good reputation, and you will be praised by all the peoples of the earth when I restore your status before your very eyes, says the Lord.
