Zeffaniya 3
1 Zikisanze ekibuga ekijooga, ekijeemu era ekyonoonefu!
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].
2 Tekigondera ddoboozi lya Mukama, wadde okukkiriza okubuulirirwa; tekyesiga Mukama; wadde okusemberera Katonda waakyo.
[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.
3 Abakungu baakyo mpologoma eziwuluguma, era n’abalamuzi baakyo misege gya kiro, bakirimululu abatafissaawo kantu.
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].
4 Bannabbi baakyo si ba buvunaanyizibwa era ba nkwe; bakabona baakyo baweebuusizza ekifo ekitukuvu, era bamenya amateeka.
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].
5 Mukama ali wakati mu kyo, mutuukirivu era tasobya. Buli nkya alamula mu bwenkanya, era buli lukya talemwa; naye atali mutuukirivu taswala.
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].
6 “Nsanyizzaawo amawanga, era ebigo byabwe bifufuggaziddwa; nzisizza enguudo zaabwe, ne wataba ayitamu. Ebibuga byabwe bizikiridde, ne watabaawo muntu n’omu abeeramu.
[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].
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.
[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.
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.
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.
9 “Mu biro ebyo ndirongoosa enjogera ey’amawanga; bonna balikoowoola erinnya lya Mukama, okumuweereza n’omwoyo gumu.
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].
10 Okuva emitala w’emigga egy’Obuwesiyopya, abo abansinza, abantu bange abasaasaana, balindeetera ssaddaaka.
[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.
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.
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.
12 Naye ndireka wakati mu ggwe abantu abakakkamu era abeetoowaze, abo abesiga erinnya lya Mukama.
Those who are still alive in Israel will be poor and humble; they will be people who trust in me [MTY].
13 Ekitundu kya Isirayiri ekirisigalawo tebalikola bitali bya butuukirivu so tebalyogera bya bulimba wadde okuba abakuusa. Balirya, baligalamira, so tewaliba alibatiisa.”
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.”
14 Yimba, ggwe omuwala wa Sayuuni; yogerera waggulu, ggwe Isirayiri; sanyuka ojaguze n’omutima gwo gwonna, ggwe omuwala wa Yerusaalemi.
You people who live in Jerusalem [DOU] and [other places in] Israel, sing and shout loudly! Be glad, and rejoice [DOU] greatly,
15 Mukama akuggyeeko ekibonerezo kyo, agobyewo omulabe wo. Kabaka wa Isirayiri, Mukama, ali naawe; tokyaddayo kutya kabi konna.
[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.
16 Ku lunaku olwo Yerusaalemi kirigambibwa nti, “Totya, ggwe Sayuuni; emikono gyo gireme okuddirira.
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,
17 Mukama Katonda ali naawe, ow’amaanyi alokola: alikusanyukira, alikukkakkanyiza mu kwagala kwe, alikusanyukira n’okuyimba.”
[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.”
18 “Ennaku eyabakwatanga olw’embaga ezabakuŋŋaanyanga ndigibaggyako; kubanga kibafuukidde omugugu.
[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.
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.
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.
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 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.”
