< Nahoma 2 >
1 Fa nitroatse añ’atrefan-dahara’o eo ty mpandrotsake, tano i kijoliy, jilovo i lalañey, mitokia an-kaozarañe, avorio o hafatrara’oo.
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 Vaòe’ Iehovà ty enge’ Iakobe naho ty volonahe’ Israele; fa nampikoake iareo o mampikoakeo, vaho jinoi’ iareo o singam-bahe’eo.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Ho mena mañabarà ty fikalan-defo’ o fanalolahio, misikiñe mena iaby o lahin-defo’eo, afo amam-bý miloeloe o sarete’eo amy andro fihentseña’ey, vaho miriñariña iaby o lefon-ambilazoo;
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 Mitrakotrako amo lalañeo o sareteo, mifaniotsiotse an-diolio eo; manahake ty fañilo ty vinta’ iareo, ie mihelatse mb’etia mb’eroa.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Tiahi’e i mpiaolo rey; mamingañe iereo te miloka; malisa t’ie handrombake i kijoliy, fa nihentseñeñe ty fikala’e,
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Misokake o lalam-pikalañañe i sakaio vaho rinava’e i anjombay.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Fa nivoloseñe i mpanjaka ampelay, fa nasese añe, miñeoñeoñe hoe feon-deho-fona o anak’ ampata’eo, ie mamofok’ arañañe;
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Manahake o antara haehaeo t’i Ninevè, ie mihelañe añe; mijohaña, mitsangana! fe leo raike tsy mitoli-boho.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. ‘Stand firm! Stand firm!’ someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Kopaho o volafotio, haofo o volamenao amy te tsy ho revo ty an-driha ao, fanake tsifotofoto ty ao.
‘Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.’
10 Kapaike re, mangoakoake naho mavo, mitranake ty arofo, mifampigaiñe o ongotseo, mikoritoke iaby ze fisafoa, mikò mainte iaby o vintañeo.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Aia i lakaton-dionay, ty famahanañe o liona tora’eo, i fipiapià’ i lionay naho i liona-vavey naho i ana-dionaiy, ie tsy amam-pañembañe?
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 Nahaeneñe o ana’eo ty rinimi’ i lionay, nahatseke o vali’eo o vinono’eo, natsafe’e tsindroke o lava’eo, le nofotse riniatse an-dakato’eo.
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 Miatreatre azo iraho, hoe t’Iehovà’ i Màroy Haonjoko an-katòeñe o sarete’eo, habotse’ i fibaray o liona tora’oo; le haitoako ami’ty tane toy o tsindro’oo, vaho tsy ho janjiñeñe ka ty fiarañanaña’ o ira’oo.
‘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.’