< Nahumu 2 >

1 Kua tae ake te kaiwawahi ki tou aroaro: tiakina te pa, tuteia te ara, kia kaha tou hope, kia u rawa tou kaha.
The one who scatters has come to attack you! Guard the fortresses! Watch the roads! Get yourselves ready! Call every soldier out!
2 No te mea ka whakahokia mai e Ihowa te kororia o Hakopa, me te kororia o Iharaira: kua takoto kau hoki ratou i nga kaiwhakatakoto kau, kua he ano a ratou manga waina i a ratou.
(For the Lord will restore the splendor of the people of Jacob as he will restore the splendor of Israel, for invaders have plundered them, and destroyed their land.)
3 Kua oti te whakangungu rakau a ana marohirohi te whakawhero, he ngangana te kakahu o nga maia: kei te rino e kanapa ana te rite o nga hariata i te ra e takatu ai ia, a ko nga tao wiri rawa.
The shields of his chief soldiers are red; the warriors wear scarlet. His chariots flash like fire in the sunlight as he prepares for battle. Spears with their wooden shafts are held up and shaken.
4 Ngana tonu nga hariata i nga ara, taututetute ana ki a ratou ano i nga waharoa: ko to ratou ahua ano he roherohe, e rere ana me he uira.
Chariots race madly through the streets, rushing back and forth across the town squares. Bright as torches, they dash like lightning flashes.
5 Ka mahara ia ki ana metararahi: ka tapatu ratou i a ratou e haere ana; ka hohoro ratou ki to reira taiepa, a ka rite te arai.
He shouts orders to his officers. They stumble as they rush to attack the wall. The battering ram is set up.
6 Ka whakatuwheratia nga kuwaha o nga awa, ka papahoro te whare kingi.
The river gates are opened; the palace washes away.
7 Na kua tu tahanga a Huhapa, kua maua atu ia, a ka tangi ana pononga wahine, ko te reo koia ano kei to te kukupa, ko o ratou uma hei timipera ma ratou.
“Queen” Nineveh is stripped, and led away into exile, with her servant girls mourning like doves, and beating their breasts.
8 Ko Ninewe ia, ko tona rite mai onamata, kei te puna wai: heoi ka tahuti ratou; ka karanga, E tu, e tu; heoi e kore tetahi e titiro whakamuri.
Nineveh is a leaky pool—its population is like water running away. “Stop! Stop” people shout, but nobody turns back.
9 Pahuatia te hiriwa, pahuatia te koura: kahore hoki he mutunga o nga rawa, o te kororia i roto i nga taonga ahuareka katoa.
Loot the silver! Loot the gold! There's an endless supply—an abundance of everything you could ever want.
10 Kua takoto kau ia, kahore ana mea, moti rawa; harotu kau te ngakau, kei te aki ano nga turi ki a raua, he nui te mamae kei nga hope katoa, kua koma nga mata o ratou katoa.
Deserted, destroyed, devastated! Hearts faint, knees tremble, stomachs ache. Everyone's faces turn pale.
11 Kei hea te nohoanga o nga raiona? te wahi kai a nga kuao raiona? te wahi i haereere ai te raiona, me te raiona katua, me te kuao raiona, te ai he kaiwhakawehi?
Where now is the lion's den? Where is the place where the young lions used to feed? Where is the lion, and the lioness, and the lion cub that were afraid of no one?
12 I haehaea mai e te raiona he mea e makona ai ana kuao, notia ana e ia te kaki hei mea ma ana raiona uha, whakakiia ana e ia ona rua ki te kai, ona nohoanga hoki ki te mea i haehaea.
The lion tears apart meat for his cubs, and strangles prey for his lionesses. He fills his den with prey, his lair with carcasses.
13 Nana, hei hoariri tenei ahau mou, e ai ta Ihowa o nga Mano, ka tahuna ano e ahau ana hariata i roto i te paowa, ka pau au kuao raiona i te hoari: ka kore i ahau he haehaenga mau i runga i te whenua, e kore ano te reo o au karere e rangona a muri ake nei.
Watch out! For I am against you, declares the Lord Almighty. I will set fire to your chariots and they will go up in smoke. Your strong young men will be killed by the sword. I will stop you plundering other peoples. The demands of your ambassadors will no longer be heard.

< Nahumu 2 >