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.
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 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 is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
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 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 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 rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
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.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Ka whakatuwheratia nga kuwaha o nga awa, ka papahoro te whare kingi.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
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.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon 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.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one 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, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
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.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow 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 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 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 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 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.
“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.”
