UNahume 1
1 Isiqalekiso ngeNiniva. Incwadi yombono kaNahume umʼElikhoshi.
A message about Nineveh, a vision which came to Nahum from Elkosh.
2 UThixo uNkulunkulu olobukhwele lophindiselayo; uThixo uyaphindisela njalo ulolaka olukhulu. UThixo uyaphindisela ezitheni zakhe lolaka lwakhe lukhulu ezitheni zakhe.
The Lord tolerates no rivals. The Lord is vengeful and fierce in wrath. The Lord does not fail to punish his foes; the Lord is vengeful against his enemies.
3 UThixo uyaphuza ukuthukuthela njalo ulamandla amakhulu; uThixo kayikumyekela olecala engajeziswanga. Indlela yakhe iphakathi kwesivunguzane lesiphepho, amayezi aluthuli lwezinyawo zakhe.
The Lord is slow to anger, great in power. The guilty will not escape his punishment. Storm tempest is his path and cloud is the dust of his feet.
4 Ukhuza ulwandle alomise; wenza yonke imifula itshe. IBhashani leKhameli kuyabuna lemiqhakazo yaseLebhanoni ibune.
He rebukes the sea and dries it up and makes all the streams run dry. Bashan and Carmel are languishing and the bloom of Lebanon is withered.
5 Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwakhe, lamaqaqa ayancibilika. Umhlaba uyagedezela ngobukhona bakhe, umhlaba labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
The mountains tremble before him and the hills dissolve. The earth heaves before him, the world and all who live in it.
6 Ngubani ongamelana lentukuthelo yakhe na? Ngubani ongalumela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo na? Ulaka lwakhe luthululeka njengomlilo; amadwala ayaqhekezeka phambi kwakhe.
Who can stand before his wrath? Who can withstand the heat of his anger? His fierce fury pours forth like fire, he shatters rocks.
7 UThixo ulungile, uyisiphephelo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Uyabakhathalela abathembele kuye,
The Lord is good to those who hope in him, a place of refuge in the day of trouble.
8 kodwa ngesikhukhula esikhulu uzatshabalalisa iNiniva; uzaxotshela izitha zakhe emnyameni.
With rushing flood an end he makes of those who rise against him, he drives his enemies into darkness.
9 Loba engamacebo bani abawenza ngoThixo, uzawaqeda; ukuhlupheka akuyikubuya kabili.
Why do you plot against the Lord? He will end you. He only takes vengeance once.
10 Bazathandeleka phakathi kwameva, bedakwe liwayini labo; bazaqothulwa njengenhlanga ezomileyo.
Thorns, tangled and drenched, they are consumed like dry stubble.
11 Wena Nineve, kuwe sekufike lowo oceba okubi ngoThixo, eluleke okubi.
Nineveh! From you has arisen one who plots evil against the Lord, a counsellor of wickedness.
12 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Lanxa belababambene labo njalo bebanengi, bazaqothulwa banyamalale. Lanxa ngikuhluphile, wena Juda, kangisayikukuhlupha futhi.
The Lord says: “Though they are many and strong, they will pass away and be gone. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more,
13 Khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe labo elisentanyeni yakho, ngiqamule lamaketane akho.”
and now I will break his yoke from your necks and snap your chains.”
14 UThixo usekhuphe ilizwi ngawe Nineve elithi, “Kawuyikuba lezizukulwane ezibizwa ngebizo lakho. Ngizachitha izifanekiso ezibaziweyo lezithombe ezibunjiweyo ezisethempelini labonkulunkulu bakho. Ngizalungisa ingcwaba lakho, ngoba ungcolile.”
The Lord has given this command concerning you, Nineveh: “Your name will no longer be remembered. I will destroy every idol and image in the house of your God. I will destroy even your tomb, for you are worthless.”
15 Khangela ezintabeni le, inyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula! Thakazelela imikhosi yakho we Juda, ugcwalise lezifungo zakho. Ababi kabasayikukuhlasela futhi; bazachithwa ngokupheleleyo.
Look! On the mountains a messenger bringing good news, announcing peace! “Celebrate the feasts, Judah, fulfill your vows. Never again will these enemies invade your land, they are destroyed!”
