< UNahume 1 >

1 Isiqalekiso ngeNiniva. Incwadi yombono kaNahume umʼElikhoshi.
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 UThixo uNkulunkulu olobukhwele lophindiselayo; uThixo uyaphindisela njalo ulolaka olukhulu. UThixo uyaphindisela ezitheni zakhe lolaka lwakhe lukhulu ezitheni zakhe.
God is a rival, and the Lord is avenging. The Lord is avenging, and one who applies wrath. The Lord is avenging with his enemies, and he becomes angry with his adversaries.
3 UThixo uyaphuza ukuthukuthela njalo ulamandla amakhulu; uThixo kayikumyekela olecala engajeziswanga. Indlela yakhe iphakathi kwesivunguzane lesiphepho, amayezi aluthuli lwezinyawo zakhe.
The Lord is patient and great in strength, and those who are not clean, he makes innocent. The Lord is in a tempest, and his way is a whirlwind, and the clouds are dust at his feet.
4 Ukhuza ulwandle alomise; wenza yonke imifula itshe. IBhashani leKhameli kuyabuna lemiqhakazo yaseLebhanoni ibune.
He is the one who rebukes the sea, and who dries it up, and who leads all the rivers to the desert. Basan has been weakened, and also Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon has languished.
5 Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwakhe, lamaqaqa ayancibilika. Umhlaba uyagedezela ngobukhona bakhe, umhlaba labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
The mountains have trembled before him, and the hills have become desolate, and the earth has quaked before his face, both the world and all that dwells 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 firm before the face of his indignation? And who can continue against the fury of his wrath? His indignation has broken out like a fire, and the rocks have been dissolved before him.
7 UThixo ulungile, uyisiphephelo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Uyabakhathalela abathembele kuye,
The Lord is good, and a comforter in the day of tribulation, and he knows those who hope in him.
8 kodwa ngesikhukhula esikhulu uzatshabalalisa iNiniva; uzaxotshela izitha zakhe emnyameni.
And in the flood that passes over, he brings to consummation the end of his place. And darkness shall pursue his adversaries.
9 Loba engamacebo bani abawenza ngoThixo, uzawaqeda; ukuhlupheka akuyikubuya kabili.
What are you thinking up against the Lord? He will accomplish the consummation. There shall not rise up a double tribulation.
10 Bazathandeleka phakathi kwameva, bedakwe liwayini labo; bazaqothulwa njengenhlanga ezomileyo.
For just as thorns entwine one another, so also, while they are feasting and drinking together, they will be consumed like stubble that is completely dry.
11 Wena Nineve, kuwe sekufike lowo oceba okubi ngoThixo, eluleke okubi.
Out of you will go forth one who thinks up evil against the Lord, dragging betrayals through his mind.
12 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Lanxa belababambene labo njalo bebanengi, bazaqothulwa banyamalale. Lanxa ngikuhluphile, wena Juda, kangisayikukuhlupha futhi.
Thus says the Lord: If they had been perfect, and many of them so, yet still they would be pruned, and it will cross through them. I have afflicted you, and I shall afflict you no more.
13 Khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe labo elisentanyeni yakho, ngiqamule lamaketane akho.”
And now I will shatter his rod from your back, and I will break open your bonds.
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.”
And the Lord will place a commandment over you; nothing more from your name will be sown. From the house of your God, I will order destroyed the graven image and the molten image. I will prepare your grave, because you are not honorable.
15 Khangela ezintabeni le, inyawo zalowo oletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula! Thakazelela imikhosi yakho we Juda, ugcwalise lezifungo zakho. Ababi kabasayikukuhlasela futhi; bazachithwa ngokupheleleyo.
Behold, over the mountains, the feet of the Evangelizer and the Announcer of peace. Judah, celebrate your festivals and keep your vows. For Belial will never again pass through you; he has completely passed away.

< UNahume 1 >