< 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] jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and [is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for 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, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked: ] the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds [are] the dust of his feet.
4 Ukhuza ulwandle alomise; wenza yonke imifula itshe. IBhashani leKhameli kuyabuna lemiqhakazo yaseLebhanoni ibune.
He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.
5 Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwakhe, lamaqaqa ayancibilika. Umhlaba uyagedezela ngobukhona bakhe, umhlaba labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.
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 indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
7 UThixo ulungile, uyisiphephelo ezikhathini zokuhlupheka. Uyabakhathalela abathembele kuye,
The LORD [is] good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
8 kodwa ngesikhukhula esikhulu uzatshabalalisa iNiniva; uzaxotshela izitha zakhe emnyameni.
But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
9 Loba engamacebo bani abawenza ngoThixo, uzawaqeda; ukuhlupheka akuyikubuya kabili.
What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.
10 Bazathandeleka phakathi kwameva, bedakwe liwayini labo; bazaqothulwa njengenhlanga ezomileyo.
For while [they be] folden together [as] thorns, and while they are drunken [as] drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.
11 Wena Nineve, kuwe sekufike lowo oceba okubi ngoThixo, eluleke okubi.
There is [one] come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.
12 Nanku okutshiwo nguThixo: “Lanxa belababambene labo njalo bebanengi, bazaqothulwa banyamalale. Lanxa ngikuhluphile, wena Juda, kangisayikukuhlupha futhi.
Thus saith the LORD; Though [they be] quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.
13 Khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe labo elisentanyeni yakho, ngiqamule lamaketane akho.”
For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.
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 hath given a commandment concerning thee, [that] no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.
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 upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.

< UNahume 1 >