< UZefaniya 2 >
1 Buthanani ndawonye, buthanani ndawonye, wena sizwe esiyangisayo,
Collect yourselves and gather together, O nation without shame,
2 isikhathi esimisiweyo singakafiki losuku ludlule njengamakhoba, ukuthukuthela okwesabekayo kukaThixo kungakafiki kuwe, usuku lolaka lukaThixo lungakafiki kuwe.
before the decree bring forth, [before] the day pass away as chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, before the day of Jehovah's anger come upon you.
3 Dingani uThixo, lonke lina abathobekileyo belizwe, lina elenza lokho akulayayo. Dingani ukulunga, dingani ukuthobeka; mhlawumbe lingavikelwa ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaThixo.
Seek Jehovah, all ye meek of the land, who have performed his ordinance; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger.
4 IGaza izadelwa le-Ashikheloni isale isingamanxiwa. Abantu base-Ashidodi bazaxotshwa emini, le-Ekroni isitshulwe.
For Gazah shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon shall be a desolation; they shall drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5 Maye kini lina elihlala ngasolwandle, lina sizwe samaKherethi; ilizwi likaThixo limelana lani, wena Khenani, lizwe lamaFilistiya. “Ngizakutshabalalisa, njalo kakho ozasala.”
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea-coast, the nation of the Cherethites! The word of Jehovah is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: I will destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant;
6 Ilizwe elingasolwandle lizakuba yindawo yabelusi lezibaya zezimvu.
and the sea-coast shall be cave-dwellings for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7 Ilizwe lizakuba ngelabaseleyo abendlu kaJuda; bazathola amadlelo khona. Kusihlwa bazalala phansi ezindlini zase-Ashikheloni. UThixo uNkulunkulu wabo uzabalondoloza; uzabenza baphumelele futhi.
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for Jehovah their God shall visit them, and turn again their captivity.
8 “Ngizizwile izithuko zeMowabi lokuchothoza kwama-Amoni, abathuka abantu bami besongela lelizwe labo.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, wherewith they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
9 Ngakho ngeqiniso elinjengoba ngikhona,” kutsho uThixo uSomandla, uNkulunkulu ka-Israyeli, “impela iMowabi izakuba njengeSodoma, ama-Amoni abe njengeGomora, indawo yokhula lemigodi yetshwayi, ilizwe elichithekileyo nini lanini. Abaseleyo babantu bami bazabaphanga; abaphephileyo babantu bami bazathatha ilizwe labo.”
Therefore, [as] I live, saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Moab shall certainly be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt-pits, and a perpetual desolation; the remnant of my people shall spoil them, and the residue of my nation shall possess them.
10 Lokhu yikho abazakuthola kungumvuzo wokuzigqaja kwabo, ngenxa yokuthuka lokuklolodela abantu bakaThixo uSomandla.
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of Jehovah of hosts.
11 UThixo uzakwesabeka kubo lapho esetshabalalisa bonke onkulunkulu belizwe. Izizwe ezisemakhunjini wonke zizamkhonza, ngulowo elizweni lakhe.
Jehovah will be terrible unto them; for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and all the isles of the nations shall worship him, every one from his place.
12 “Lani futhi, lina maKhushi lizabulawa ngenkemba yami.”
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be the slain of my sword.
13 Uzakwelulela isandla sakhe enyakatho achithe i-Asiriya, atshiye iNiniva itshabalele ngokupheleleyo njalo yome njengenkangala.
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, a place of drought like the wilderness.
14 Imihlambi yezimvu leyenkomo izalala phansi khonapho, lezidalwa zezinhlobo zonke. Isikhova senkangala lomandukulo kuzahlala ensikeni zakhe. Ukukhala kwazo kuzezwakala emawindini, imfucuza izakuba eminyango, imijabo yemisedari ichayeke.
And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the crowd of beasts; both the pelican and the bittern shall lodge in the chapiters thereof; a voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be on the thresholds: for he hath laid bare the cedar work.
15 Leli lidolobho elingakhathaliyo elalizihlalele livikelekile. Lazitshela lathi: “Ngiyimi, kakho omunye ngaphandle kwami.” Yeka ukuchitheka eseliyikho, isikhundla sezinyamazana zeganga! Bonke abadlula kulo bahleka usulu balikhombe ngeminwe.
This is the rejoicing city that dwelt in security, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a couching-place for beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, shall wave his hand.