< UZefaniya 2 >

1 Buthanani ndawonye, buthanani ndawonye, wena sizwe esiyangisayo,
Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, you nation that has no shame,
2 isikhathi esimisiweyo singakafiki losuku ludlule njengamakhoba, ukuthukuthela okwesabekayo kukaThixo kungakafiki kuwe, usuku lolaka lukaThixo lungakafiki kuwe.
before the appointed time when the day passes as the chaff, before the fierce anger of Jehovah comes on you, before the day of Jehovah's anger comes on you.
3 Dingani uThixo, lonke lina abathobekileyo belizwe, lina elenza lokho akulayayo. Dingani ukulunga, dingani ukuthobeka; mhlawumbe lingavikelwa ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaThixo.
Seek Jehovah, all you humble of the land, who have kept his ordinances. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of Jehovah's anger.
4 IGaza izadelwa le-Ashikheloni isale isingamanxiwa. Abantu base-Ashidodi bazaxotshwa emini, le-Ekroni isitshulwe.
For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will 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 to the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites. The word of Jehovah is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines. I will destroy you, that there will be no inhabitant.
6 Ilizwe elingasolwandle lizakuba yindawo yabelusi lezibaya zezimvu.
The sea coast will be pastures, with cottages 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.
The coast will be for the remnant of the house of Judah. They will find pasture. In the houses of Ashkelon, they will lie down in the evening, for Jehovah, their God, will visit them, and restore them.
8 “Ngizizwile izithuko zeMowabi lokuchothoza kwama-Amoni, abathuka abantu bami besongela lelizwe labo.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the insults of the people of Ammon, with which 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, says Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab will be as Sodom, and the people of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation. The remnant of my people will plunder them, and the survivors of my nation will inherit them.
10 Lokhu yikho abazakuthola kungumvuzo wokuzigqaja kwabo, ngenxa yokuthuka lokuklolodela abantu bakaThixo uSomandla.
This they will 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 awesome to them, for he will famish all the gods of the land. Men will worship him, everyone from his place, even all the shores of the nations.
12 “Lani futhi, lina maKhushi lizabulawa ngenkemba yami.”
You Cushites also, you will be killed by my sword.
13 Uzakwelulela isandla sakhe enyakatho achithe i-Asiriya, atshiye iNiniva itshabalele ngokupheleleyo njalo yome njengenkangala.
He will stretch out his hand against the north, destroy Assyria, and will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as 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.
Herds will lie down in the midst of her, all the animals of the nations. Both the pelican and the porcupine will lodge in its capitals. Their calls will echo through the windows. Desolation will be in the thresholds, for he has laid bare the cedar beams.
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 joyous city that lived carelessly, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is none besides me." How she has become a desolation, a place for animals to lie down in. Everyone who passes by her will hiss, and shake their fists.

< UZefaniya 2 >