UZefaniya 2
1 Buthanani ndawonye, buthanani ndawonye, wena sizwe esiyangisayo,
Search yourselves; yea, search, 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 come upon you like chaff; Before the fierce anger of Jehovah come upon you, Before the day of the anger of Jehovah come upon you.
3 Dingani uThixo, lonke lina abathobekileyo belizwe, lina elenza lokho akulayayo. Dingani ukulunga, dingani ukuthobeka; mhlawumbe lingavikelwa ngosuku lwentukuthelo kaThixo.
Seek ye Jehovah, all ye lowly of the land, Ye, who obey his commands! Seek righteousness; seek lowliness; It may be that ye shall be hid in the day of the anger of Jehovah.
4 IGaza izadelwa le-Ashikheloni isale isingamanxiwa. Abantu base-Ashidodi bazaxotshwa emini, le-Ekroni isitshulwe.
For Gaza shall be forsaken, And Askelon a desolation; Ashdod shall be driven out 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 to the inhabitants of the sea-coasts, the nation of the Cherethites! This is the word of Jehovah 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 pastures full of habitations 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 shall be for the residue of the house of Judah; Thereon shall they feed; In the houses of Askelon shall they lie down in the evening; For Jehovah their God will look upon them, and bring back their captives.
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 sons of Ammon, With which they have reproached my people, And exalted themselves against their borders.
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 be as Sodom, And the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, A possession for thorns, and a pit for salt, and a perpetual desolation. The residue of my people shall spoil them, And the remainder of my nation shall possess them.
10 Lokhu yikho abazakuthola kungumvuzo wokuzigqaja kwabo, ngenxa yokuthuka lokuklolodela abantu bakaThixo uSomandla.
This shall come upon them for their pride, Because they have uttered reproaches, and exalted 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 against them; For he will destroy all the gods of the earth; And before him shall worship, every one from his place, All the islands of the nations.
12 “Lani futhi, lina maKhushi lizabulawa ngenkemba yami.”
Ye, also, O Ethiopians! Ye shall be slain by my sword!
13 Uzakwelulela isandla sakhe enyakatho achithe i-Asiriya, atshiye iNiniva itshabalele ngokupheleleyo njalo yome njengenkangala.
He will also stretch out his hand against the North, And destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, Even dry like a desert.
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, Yea, all the tribes of wild beasts; The pelican and the hedgehog shall lodge in the capitals of her pillars; A cry shall resound in the window; Desolation shall be upon the threshold; For her cedar-work shall be laid bare.
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, and none besides me!” Now is she become a desolation, a resting-place for wild beasts! Every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
