UZefaniya 2
1 Buthanani ndawonye, buthanani ndawonye, wena sizwe esiyangisayo,
Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation that hath no 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 as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’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 ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
4 IGaza izadelwa le-Ashikheloni isale isingamanxiwa. Abantu base-Ashidodi bazaxotshwa emini, le-Ekroni isitshulwe.
For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the 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 the LORD is against you, O Canaan, the 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, 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.
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed [their flocks] thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening; for the LORD their God shall visit them, and bring 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 the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, a possession of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my nation shall inherit 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 the LORD of hosts.
11 UThixo uzakwesabeka kubo lapho esetshabalalisa bonke onkulunkulu belizwe. Izizwe ezisemakhunjini wonke zizamkhonza, ngulowo elizweni lakhe.
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the nations.
12 “Lani futhi, lina maKhushi lizabulawa ngenkemba yami.”
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by 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, and dry 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 herds shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the pelican and the porcupine shall lodge in the chapiters thereof: [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in 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 joyous city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none else beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand.
