Naahoom 2
1 Yaa Nanawwee, namni si lolu sitti dhufeera. Daʼoo eeggadhu; karaa ilaalladhu. Mudhii kee hidhadhu; humna kee hunda walitti qabadhu!
Nineveh! The destroyer has come up against you; mount guard upon the rampart; watch the road; brace yourselves; strengthen your might to the utmost.
2 Yoo balleessitoonni isaan onsanii mukkeen wayinii isaanii barbadeessan iyyuu, Waaqayyo akkuma ulfina Israaʼel deebise sana ulfina Yaaqoobis iddootti ni deebisa.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Gaachanawwan loltoota isaa diddiimoo dha; gootonnis uffata bildiimaa uffataniiru. Guyyaa isaan itti qopheeffaman sana, sibiilli gaarii lolaa irra jiru ni calaqqisa; eeboon gaattiraa isaaniis ni mirmirfama.
The shields of his warriors are dyed red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet, his chariots gleam like fire on the day he prepares for battle spears are shaken.
4 Gaariiwwan lolaa karaa irra dadarbatamu; oobdiiwwan keessas asii fi achi gulufu. Isaan guca bobaʼu fakkaatu; akkuma bakakkaas ni darbatamu.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Inni gootota isaa ni yaadata; isaan garuu karaatti gufatu. Isaan gara dallaa magaalattiitti ariifatu; daʼoonis qopheeffameefii jira.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Balballi lageenii banamaa dha; masaraan mootummaas ni jiga.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Magaalattiin qullaatti hambaa akka boojiʼamtu murteeffameera. Xomboreewwan ishee qoma isaanii rurrukutanii akka gugee booʼu.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Nanawween akkuma haroo ti; bishaan ishees keessaa yaaʼee dhuma. Isaanis, “Dhaabadhaa! Dhaabadhaa!” jedhanii iyyu; garuu namni tokko iyyuu dugda duubatti hin deebiʼu.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Meetii saamaa! Warqee saamaa! Maddi ishee, badhaadhummaan kuusaa qabeenya ishee hundaas dhuma hin qabu!
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
10 Isheen duwwaa, qullaa fi ona taateerti! Lapheen baqeera; jilbi laafeera; dhagni hollateera; fuulli hundis gurraachaʼeera.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Holqi leencotaa, iddoon isaan itti ilmaan isaanii sooran, iddoon leenci kormaa fi dhalaan keessa yaaʼan, saafelli isaanis sodaa malee nagaadhaan jiraatan eessa?
Where now is the den of lions? Where now the lair of their young? Where the lion used to withdraw, with his cubs, with none to disturb them?
12 Leenci waan ilmaan isaatiif gaʼu ajjeefate; leenca dhalaa isaatiifis waa hudhee ajjeese; boolla isaa waan adamseen, holqa isaa immoo gumaa fooniitiin guuttate.
The lion tore enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses. He filled his caves with the kill, he filled his lairs with fresh meat.
13 Waaqayyo Waan Hunda Dandaʼu akkana jedha; “Ani sitti kaʼeera; ani gaariiwwan kee kanneen waraanaa gubee daaraa nan godha; goraadeen leenca kee saafela ni fixa. Ani waan ati adamsattu tokko illee lafa irratti siif hin hambisu. Sagaleen ergamoota keetii lammata hin dhagaʼamu.”
“But see, I am against you,” the Lord of hosts declares, “I will burn your chariots in smoke and fire. The sword will devour your young lions. You will never again prey on the land. No more will your messengers be heard.”
