< Zefania 1 >

1 Shoko raJehovha rakasvika kuna Zefania, mwanakomana waKushi, mwanakomana waGedharia, mwanakomana waAmaria, mwanakomana waHezekia, pamazuva okutonga kwaJosia mwanakomana waAmoni mambo weJudha richiti:
The word of Yahweh which came unto Zephaniah, son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, —in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.
2 “Ndichatsvaira zvose kubva pamusoro penyika,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.
I will take clean away everything from off the face of the ground, Declareth Yahweh.
3 “Ndichatsvaira zvose vanhu nemhuka; ndichatsvaira shiri dzedenga nehove dzegungwa. Vakaipa vachasara nemirwi yamarara chete, kana ndabvisa munhu pamusoro penyika,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.
I will take away man and beast, I will take away the bird of the heavens and the fishes of the sea, and the stumblingblocks, even them who are lawless, —and will cut off mankind, from off the face of the ground, Declareth Yahweh.
4 Ndichatambanudza ruoko rwangu kuti ndirwise Judha uye ndicharwisa vose vanogara muJerusarema. Ndichaparadza kubva panzvimbo ino vose vakasara vaBhaari, mazita avaprista vechihedheni vanonamata zvifananidzo,
And I will stretch out my hand—over Judah, and over all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, —and will cut off out of this place, the name of Baal, the name of the priestlings, with the priests;
5 vaya vanopfugama pamusoro pedzimba kuti vanamate nyeredzi dzedenga, vaya vanopfugama vachipika naJehovha uye vanopikawo naMoreki,
And them who bow down upon the housetops to the host of the heavens, —and them who bow down—who swear to Yahweh, and swear by Milcom;
6 vaya vanotsauka kubva pakutevera Jehovha uye vasingatsvaki Jehovha kana kubvunza kwaari.
And them who turn away from following Yahweh, —and have neither sought Yahweh, nor enquired for him.
7 Nyararai pamberi paIshe Jehovha, nokuti zuva raJehovha rava pedyo. Jehovha agadzirira chibayiro; akavaita vatsvene, vaya vaakakoka.
Hush! at the presence of My Lord, Yahweh, —for, near, is the day of Yahweh, for Yahweh hath prepared his sacrifice, hath hallowed his guests.
8 Pazuva rechibayiro chaJehovha, ndicharova machinda navanakomana vamambo, navaya vose vakapfeka nguo dzavatorwa.
And it shall come to pass, in the day of Yahweh’s sacrifice, that I will punish the rulers, and the sons of the king, —and all such as are clothed with foreign apparel;
9 Pazuva iro ndicharanga vose vanonyenyeredza kuti vasatsika paburiro, vanozadza temberi yavamwari vavo nechisimba nounyengeri.
And I will punish every one who leapeth over the threshold, in that day, —those who fill the house of their lords with violence and deceit.
10 “Pazuva iro,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha, “kuchema kuchanzwikwa kubva kuSuo reHove, kuungudza kubva kuRutivi Rutsva rweguta, nokukoromoka kukuru kubva kuzvikomo.
And there shall come to be, in that day, declareth Yahweh, The noise of an outcry from the fish-gate, and of a howling out of the new city, —and of a great crashing, from the hills.
11 Ungudzai imi munogara munharaunda yomusika, vashambadzi venyu vose vachaparadzwa, vose vanotengesa nesirivha vachaparadzwa.
Howl, ye inhabitants of the lower city, —because destroyed are all the people of traffic, cut off are all they who were laden with silver.
12 Panguva iyoyo ndichanzvera Jerusarema nomwenje; uye ndicharanga vaya vagere zvavo, vakaita sewaini yakasiyiwa mumasese ayo, vanofunga kuti, ‘Jehovha hapana zvaangaita, zvakanaka kana zvakaipa.’
And it shall come to pass, at that time, that I will search through Jerusalem, with lamps, —and will punish the men who are thickened upon their lees, who are saying in their heart, Yahweh, will not give blessing, neither will he bring calamity.
13 Upfumi hwavo huchapambwa, dzimba dzavo dzichaputswa, vachavaka dzimba, asi havangagari madziri; vachasima minda yemizambiringa, asi havanganwi waini yacho.
Therefore shall their goods become a booty, and their houses, a desolation, —and they shall build houses, but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
14 “Zuva guru raJehovha rava pedyo, pedyo, uye riri kuuya nokukurumidza. Teererai! Kuchema pazuva raJehovha kucharwadza, kuchema kwemhere ipapo.
Near is the great day of Yahweh, near, and very speedy, —The noise of the day of Yahweh, a strong man—there!—bitterly crying out!
15 Zuva iro richava rokutsamwa, zuva rokudzungaira nokumanikidzwa, zuva rokutambudzika nokuparadzwa, zuva rerima nokusuwa, zuva ramakore nezarima.
A day of indignation, —that day! day of danger and distress, day of rush, and of crash, day of obscurity, and deep gloom, day of cloud, and thick darkness;
16 Zuva rehwamanda nemhere yehondo yokurwisa maguta akakomberedzwa namasvingo, nokurwisa shongwe dzomumakona.
day of horn, and war-shout, —against the fortified cities, and against the high towers.
17 Ndichauyisa kudzungaira pavanhu uye vachafamba samapofu, nokuti vakatadzira Jehovha. Ropa ravo richadururwa seguruva, uye nyama yavo sendove.
And I will bring distress to mankind, and they shall walk like them who are blind, because, against Yahweh, have they sinned, —and their blood, shall be poured out, as dust, and their bowels like dung.
18 Sirivha yavo kana goridhe ravo hazvingagoni kuvaponesa, pazuva rokutsamwa kwaJehovha. Mumoto wegodo rake nyika yose ichaparadzwa, nokuti achauyisa magumo pakarepo kuna vose vanogara panyika.”
Neither their silver nor yet their gold, shall be able to deliver them, in the day of the indignation of Yahweh, but, in the fire of his jealousy, shall the whole earth be consumed; For, a destruction, surely a terrible one, will he make, with all them who dwell in the earth.

< Zefania 1 >