Zefania 1

1 Shoko raJehovha rakasvika kuna Zefania, mwanakomana waKushi, mwanakomana waGedharia, mwanakomana waAmaria, mwanakomana waHezekia, pamazuva okutonga kwaJosia mwanakomana waAmoni mambo weJudha richiti:

This is the message that the Lord gave to Zephaniah. He was the son of Cushti, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah. This happened when Josiah, son of Amon, was king of Judah.

2 “Ndichatsvaira zvose kubva pamusoro penyika,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha.

I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth, declares the Lord.

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 sweep away people and animals, I will sweep away the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. I will overthrow the wicked; I will destroy human beings from the face of the earth.

4 Ndichatambanudza ruoko rwangu kuti ndirwise Judha uye ndicharwisa vose vanogara muJerusarema. Ndichaparadza kubva panzvimbo ino vose vakasara vaBhaari, mazita avaprista vechihedheni vanonamata zvifananidzo,

I will strike Judah and everyone who lives in Jerusalem. I will destroy all that remains of their Baal worship along with their pagan priests so that even their names will be forgotten.

5 vaya vanopfugama pamusoro pedzimba kuti vanamate nyeredzi dzedenga, vaya vanopfugama vachipika naJehovha uye vanopikawo naMoreki,

I will destroy those who go up to the rooftops to bow down before the sun, moon, and stars. They also bow down and swear allegiance to the Lord, but then they do the same to Milcom.

6 vaya vanotsauka kubva pakutevera Jehovha uye vasingatsvaki Jehovha kana kubvunza kwaari.

I will destroy those who once worshiped the Lord but don't anymore. They don't seek the Lord or ask for my help.

7 Nyararai pamberi paIshe Jehovha, nokuti zuva raJehovha rava pedyo. Jehovha agadzirira chibayiro; akavaita vatsvene, vaya vaakakoka.

Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near: the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.

8 Pazuva rechibayiro chaJehovha, ndicharova machinda navanakomana vamambo, navaya vose vakapfeka nguo dzavatorwa.

Then on the day of the Lord's sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king's sons, and those who follow pagan ways.

9 Pazuva iro ndicharanga vose vanonyenyeredza kuti vasatsika paburiro, vanozadza temberi yavamwari vavo nechisimba nounyengeri.

I will also punish those who jump over the threshold. On that day I will punish those who fill up their masters' houses using violence and deception.

10 “Pazuva iro,” ndizvo zvinotaura Jehovha, “kuchema kuchanzwikwa kubva kuSuo reHove, kuungudza kubva kuRutivi Rutsva rweguta, nokukoromoka kukuru kubva kuzvikomo.

On that day, declares the Lord, a cry of grief will come from the Fish Gate, a wailing from the Second Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills.

11 Ungudzai imi munogara munharaunda yomusika, vashambadzi venyu vose vachaparadzwa, vose vanotengesa nesirivha vachaparadzwa.

Those who live in the Market District will wail in sorrow, for all the merchants are destroyed, along with those who trade in 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.’

At that time I will search through Jerusalem with lamps and I will punish those self-satisfied people, who are like wine left on its dregs, who say to themselves, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do evil.”

13 Upfumi hwavo huchapambwa, dzimba dzavo dzichaputswa, vachavaka dzimba, asi havangagari madziri; vachasima minda yemizambiringa, asi havanganwi waini yacho.

Their possessions will be looted; their houses will be demolished. They will build houses, but not live in them; they will plant vineyards, but not drink the wine.

14 “Zuva guru raJehovha rava pedyo, pedyo, uye riri kuuya nokukurumidza. Teererai! Kuchema pazuva raJehovha kucharwadza, kuchema kwemhere ipapo.

The great day of the Lord is near and approaching rapidly. It will be a bitter day—even warriors will cry out loud.

15 Zuva iro richava rokutsamwa, zuva rokudzungaira nokumanikidzwa, zuva rokutambudzika nokuparadzwa, zuva rerima nokusuwa, zuva ramakore nezarima.

It will be a day of anger, a day of trouble and distress, a day of disaster and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,

16 Zuva rehwamanda nemhere yehondo yokurwisa maguta akakomberedzwa namasvingo, nokurwisa shongwe dzomumakona.

a day of trumpet calls and battle cries against fortified cities and watchtowers.

17 Ndichauyisa kudzungaira pavanhu uye vachafamba samapofu, nokuti vakatadzira Jehovha. Ropa ravo richadururwa seguruva, uye nyama yavo sendove.

I will bring trouble on humanity, making them walk like blind people because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be spilled like so much dust; their intestines 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.”

Their silver and their gold won't help to save them on the day of the Lord's anger. The whole earth will be burned up by the fire of his jealous anger. He will make sure the end of the people of the world is sudden and complete.