Nahumu 2
1 Mshambuliaji anasogea dhidi yako, Ninawi. Linda ngome, chunga barabara, jitieni nguvu wenyewe, kusanya nguvu zako zote!
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
2 Bwana atarudisha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli, ingawa waangamizi wamewaacha ukiwa na wameharibu mizabibu yao.
For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine.
3 Ngao za askari wake ni nyekundu, mashujaa wamevaa nguo nyekundu. Chuma kwenye magari ya vita chametameta, katika siku aliyoyaweka tayari, mikuki ya mierezi inametameta.
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
4 Magari ya vita yanafanya msukosuko barabarani, yakikimbia nyuma na mbele uwanjani. Yanaonekana kama mienge ya moto; yanakwenda kasi kama umeme.
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
5 Anaita vikosi vilivyochaguliwa, lakini bado wanajikwaa njiani. Wanakimbilia haraka kwenye ukuta wa mji, ile ngao ya kuwakinga imetayarishwa.
He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.
6 Malango ya mto yamefunguliwa wazi, na jumba la kifalme limeanguka.
The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7 Imeagizwa kwamba mji uchukuliwe na upelekwe uhamishoni. Vijakazi wake wanaomboleza kama hua na kupigapiga vifua vyao.
It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts.
8 Ninawi ni kama dimbwi, nayo maji yake yanakauka. Wanalia, “Simama! Simama!” Lakini hakuna anayegeuka nyuma.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
9 Chukueni nyara za fedha! Chukueni nyara za dhahabu! Wingi wake hauna mwisho, utajiri kutoka hazina zake zote!
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
10 Ameharibiwa, ametekwa nyara, ameachwa uchi! Mioyo inayeyuka, magoti yanalegea, miili inatetemeka, na kila uso umebadilika rangi.
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
11 Liko wapi sasa pango la simba, mahali ambapo waliwalisha watoto wao, ambapo simba dume na simba jike walikwenda na ambapo wana simba walikwenda bila kuogopa chochote?
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away?
12 Simba aliua mawindo ya kutosha watoto wake, alinyonga mawindo kwa ajili ya mwenzi wake, akijaza makao yake kwa alivyoua na mapango yake kwa mawindo.
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
13 Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote anatangaza, “Mimi ni kinyume na ninyi. Magari yenu ya vita nitayateketeza kwa moto, na upanga utakula wana simba wako. Sitawaachia mawindo juu ya nchi. Sauti za wajumbe wako hazitasikika tena.”
“Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will send your chariots up in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”
