< Nahumu 2 >
1 Mshambuliaji anasogea dhidi yako, Ninawi. Linda ngome, chunga barabara, jitieni nguvu wenyewe, kusanya nguvu zako zote!
He is come up that shall destroy before thy face, that shall keep the siege: watch the way, fortify thy loins, strengthen thy power exceedingly.
2 Bwana atarudisha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli, ingawa waangamizi wamewaacha ukiwa na wameharibu mizabibu yao.
For the Lord hath rendered the pride of Jacob, as the pride of Israel: because the spoilers have laid them waste, and have marred their vine branches.
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 shield of his mighty men is like fire, the men of the army are clad in scarlet, the reins of the chariot are flaming in the day of his preparation, and the drivers are stupefied.
4 Magari ya vita yanafanya msukosuko barabarani, yakikimbia nyuma na mbele uwanjani. Yanaonekana kama mienge ya moto; yanakwenda kasi kama umeme.
They are in confusion in the ways, the chariots jostle one against another in the streets: their looks are like torches, like lightning running to and fro.
5 Anaita vikosi vilivyochaguliwa, lakini bado wanajikwaa njiani. Wanakimbilia haraka kwenye ukuta wa mji, ile ngao ya kuwakinga imetayarishwa.
He will muster up his valiant men, they shall stumble in their march: they shall quickly get upon the walls thereof: and a covering shall be prepared.
6 Malango ya mto yamefunguliwa wazi, na jumba la kifalme limeanguka.
The gates of the rivers are opened, and the temple is thrown down to the ground.
7 Imeagizwa kwamba mji uchukuliwe na upelekwe uhamishoni. Vijakazi wake wanaomboleza kama hua na kupigapiga vifua vyao.
And the soldier is led away captive: and her bondwomen were led away mourning as doves, murmuring in their hearts.
8 Ninawi ni kama dimbwi, nayo maji yake yanakauka. Wanalia, “Simama! Simama!” Lakini hakuna anayegeuka nyuma.
And as for Ninive, her waters are like a great pool, but the men flee away. They cry: Stand, stand, but there is none that will return back.
9 Chukueni nyara za fedha! Chukueni nyara za dhahabu! Wingi wake hauna mwisho, utajiri kutoka hazina zake zote!
Take ye the spoil of the silver, take the spoil of the gold: for there is no end of the riches of all the precious furniture.
10 Ameharibiwa, ametekwa nyara, ameachwa uchi! Mioyo inayeyuka, magoti yanalegea, miili inatetemeka, na kila uso umebadilika rangi.
She is destroyed, and rent, and torn: the heart melteth, and the knees fail, and all the loins lose their strength: and the faces of them all are as the blackness of a kettle.
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 now the dwelling of the lions, and the feeding place of the young lions, to which the lion went, to enter in thither, the young lion, and there was none to make them afraid?
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 caught enough for his whelps, and killed for his lionesses: and he filled his holes with prey, and his den with rapine.
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 come against thee, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will burn thy chariots even to smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey out of the land, and the voice of thy messengers shall be heard no more.