Sefania 2
1 Kusanyikeni pamoja, kusanyikeni pamoja, enyi taifa lisilo na aibu,
Gather yourselves, gather together, O shameful nation,
2 kabla ya wakati ulioamriwa haujafika na siku ile inayopeperusha kama makapi, kabla hasira kali ya Bwana haijaja juu yenu, kabla siku ya ghadhabu ya Bwana haijaja juu yenu.
before the decree takes effect and the day passes like chaff, before the burning anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the Day of the LORD’s anger comes upon you.
3 Mtafuteni Bwana, enyi nyote wanyenyekevu wa nchi, ninyi ambao hufanya lile analoamuru. Tafuteni haki, tafuteni unyenyekevu; labda mtahifadhiwa siku ya hasira ya Bwana.
Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth who carry out His justice. Seek righteousness; seek humility. Perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
4 Gaza utaachwa na Ashkeloni utaachwa magofu. Wakati wa adhuhuri Ashdodi utaachwa mtupu na Ekroni utangʼolewa.
For Gaza will be abandoned, and Ashkelon left in ruins. Ashdod will be driven out at noon, and Ekron will be uprooted.
5 Ole wenu ninyi ambao mnaishi kando ya bahari, enyi Wakerethi; neno la Bwana liko dhidi yenu, ee Kanaani, nchi ya Wafilisti. “Mimi nitawaangamiza, na hakuna atakayebaki.”
Woe to the dwellers of the seacoast, O nation of the Cherethites! The word of the LORD is against you, O Canaan, land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you, and no one will be left.”
6 Nchi kando ya bahari, mahali ambapo wanaishi Wakerethi, patakuwa mahali pa wachungaji na mazizi ya kondoo.
So the seacoast will become a land of pastures, with wells for shepherds and folds for sheep.
7 Itakuwa mali ya mabaki ya nyumba ya Yuda, hapo watapata malisho. Wakati wa jioni watajilaza chini katika nyumba za Ashkeloni. Bwana Mungu wao atawatunza, naye atawarudishia wafungwa wao.
The coast will belong to the remnant of the house of Judah; there they will find pasture. They will lie down in the evening among the houses of Ashkelon, for the LORD their God will attend to them and restore their captives.
8 “Nimeyasikia matukano ya Moabu nazo dhihaka za Waamoni, ambao waliwatukana watu wangu na kutoa vitisho dhidi ya nchi yao.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders.
9 Hakika, kama niishivyo,” asema Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote, Mungu wa Israeli, “hakika Moabu itakuwa kama Sodoma, Waamoni kama Gomora: mahali pa magugu na mashimo ya chumvi, nchi ya ukiwa milele. Mabaki ya watu wangu watawateka nyara; mabaki ya taifa langu watarithi nchi yao.”
Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah— a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”
10 Hiki ndicho watarudishiwa kwa ajili ya kiburi chao, kwa kutukana na kudhihaki watu wa Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote.
This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts.
11 Bwana atakuwa wa kuhofisha kwao atakapoangamiza miungu yote ya nchi. Mataifa katika kila pwani yatamwabudu, kila moja katika nchi yake.
The LORD will be terrifying to them when He starves all the gods of the earth. Then the nations of every shore will bow in worship to Him, each in its own place.
12 “Ninyi pia, ee Wakushi, mtauawa kwa upanga wangu.”
“You too, O Cushites, will be slain by My sword.”
13 Mungu atanyoosha mkono wake dhidi ya kaskazini na kuangamiza Waashuru, akiiacha Ninawi ukiwa na pakame kama jangwa.
And He will stretch out His hand against the north and destroy Assyria; He will make Nineveh a desolation, as dry as a desert.
14 Makundi ya kondoo na ngʼombe yatajilaza pale, viumbe vya kila aina. Bundi wa jangwani na bundi waliao kwa sauti nyembamba wataishi juu ya nguzo zake. Mwangwi wa kuita kwao utapita madirishani, kifusi kitakuwa milangoni, boriti za mierezi zitaachwa wazi.
Herds will lie down in her midst, creatures of every kind. Both the desert owl and screech owl will roost atop her pillars. Their calls will sound from the window, but desolation will lie on the threshold, for He will expose the beams of cedar.
15 Huu ndio mji uliotukuka na kuishi kwa furaha wakijisikia salama. Ulisema moyoni mwako, “Mimi ndimi, na wala hapana mwingine ila mimi.” Jinsi gani umekuwa gofu, mahali pa kulala wanyama pori! Wote wanaopita kando yake wanauzomea na kutikisa mkono kwa dharau.
This carefree city that dwells securely, that thinks to herself: “I am it, and there is none besides me,” what a ruin she has become, a resting place for beasts. Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.
