< Nahumu 2 >
1 Yule ambaye atakuharibu vipande vipande anakuja dhidi yako. Linda kuta za mji, linda barabara, jitieni nguvu ninyi wenyewe, yakusanyeni majeshi yenu.
The ravager cometh up against thee, [[O Nineveh!]] Guard the fortress; watch the way; Gird up the loins; confirm the strength.
2 Maana Yehova anarejesha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli, ingawa wateka nyara waliwaharibu na kuharibu matawi ya zabibu zao.
For Jehovah restoreth the glory of Jacob, As the glory of Israel; For the wasters have wasted them, And destroyed their branches.
3 Ngao za mashujaa wake ni nyekundu, na watu hodari wamevaa nguo nyekundu; magari ya vita yameandaliwa yanang'ara kwenye vyuma vyake wakati wa mchana, na mikuki ya mivinje inarushwa hewani.
The shields of his mighty men are red; His warriors are clothed in crimson; His chariots glitter with the fire of steel in the day of his preparation, And the spears are brandished.
4 Magari ya vita yapo kasi kwenye mitaa; yanakimbia mbele na nyuma katika mitaa. Yapo kama kurunzi, na yanakimbia kama radi.
The chariots rave in the streets; They run to and fro in the broad ways; Their appearance is like torches; They run like lightnings.
5 Yule ambaye atakuvunja vipande vipande anawaita maafisa wake; wanajikwaa kila mmoja kwa mwingine katika kutembea kwao; wanaharakisha kuushambulia ukuta wa mji. Ngao kubwa imetayarishwa kujikinga na hawa washambuliaji.
He calleth for his mighty men; They stumble on their way; They hasten to the wall; But the mantelet is prepared,
6 Malango kwenye mito yamelazishwa kufunguka, na jumba la mfalme linaanguka kwenye uharibifu.
The gates of rivers are opened, And the palace melteth away.
7 Husabu amevuliwa mavazi yake na amachukuliwa; watumishi wake wa kike wanaomboleza kama njiwa, wanavipiga vifua vyao.
Huzzab is uncovered; she is carried away captive, Her maidservants sigh with the voice of doves, And smite their breasts.
8 Ninawi ni kama bwawa la maji linalovuja, watu wake kwa pamoja wanakimbia kama maji yanayotiririka. Wengine wanasema, “Simama, simama,” lakini hakuna anayegeuka nyuma.
Nineveh was like a pool full of water of old; Yet shall they flee away; Stand! stand! shall they cry; But none shall look back.
9 Chukua nyara ya fedha, kuchua nyara ya dhahabu, maana hakuna mwisho wake, kwa fahari ya vitu vyote vizuri vya Ninawi.
Seize the silver; seize the gold; There is no end to the treasures; There is abundance of all precious furniture.
10 Ninawi ipo tupu na imeharibiwa. Moyo wa kila mtu unayeyuka, magoti ya kila mmoja yanagongana pamoja, na uchungu upo kwa kila mmoja; sura zao wote zimepauka.
She hath become void, and empty, and desolate; The heart melteth, and the knees smite together; Pangs are in all their loins, And the faces of all gather blackness.
11 Sasa liko wapi pango la simba, sehemu ambapo simba wadogo hula chakula, sehemu ambapo simba dume na simba jike walitembea, pamoja wana-simba, ambapo hawakuogopa kitu chochote?
Where now is the dwelling of the lions, And the feeding-place of the young lions, Where the lion and the lioness walked, And the lion's whelp, and none made them afraid?
12 Simba alirarua mawindo yake vipande vipande kwa ajili ya watoto wake; aliwanyonga mawindo wake kwa ajili ya wake zake, na kulijaza pango lake mawindo, makao yake kwa mizoga iliyoraruliwa.
The lion tore in pieces for his whelps, And strangled for his lionesses, And filled his dens with prey, And his lairs with ravin.
13 “Tazama, mimi nipo kinyume na wewe- hili ni neno la Yehova wa majeshi. Nitayachoma magari yenu ya vita katika moshi, na upanga utateketeza simba wenu vijana. Nitazuia nyara zenu kutoka kwenye nchi yangu, na sauti za wajumbe wenu hazitasikika tena.”
Behold! I am against thee, saith Jehovah of hosts, And I will burn thy chariots into smoke, And the sword shall devour thy young lions. And I will cut off thy prey from the earth, And the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.