Nahumu 2
1 Yule ambaye atakuharibu vipande vipande anakuja dhidi yako. Linda kuta za mji, linda barabara, jitieni nguvu ninyi wenyewe, yakusanyeni majeshi yenu.
Nineveh! The destroyer has come up against you; mount guard upon the rampart; watch the road; brace yourselves; strengthen your might to the utmost.
2 Maana Yehova anarejesha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli, ingawa wateka nyara waliwaharibu na kuharibu matawi ya zabibu zao.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
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 warriors are dyed red, his soldiers are clothed in scarlet, his chariots gleam like fire on the day he prepares for battle spears are shaken.
4 Magari ya vita yapo kasi kwenye mitaa; yanakimbia mbele na nyuma katika mitaa. Yapo kama kurunzi, na yanakimbia kama radi.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
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.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Malango kwenye mito yamelazishwa kufunguka, na jumba la mfalme linaanguka kwenye uharibifu.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Husabu amevuliwa mavazi yake na amachukuliwa; watumishi wake wa kike wanaomboleza kama njiwa, wanavipiga vifua vyao.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon 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.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Chukua nyara ya fedha, kuchua nyara ya dhahabu, maana hakuna mwisho wake, kwa fahari ya vitu vyote vizuri vya Ninawi.
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
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.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
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 den of lions? Where now the lair of their young? Where the lion used to withdraw, with his cubs, with none to disturb them?
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 enough for his cubs, and strangled prey for his lionesses. He filled his caves with the kill, he filled his lairs with fresh meat.
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.”
“But see, I am against you,” the Lord of hosts declares, “I will burn your chariots in smoke and fire. The sword will devour your young lions. You will never again prey on the land. No more will your messengers be heard.”
