Nahumu 1
1 Maono kuhusu Ninawi. Kitabu cha maono ya Nahumu, Mwelkoshi.
[I am] Nahum, from Elkosh [village]. [This is] a message about Nineveh [city, the capital of Assyria that was given] to me in a vision [by Yahweh].
2 Yehova ni Mungu mwenye wivu na analipa kisasi; Yehova hulipa kisasi na amejaa ghadhabu; Yohova analipiza kisasi kwa adui zake, na huiendeleza hasira yake kwa adui zake.
Yahweh our God (is jealous/does not want people to worship any other god). He is very angry [with those who worship other gods], and he gets revenge [DOU] [on all] those who oppose him [DOU].
3 Yehova ni mwenye nguvu nyingi na mpole wa hasira; hatakuwa na namna ya kuacha kuwahesabia hatia adui zake. Yehova hufanya njia yake kwenye upepo wa kisulisuli na dhoruba, na mawingu ni mavumbi ya miguu yake.
Yahweh does not quickly become angry; but he is very powerful, and he will certainly punish [LIT] those who have done evil things [MTY]. He shows his power by sending whirlwinds and storms, and clouds are [like] [MET] the dust [stirred up by] his feet.
4 Huikemea bahari na kuifanya ikauke; hukausha mito yote. Bashani ni dhaifu, na Karmeli pia; maua ya Lebanoni ni dhaifu.
When he commands oceans and rivers to become dry, they dry up. [He causes the grass in the fields in] the Bashan [region] and [on the slopes of] Carmel [Mountain] to wither, [and causes] the flowers in Lebanon to fade.
5 Milima hutetema kwenye uwepo wake, na vilima huyeyuka; dunia huanguka mbele zake, kabisa, dunia na watu wote wanaoishi ndani yake.
When he appears, [it is as though] the mountains shake and the hills melt; the earth quakes and [the people on] the earth tremble.
6 Ni nani anaweza kusimama mbele ya ghadhabu yake? Nani anaweza kuzuia ukali wa hasira yake? Ghadhabu yake imemwagwa kama moto, na miamba ameibomoa mbalimbali.
There is no one [RHQ] who can resist him when he becomes extremely angry; there is no one [RHQ] who can survive when his anger is very hot. When he is very angry, [it is as though] his anger is like [SIM] a blazing fire, and [it is as though] mountains are shattered into pieces.
7 Yehova ni mwema, boma katika siku ya taabu; na yeye ni mwaminifu kwa wale wanaomkimbilia.
But he is good; he protects [us his people] when we experience troubles. He takes care of those who trust in him.
8 Lakini atafanya mwisho wa adui zake kwa mafuriko ya kutisha; atawawinda kwenye giza.
But he will get rid of his enemies; he will be to them [like] [MET] a flood that destroys everything. He will chase his enemies into the darkness [of the place where the dead are].
9 Watu wanapanga nini dhidi ya Yehova? Yeye atakomesha; taabu haitainuka mara ya pili.
[So], it is useless [RHQ] for you [people of Nineveh] to plot against Yahweh. He will not [need to] strike you two times to destroy you; he will destroy you [by striking you only once].
10 Maana watakuwa wamevurugika kama michongoma; wataloweshwa katika kinywaji chao mwenyewe; wataharibiwa kabisa kwa moto kama mashina ya mabua.
[It will be as though his enemies] are tangled in thorns, and they will stagger like people who have drunk a lot of wine. They will be burned up like [SIM] a fire completely burns up stubble/straw.
11 Mtu mmoja aliinuka miongoni mwenu, Ninawi, aliyepanga ubaya dhidi ya Yehova, mtu ambaye aliimarisha uovu.
In Nineveh [city] there was a man who advised people to do very wicked things to Yahweh.
12 Hivi ndivyo anavyosema Yehova, “Hata kama wananguvu zao timilifu na idadi timilifu, hata hivyo watanyolewa, watu wao hawatakuwepo tena. Bali wewe, Yuda: Ingawa nimekutesa, sitakutesa tena.
But this is what Yahweh says [about you Israeli people]: “Although the people of Assyria have very many people and their army is very powerful, they will be destroyed and will disappear. [I say to my people in Judah, ] ‘have [already] punished you, but I will not punish you again.
13 Sasa nitaivunja ile nira ya watu kutoka kwako; nitaikata minyororo yako.
Now I will cause the [people of Assyria] to no longer control/oppress you [MET]; [it will be as though] I will tear off the shackles/chains on your [hands and feet].”
14 Yehova ametoa amri juu yako, Ninawi: “Hakutakuwa na kizazi tena chenye kubeba jina lako. Nitazizuia sanamu zilizochongwa na kuziondoa sanamu za chuma kutoka kwenye nyumba za miungu yenu. Nitachimba makaburi yenu, kwa kudharauliwa kwenu.”
[And this is what] Yahweh also declares about you people of Nineveh: “You will not have any descendants who will continue to have your family names. And I will destroy all the statues of your gods that were carved or formed in molds. I will cause you [to be killed and] sent to your graves, because you are vile/despicable!”
15 Tazama, juu ya milima kuna miguu ya mtu aletaye habari njema, anayetangaza amani! Sherehekeeni sikukuu zenu, Yuda, na tunzeni nadhiri zenu, kwa maana mwovu hatawavamia tena; ameondolewa kabisa.
[You people of Judah, ] look! A messenger will be coming across the mountains, and he [SYN] will be bringing good news [to you]. He will be declaring [that you will now have] peace [because Assyria will have been conquered]. [So, ] celebrate your festivals, and do what you solemnly promised to do [when your enemies were threatening to attack you], because your wicked [enemies] will not invade your country again, [because] they will be completely destroyed.
