Sefania 2
1 Kusanyikeni pamoja ninyi wenyewe mkutano wa hadhara na kusanyikeni, taifa lisilokuwa na aibu -
Bend yourselves, indeed, bend, O nation not desired,
2 kabla amri kuchukua madhara na siku hiyo kupita kama makapi, kabla hasira kali ya ghadhabu ya Yahwe kuja juu yenu, kabla siku ya ghadhabu ya Bwana kuja juu yenu.
Before the bringing forth of a statute, The day has passed on as chaff, While the heat of the anger of YHWH has not yet come in on you, While [the] Day of the anger of YHWH has not yet come in on you,
3 Mtafuteni Yahwe, ninyi watu wote wanyenyekevu duniani mnaozitii amri zake! Tafuteni haki yake. Tafuteni unyenyekevu, na labda mtalindwa katika siku ya ghadhabu ya Yahwe.
Seek YHWH, all you humble of the land, Who have done His judgment, Seek righteousness, seek humility, It may be you are hidden in the Day of the anger of YHWH.
4 hivyo Gaza utatelekezwa, na Ashkeloni utageuka kuwa uharibifu. Watauondoshea mbali Ashdodi wakati wa mchana, na wataung'oa Ekroni!
For Gaza is forsaken, And Ashkelon [is] for a desolation, Ashdod! At noon they cast her forth, And Ekron is rooted up.
5 Ole kwa wanaokaa kando ya bahari, taifa la Wakerethi! Yahwe amesema dhidi yenu, Kanaani, nchi ya Wafilisiti. Nitawaangamiza hakuna mkazi atakayebakia.
Behold! O inhabitants of the seacoast, Nation of the Cherethites, A word of YHWH [is] against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines, “And I have destroyed you without an inhabitant.”
6 Hiyo nchi ya kando ya bahari itakuwa malisho kwa wachungaji na kwa mazizi ya kondoo.
And the seacoast has been habitations, Cottages [for] shepherds, and folds [for] a flock.
7 Nchi ya kando ya bahari itakuwa mali ya mabaki ya watu wa nyumba ya Yuda, watakaochungia makundi yao huko. Watu wao watalala jioni katika nyumba ya Ashikeloni, kwa kuwa Yahwe Mungu wao atawatunza na kurejesha wafungwa wao.
And the coast has been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon they lie down at evening, For their God YHWH inspects them, And He has turned back [to] their captivity.
8 Nilizisikia dhihaka za Moabu na wakiwatukana watu wa Amoni wakati walipowadhihaki watu wangu na kujitukuza mipakani mwao.
“I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, With which they reproached My people, And magnify [themselves] against their border.
9 Kwa hiyo, kama ninavyoishi - hili ni tamko la Yahwe wa majeshi, Mungu wa Israeli, - Moabu itakuja kuwa kama Sodoma, na watu wa Amoni kama Gomora; mahali pa viwavi na shimo la chumvi, jangwa la daima. Lakini watu wangu waliosalia watawateka mateka, na watu wa taifa langu waliobaki watachukua umiliki wao.'
Therefore, [as] I live,” A declaration of YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel, “Surely Moab is as Sodom, And the sons of Ammon as Gomorrah, An overrunning of nettles and salt-pits, And a desolation for all time. A remnant of My people seizes them, And a remnant of My nation inherits them.”
10 Hili litatokea kwa Moabu na Amoni kwa sababu ya kiburi chao, tangu walipowadhihaki na kuwatukana watu wa Yahwe wa majeshi.
This [is] to them for their arrogancy, Because they have reproached, And they magnify [themselves] against the people of YHWH of Hosts.
11 Ndipo watamwogopa Yahwe, kwa kuwa ataidhihaki miungu yote ya dunia. Kila mmoja atamwabudu yeye, kila mmoja kutoka mahali pake, kutoka kila upande wa pwani.
Fearful [is] YHWH against them, For He made all gods of the land bare, And all islanders of the nations bow themselves to Him, Each from his place.
12 Ninyi Wakushi pia mtakufa kwa upanga wangu,
“Also you, O Cushim, they [are] pierced of My sword.”
13 na mkono wa Mungu utaishambulia kaskazini na kuiangamiza Ashuru, Kwa hiyo Ninawi utatelekezwa kwa kuteketezwa, kuwa pakavu kama jangwa.
And He stretches His hand against the north, And destroys Asshur, And He sets Nineveh for a desolation, A dry land like a wilderness.
14 Ndipo makundi ya wanyama yatalala pale, kila mnyama wa mataifa, wote kirukanjia na nungunungu watapumzika juu ya safu zao. Sauti itasikika kutoka madirishani; kifusi kitakuwa milangoni; nakshi za mwerezi wao mihimili itakuwa imeifunua.
And droves have crouched in her midst, Every beast of the nation, Both pelican and hedgehog lodge in her knobs, A voice sings at the window, “Destruction [is] at the threshold, For the cedar-work is exposed.”
15 huu ni mji wa kushangiliwa ambao umekaa pasipo hofu, ambaye husema moyoni mwake, “Mimi niko, na hakuna mwingine wa kufanana na Mimi”. Kwa namna ulivyokuwa wa kutisha, mahali pa kulala wanyama ndani yake. Kila mmoja ambaye hupitia kwake huuhisia na kutingisha ngumi kwake.
This [is] the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, “I [am], and there is none beside me,” How she has been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Everyone passing by her hisses, He shakes his hand!
