< Nahum 2 >
1 Ɔtohyɛsoɔni reba wo so, Ninewe bɔ aban no ho ban, wɛn ɛkwan no, bɔ wo ho so na boa wʼahoɔden nyinaa ano!
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 Awurade de Yakob animuonyam bɛsane ama no te sɛ Israel deɛ no, ɛwom sɛ, asɛefoɔ no ama ada mpan na wɔasɛe ne bobe mfuo.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Asraafoɔ no akokyɛm yɛ kɔkɔɔ; akofoɔ no hyehyɛ kɔben akotaadeɛ. Nnadeɛ a wɔde yɛɛ nteaseɛnam no twa nyinam nyinam sɛ da a wɔyɛeɛ no; mpea a wapoma wɔ nnua so no rehim.
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 Nteaseɛnam no twi fa mmɔntene so, na wɔdi akɔneaba. Wɔte sɛ ogyatɛn a ɛrederɛ; wɔbɔ yerɛdɛ te sɛ anyinam.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Ɔfrɛfrɛɛ nʼakofoɔ a wodi mu nanso wɔsuntisunti wɔ ɛkwan mu. Wɔde mmirika kɔ kuropɔn no afasuo ho; na wɔyɛ wɔn akokyɛm krado.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 Wɔbuebue asubɔnten apono no, na ahemfie no dwiri gu fam.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 Wɔhyɛ mmaraden sɛ wɔmfa kuropɔn no nnommum na wɔmfa wɔn nkɔ. Ne mfenaa de wɔn nsa gu wɔn koko so su te sɛ mmorɔnoma.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Ninewe te sɛ ɔtadeɛ a emu nsuo resene korɔ. Woteam sɛ, “Monnyina hɔ! Monnyina hɔ!” Nanso, obiara ansane nʼakyi.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 Momfom dwetɛ no! Momfom sikakɔkɔɔ no! Ahonyadeɛ a ɛwɔ akoradan mu nyinaa! Na ahonyadeɛ no dɔɔso.
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
10 Wɔabɔ Ninewe korɔno, wɔayɛ no pasaa! Akoma boto, na nkotodwe woso woso, nnipa ho popo na wɔn anim to hoa.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Seesei ɛhe na gyatabuo no wɔ, baabi a wɔma wɔn mma aduane no, baabi a gyatanini ne gyatabereɛ korɔ na wɔn mma nso kɔ a wɔnsuro?
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 Gyata akum deɛ ɛbɛmee ne mma. Wabobɔ ahaboa ama gyatabereɛ no. Ɔde deɛ wakum ahyɛ ne bɔn ma na ɔde ahaboa ahyɛ nʼatuo mama.
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 “Me ne wo nnka,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade seɛ ni, “Mɛhye wo nteaseɛnam na adane wisie na akofena bɛkunkum wʼagyata mma. Merennya wo ahaboa biara wɔ asase so. Wɔrente wʼasomafoɔ no nne bio.”
“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.”