< Sefania 2 >

1 Mommoaboa mo ho ano, mommoaboa mo ho ano, Ao, animguaseɛ ɔman,
Bend yourselves, yea, bend ye, O nation not desired,
2 ansa na ɛberɛ a wɔahyɛ no aduru, na ɛda no resene te sɛ ntɛtɛ, ansa na Awurade abufuhyeɛ no aba mo so, ansa na Awurade abufuo ɛda no aba mo so.
Before the bringing forth of a statute, As chaff hath the day passed on, While yet not come in upon you doth the heat of the anger of Jehovah, While yet not come in upon you doth a day of the anger of Jehovah,
3 Monhwehwɛ Awurade, ahobrɛasefoɔ a mowɔ asase so, mo a moyɛ nʼahyɛdeɛ. Monhwehwɛ tenenee, monhwehwɛ ahobrɛaseɛ; ebia ɔbɛkora mo Awurade abufuo ɛda no.
Seek Jehovah, all ye humble of the land, Who His judgment have done, Seek ye righteousness, seek humility, It may be ye are hidden in a day of the anger of Jehovah.
4 Wɔbɛgya Gasa na wɔagya Askelon sɛ kurofo. Owigyinaeɛ na ɔbɛma Asdod ada mpam na wɔatutu Ekron ase.
For Gaza is forsaken, And Ashkelon [is] for a desolation, Ashdod! at noon they do cast her forth, And Ekron is rooted up.
5 Monnue mo a mote mpoano, Ao, mo Keretifoɔ; Awurade asɛm tia mo. Ao, Kanaan, Filistifoɔ asase. Mɛtɔre mo ase, na obiara renka.
Ho! O inhabitants of the sea-coast, Nation of the Cherethites, A word of Jehovah [is] against you, Canaan, land of the Philistines, And I have destroyed thee without an inhabitant.
6 Asase a ɛda mpoano, baabi a Keretifoɔ teɛ bɛyɛ atenaeɛ ama nnwanhwɛfoɔ ne wɔn nnwammuo.
And the sea-coast hath been habitations, Cottages [for] shepherds, and folds [for] a flock.
7 Saa asase no bɛyɛ Yudafie nkaeɛfoɔ no dea; ɛhɔ na wɔbɛnya mmoa adidibea. Anwummerɛ wɔbɛdeda wɔ Askelon afie mu. Na Awurade, wɔn Onyankopɔn bɛhwɛ wɔn, na ɔde wɔn ahonyadeɛ nyinaa bɛsane ama wɔn.
And the coast hath been for the remnant of the house of Judah, By them they have pleasure, In houses of Ashkelon at even they lie down, For inspect them doth Jehovah their God, And He hath turned back [to] their captivity.
8 “Mate Moab nsopa ne Amonfoɔ atweetweɛ; wɔn a wɔsopaa me nkurɔfoɔ na wɔhunahunaa wɔn wɔ wɔn asase ho.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, And the revilings of the sons of Ammon, Wherewith they reproached My people, And magnify [themselves] against their border.
9 Enti, sɛ mete ase yi,” sɛdeɛ Asafo Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, seɛ nie, “Ampa ara Moab bɛyɛ sɛ Sodom, na Amonfoɔ ayɛ sɛ Gomora, baabi a ewira ne nkyɛn amena wɔ, asase a ɛda mpan afebɔɔ. Me ɔman nkaeɛ bɛfom wɔn afa; me manfoɔ a wɔbɛnya wɔn ti adidim bɛfa wɔn asase.”
Therefore, I live, An affirmation of Jehovah 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 — unto the age. A residue of My people do seize them, And a remnant of My nation inherit them.
10 Wɔn ahantan so akatua a wɔbɛnya nie, sɛ wɔsopa na wɔtwetwe Asafo Awurade nkurɔfoɔ enti.
This [is] to them for their arrogancy, Because they have reproached, And they magnify [themselves] against the people of Jehovah of Hosts.
11 Awurade ho suro bɛba wɔn so ɛberɛ a ɔbɛsɛe asase no so anyame nyinaa. Mpoano aman nyinaa bɛsɔre no, wɔ wɔn ankasa wɔn asase so.
Fearful [is] Jehovah against them, For He made bare all gods of the land, And bow themselves to Him, each from his place, Do all islanders of the nations.
12 “Mo Etiopiafoɔ nso, mʼakofena ano na wɔbɛkunkum mo.”
Also ye, O Cushim, pierced of My sword [are] they.
13 Awurade bɛtene ne nsa wɔ atifi aman so na wasɛe Asiria, na wama Ninewe ada mpan koraa na ɛso awo wesee sɛ anwea pradada so.
And He stretcheth His hand against the north, And doth destroy Asshur, And he setteth Nineveh for a desolation, A dry land like a wilderness.
14 Nnwankuo ne anantwie bɛdeda hɔ, mmoadoma nyinaa. Ɛserɛ so patuo ne ɔbonsam anoma bɛtena nʼadum no so. Wɔn su bɛgyegye mpomma mu, mmubuiɛ bɛsisi apono ano akwan, mpunan a wɔde ntweneduro ayɛ no ho bɛdeda hɔ.
And crouched in her midst have droves, Every beast of the nation, Both pelican and hedge-hog in her knobs lodge, A voice doth sing at the window, 'Destruction [is] at the threshold, For the cedar-work is exposed.'
15 Yei ne kuropɔn a ɛdi ahurisie na ɛte asomdwoeɛ mu. Ɔhoahoa ne ho sɛ, “Me ne no, obiara nte sɛ me.” Hwɛ sɛ deɛ atete apansam, na ayɛ nkeka mmoa atenaeɛ! Obiara a ɔtwam hɔ no sere no, hugya ne nsa fɛdie so.
This [is] the exulting city that is dwelling confidently, That is saying in her heart, 'I [am], and beside me there is none,' How hath she been for a desolation, A crouching-place for beasts, Every one passing by her doth hiss, He doth shake his hand!

< Sefania 2 >