< Nahum 2 >

1 Àwọn apanirun ti dìde sí ọ, ìwọ Ninefe. Pa ilé ìṣọ́ mọ́, ṣọ́ ọ̀nà náà, di àmùrè, ẹ̀gbẹ́ rẹ kí ó le múra gírí.
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 Olúwa yóò mú ọláńlá Jakọbu padà sípò gẹ́gẹ́ bí ọláńlá Israẹli bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé àwọn apanirun ti pa ibẹ̀ run, tí wọ́n sì ba ẹ̀ka àjàrà wọn jẹ́.
For the Lord is restoring the majesty of Jacob and of Israel, though the devastators have plundered them and destroyed their vines.
3 Asà àwọn ọmọ-ogun rẹ̀ sì di pupa; àwọn ológun wọn sì wọ aṣọ òdòdó. Idẹ tí ó wà lórí kẹ̀kẹ́ ogun ń kọ mọ̀nàmọ́ná ní ọjọ́ tí a bá pèsè wọn sílẹ̀ tán; igi firi ni a ó sì mì tìtì.
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 Àwọn kẹ̀kẹ́ ogun yóò ya bo àwọn pópónà, wọn yóò sì máa sáré síwá àti sẹ́yìn ní àárín ìgboro. Wọn sì dàbí ètùfù iná; tí ó sì kọ bí i mọ̀nàmọ́ná.
Chariots rush across the fields, storm through the squares; they flame like torches, they dart like lightening.
5 Ninefe yóò ṣe àṣàrò àwọn ọlọ́lá rẹ̀; síbẹ̀ wọ́n ń kọsẹ̀ ní ojú ọ̀nà wọn; wọn sáré lọ sí ibi odi rẹ̀, a ó sì pèsè ààbò rẹ̀.
A leader rallies his nobles, they hurl themselves forward. They speed on toward the wall; the storming-shield is set up.
6 A ó ṣí ìlẹ̀kùn àwọn odò wọ̀n-ọn-nì sílẹ̀, a ó sì mú ààfin náà di wíwó palẹ̀.
The water-gates are thrown open, and the palace dissolves in ruins.
7 A pa á láṣẹ pé ìlú náà, èyí tí a ti fi ìdí rẹ̀ múlẹ̀ ni a ó sì kó ní ìgbèkùn lọ. A ó sì mú un gòkè wá àti àwọn ìránṣẹ́bìnrin rẹ̀ yóò kérora bí ti ẹyẹ àdàbà, wọn a sì máa lu àyà wọn.
The queen is stripped, she is carried off. Her maids moan like doves, beating upon their breasts.
8 Ninefe dàbí adágún omi, tí omi rẹ̀ sì ń gbẹ́ ẹ lọ. “Dúró! Dúró!” ni wọ́n ó máa kígbe, ṣùgbọ́n ẹnìkankan kì yóò wo ẹ̀yìn.
Like a pool of water is Nineveh, her waters fast ebbing away. “Stand firm! Stand firm!” someone cries, but no one turns back.
9 “Ẹ kó ìkógun fàdákà! Ẹ kó ìkógun wúrà! Ìṣúra wọn ti kò lópin náà, àti ọrọ̀ kúrò nínú gbogbo ohun èlò ti a fẹ́!”
“Loot the silver, loot the gold, for there is no end to the treasure, the wealth and precious things.”
10 Òun ti ṣòfò, ó si di asán, ó sì di ahoro: ọkàn pami, eékún ń lu ara wọn, ìrora púpọ̀ sì wà nínú gbogbo ẹgbẹ́ àti ojú gbogbo wọ́n sì rẹ̀wẹ̀sì.
Nineveh is empty, desolate, devastated, with faint heart and knocking knee. There is weakness in every limb, and faces grow pale.
11 Níbo ni ihò àwọn kìnnìún wà àti ibi ìjẹun àwọn ọmọ kìnnìún, níbi tí kìnnìún, àní abo kìnnìún tí ń rìn, àti ọmọ kìnnìún, láìsí ohun ìbẹ̀rù.
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 Kìnnìún tipa ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ fún àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀, ó sì fún un ẹran ọdẹ ní ọrùn pa fún àwọn abo kìnnìún rẹ̀, ó sì fi ohun pípa kún ibùgbé rẹ̀ àti ihò rẹ̀ fún ohun ọdẹ.
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 “Kíyèsi i èmi dojúkọ ọ́,” ni Olúwa àwọn ọmọ-ogun wí. “Èmi yóò sì fi kẹ̀kẹ́ rẹ̀ wọ̀n-ọn-nì jóná nínú èéfín, idà yóò sì jẹ ọmọ kìnnìún rẹ̀ wọ̀n-ọn-nì run. Èmi yóò sì ké ohun ọdẹ rẹ kúrò lórí ilẹ̀ ayé. Ohùn àwọn ìránṣẹ́ rẹ ni a kì yóò sì tún gbọ́ mọ́.”
“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.”

< Nahum 2 >