< UNahume 1 >

1 Umthwalo weNineve. Ugwalo lombono kaNahume umElikoshi.
A revelation about Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 INkosi inguNkulunkulu olomona lophindiselayo; iNkosi ingumphindiseli, njalo ilolaka; iNkosi ingumphindiseli ezitheni zayo, igcinela izitha zayo ulaka.
The LORD is a jealous God and avenges. The LORD avenges and is full of wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries, and he maintains wrath against his enemies.
3 INkosi iyaphuza ukuthukuthela, njalo yinkulu ngamandla, kayiyikumkhulula lokumkhulula olecala; iNkosi, indlela yayo isesivunguzaneni lesiphepheni, lamayezi aluthuli lwenyawo zayo.
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. The LORD has his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
4 Ikhuza ulwandle, ilwenze lome, yomise yonke imifula: IBashani iyabuna, leKharmeli, leluba leLebhanoni liyabuna.
He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel languish. The flower of Lebanon languishes.
5 Izintaba ziyanyikinyeka phambi kwayo, lamaqaqa ayancibilika; lelizwe liyaphakama phambi kwayo, lomhlaba, labo bonke abahlala kuwo.
The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, yes, the world, and all who dwell in it.
6 Ngubani ongema phambi kwentukuthelo yayo? Njalo ngubani ongema ekuvutheni kolaka lwayo? Intukuthelo yayo iyathululeka njengomlilo, lamadwala adilizwe yiyo.
Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the fierceness of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken apart by him.
7 INkosi ilungile, iyinqaba ngosuku lwenhlupheko; iyabazi abathembela kuyo.
The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he knows those who take refuge in him.
8 Kodwa ngesikhukhula esiphuphumayo izaqeda indawo yakho, lobumnyama buxotshane lezitha zayo.
But with an overflowing flood, he will make a full end of her place, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
9 Lenza amacebo bani amelane leNkosi? Yona izakwenza isiphetho esipheleleyo; ukuhlupheka kakuyikuvuka ngokwesibili.
What do you plot against the LORD? He will make a full end. Affliction won’t rise up the second time.
10 Ngoba besathandelene njengameva, bedakiwe njengezidakwa, bazaqedwa njengamabibi omileyo ngokugcweleyo.
For entangled like thorns, and drunken as with their drink, they are consumed utterly like dry stubble.
11 Kuphumile kuwe onakana okubi emelene leNkosi, umcebisi omubi.
One has gone out of you who devises evil against the LORD, who counsels wickedness.
12 Itsho njalo iNkosi: Loba bevikelekile, langokunjalo bebanengi, kanti ngokunjalo bazaqunywa, lapho esedlula. Loba ngikuhluphile, kangisayikukuhlupha.
The LORD says: “Though they are in full strength and likewise many, even so they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more.
13 Ngoba khathesi ngizakwephula ijogwe lakhe lisuke kuwe, ngiqamule izibopho zakho.
Now I will break his yoke from off you, and will burst your bonds apart.”
14 Njalo iNkosi ilayile ngawe ukuthi kakusayikuhlanyelwa lutho lwebizo lakho; ngizaquma izithombe ezibaziweyo lezithombe ezibunjwe ngokuncibilikisa ziphume endlini yabonkulunkulu bakho; ngizakwenza ingcwaba lakho; ngoba udelelekile.
The LORD has commanded concerning you: “No more descendants will bear your name. Out of the house of your gods, I will cut off the engraved image and the molten image. I will make your grave, for you are vile.”
15 Khangelani ezintabeni izinyawo zoletha izindaba ezinhle, omemezela ukuthula! Wena Juda, gubha imikhosi yakho, khokha izifungo zakho; ngoba omubi kasayikudabula kuwe futhi, uqunyiwe ngokupheleleyo.
Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, Judah! Perform your vows, for the wicked one will no more pass through you. He is utterly cut off.

< UNahume 1 >