1 I am Nahum from Elkosh. And this is the message that I wrote down about Nineveh.
The Fierce Anger of the Lord
2 The Lord God demands loyalty.
In his anger, he takes revenge
on his enemies.
3 The Lord is powerful,
yet patient;
he makes sure that the guilty
are always punished.
He can be seen in storms
and in whirlwinds;
clouds are the dust from his feet.
4 At the Lord's command,
oceans and rivers dry up.
Bashan, Mount Carmel,
and Lebanon wither,
and their flowers fade.
5 At the sight of the Lord,
mountains and hills
tremble and melt;
the earth and its people
shudder and shake.
6 Who can stand the heat
of his furious anger?
It flashes out like fire
and shatters stones.
The Power of Assyria Will Be Broken
7 The Lord is good.
He protects those who trust him
in times of trouble.
8 But like a roaring flood,
the Lord chases his enemies
into dark places
and destroys them.
9 So don't plot against the Lord!
He wipes out his enemies,
and they never revive.
10 They are like drunkards
overcome by wine,
or like twisted thornbushes
burning in a fire.
11 Assyria, one of your rulers
has made evil plans
against the Lord.
12 But the Lord says, “Assyria,
no matter how strong you are,
you will be cut down!
My people Judah,
I have troubled you before,
but I won't do it again.
13 I'll snap your chains
and set you free
from the Assyrians.”
14 Assyria, this is what else
the Lord says to you:
“Your name will be forgotten.
I will destroy every idol
in your temple,
and I will send you to the grave,
because you are worthless.”
15 Look toward the mountains,
people of Judah!
Here comes a messenger
with good news of peace.
Celebrate your festivals.
Keep your promises to God.
Your evil enemies are destroyed
and will never again
invade your country.
1 Dama ngekwe Ninive. Lukwalo gwe mbono ya Nahumi we ku Elikoshi.
Kugwadzila moyo Ninive kwa Yahwe
2 Yahwe Ndzimu una fupa kakale unobgwilizila,
Yahwe banobgwilizila, bazhele bushongola,
Yahwe banobgwilizila zwita zwabo,
mu kugwadza moyo kwabo banobhayana ne zwita zwabo.
3 Yahwe abatotjimbidza gwadzamoyo
kakale bana masimba makulu,
abangaletje una nlandu asalobgwa shamu.
Zila yabo imuna tjampupudze ne mu dutu,
makole i hwuluba ye makumbo abo.
4 Banotjemela gungwa bakathama kuti lipkhwe,
banopkhwisa njizi dzose.
Ku Bhashani neku Karimeli kobuna,
ne maluba e Lebanoni anowoma.
5 Mbeli kwabo matombo anotengenyeka,
matuthu kanyawuka,
shango inomilidzika pabalipo ne
lubumbo na bose banogala mu guli.
6 Ndiani ungamidzana nge bushongola gwabo kene?
Ndiani ungadzikitadzila kugwadzamoyo kwabo kunotjisa kene?
Bushongola gwabo gotebuka se moto,
shongwe banodzipkhwanya dzikabe zwikwetjekwetje.
7 Yahwe bakalulwama,
ndibo dizhilo mu misi ye zwinodziyidza.
Banobakilila ibabo banogalabgwe mubali,
8 koga nge nkubila unokuba
banowozhisa ku bhelelo zwita zwabo,
banowolonda zwita zwabo mu zhalima.
9 Tjimwe kene ilini tjamungalanganila Yahwe,
banowotjilobesa,
akuna tjita tjinowomuka kakale.
10 Banonga matenjana e mihwa akapombana,
bakanga zwilaladzi zwang'wa,
banowopisiwa se malala e bushwa akawoma.
11 Mukuli iwe Ninive kwabhuda mmwe,
unolukila Yahwe gwanga
ekumbuludza nge bubi.
12 Tjinolebgwa ndi Yahwe etji,
“Nakuto bakasima kakale bali banji,
banowolobesiwa bakasibepo.
Juda, nenguba ndakakuhwisa zogwadza,
anditjowokuhwisa zogwadza kakale.
13 Ngwenu wali ndowovuna jokwi limu mitshibha yenyu
ndibe ndithubula mitjili yakamusunga.”
14 Yahwe bakadusa nlayo nge kuko Ninive beti,
“Zina lilo alitjowobepo nge kusingapele.
Ndowokolomodza midzimu yakabezhiwa ne yakabumbiwa
imu ng'umba ye midzimu iyo.
Ndowolulwamisa ikumbu tjitjo
ngoti auteli we tjimwe.”
15 Bonani, pezhugwi kwe matombo makumbo e thumwa
inozhisa ndebo mbuya,
unoleba ngekwe mbakiso!
Zana mizano iyo iwe Juda,
ushinge tjawakatuna kutjishinga.
Babiibi abatjowofa bakunginilila kakale,
banowolobesiwa.