1
Yeye asetaye vipande vipande amepanda juu mbele ya uso wako; zishike silaha, ilinde njia, vitie nguvu viuno vyako, uongeze uwezo wako sana.
One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
2
Kwa maana Bwana anairudisha fahari ya Yakobo, kama fahari ya Israeli; maana watekao nyara wamewateka, na kuyaharibu matawi ya mizabibu yao.
For the LORD will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and ruined the branches of their vine.
3
Ngao ya mashujaa wake imefanywa kuwa nyekundu, watu walio hodari wa vita wamevaa nguo nyekundu sana; magari ya vita yametameta kwa chuma cha pua siku ya kujitengeza kwake, na mikuki inatikiswa kwa namna ya kutisha.
The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished.
4
Magari ya vita yanafanya mshindo njiani, Yanasongana-songana katika njia kuu; Kuonekana kwake ni kama mienge, Yanakwenda upesi kama umeme.
The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning.
5
Awakumbuka watu wake wenye heshima; Wanajikwaa katika mwendo wao; Wanafanya haraka waende ukutani; Nacho kitu cha kuwafunika kimewekwa tayari.
He summons his nobles; they stumble as they advance. They race to its wall; the protective shield is set in place.
6
Malango ya mito yamefunguka, na jumba la mfalme limeyeyushwa.
The river gates are thrown open and the palace collapses.
7
Husabu naye amefunuliwa, anachukuliwa, na wajakazi wake wanalia kama kwa sauti ya hua, wakipiga-piga vifua vyao.
It is decreed that the city be exiled and carried away; her maidservants moan like doves, and beat upon their breasts.
8
Lakini Ninawi tokea zamani amekuwa kama ziwa la maji; ila hata sasa wanakimbia; Simameni! Simameni! Lakini hapana hata mmoja atazamaye nyuma.
Nineveh has been like a pool of water throughout her days, but now it is draining away. “Stop! Stop!” they cry, but no one turns back.
9
Chukueni nyara za fedha; Chukueni nyara za dhahabu; Kwa maana ni akiba isiyoisha, Fahari ya vyombo vipendezavyo.
“Plunder the silver! Plunder the gold!” There is no end to the treasure, an abundance of every precious thing.
10
Amekuwa utupu, na ukiwa, na uharibifu; hata moyo unayeyuka, na magoti yanagongana-gongana; viunoni mwote mna utungu, na nyuso za wote zimekuwa nyeupe kwa hofu.
She is emptied! Yes, she is desolate and laid waste! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, and every face grows pale!
11
Kao la simba li wapi? Na mahali walishapo wana-simba pa wapi, mahali walipotembea simba mume na simba mke na mwana-simba, wala hapana aliyewatia hofu?
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away?
12
Simba alirarua vipande vipande chakula cha kuwatosha watoto wake, aliwasongea wake zake nyama, aliyajaza mapango yake mateka, na makao yake aliyajaza mawindo.
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
13
Tazama, mimi ni juu yako, asema Bwana wa majeshi, nami nitayateketeza magari yako ya vita katika moshi, na upanga utawala wana-simba wako; nami nitayakatilia mbali mawindo yako katika nchi, na sauti za wajumbe wako hazitasikiwa tena kamwe.
“Behold, I am against you,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will reduce your chariots to cinders, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voices of your messengers will no longer be heard.”