1
Neno la Bwana lililomjia Sefania, mwana wa Kushi, mwana wa Gedalia, mwana wa Amaria, mwana wa Hezekia; katika siku za Yosia, mwana wa Amoni, mfalme wa Yuda.
This is the word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah:
2
Nitavikomesha kabisa vitu vyote, visionekane juu ya uso wa nchi, asema Bwana.
“I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
3
Nitamkomesha mwanadamu na mnyama; nitakomesha ndege wa angani, na samaki wa baharini, na hayo makwazo pamoja na wabaya; nami nitamkatilia mbali mwanadamu, asionekane juu ya uso wa nchi, asema Bwana.
“I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.
4
Nami nitaunyosha mkono wangu juu ya Yuda, na juu ya watu wote wakaao Yerusalemu; nami nitayakatilia mbali mabaki ya Baali, yasionekane mahali hapa, na hilo jina la Wakemari pamoja na makuhani;
“I will stretch out My hand against Judah and against all who dwell in Jerusalem. I will cut off from this place every remnant of Baal, the names of the idolatrous and pagan priests—
5
na wale walisujudiao jeshi la mbinguni juu ya dari za nyumba; na hao waabuduo, waapao kwa Bwana na kuapa pia kwa Malkamu;
those who bow on the rooftops to worship the host of heaven, those who bow down and swear by the LORD but also swear by Milcom,
6
na hao waliorudi nyuma, na kuacha kumfuata Bwana; na hao wasiomtafuta Bwana, wala kumwulizia.
and those who turn back from following the LORD, neither seeking the LORD nor inquiring of Him.”
7
Nyamaza kimya mbele za Bwana MUNGU; Kwa maana siku ya Bwana i karibu; Kwa kuwa Bwana ameweka tayari dhabihu, Amewatakasa wageni wake.
Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD, for the Day of the LORD is near. Indeed, the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated His guests.
8
Na itakuwa, katika siku ile ya dhabihu ya Bwana, nitawaadhibu wakuu, na wana wa mfalme, na watu wote waliovaa mavazi ya kigeni.
“On the Day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the princes, the sons of the king, and all who are dressed in foreign apparel.
9
Na katika siku ile nitawaadhibu hao wote warukao juu ya kizingiti, waijazao nyumba ya bwana wao udhalimu na udanganyifu.
On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
10
Na katika siku ile, asema Bwana kutakuwako sauti ya kilio kutoka lango la samaki, na mlio mkuu katika mtaa wa pili, na mshindo mkuu kutoka milimani.
On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
11
Haya! Lieni, ninyi mkaao katika Makteshi, maana wafanya biashara wote wameangamia; hao wote waliokuwa na mizigo ya fedha wamekatiliwa mbali.
Wail, O dwellers of the Hollow, for all your merchants will be silenced; all who weigh out silver will be cut off.
12
Kisha itakuwa wakati ule, nitauchunguza Yerusalemu kwa taa; nami nitawaadhibu watu walioganda juu ya sira zao; wasemao katika mioyo yao, Bwana hatatenda mema, wala hatatenda mabaya.
And at that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the men settled in complacency, who say to themselves, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’
13
Na huko utajiri wao utakuwa mateka, na nyumba zao zitakuwa ukiwa; naam, watajenga nyumba, lakini hawatakaa ndani yake; nao watapanda mizabibu, lakini hawatakunywa divai yake.
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.
14
Hiyo siku ya Bwana iliyo kuu i karibu; I karibu, nayo inafanya haraka sana; Naam, sauti ya siku ya Bwana; Shujaa hulia kwa uchungu mwingi huko!
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter.
15
Siku ile ni siku ya ghadhabu, Siku ya fadhaa na dhiki, Siku ya uharibifu na ukiwa, Siku ya giza na utusitusi, Siku ya mawingu na giza kuu,
That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,
16
Siku ya tarumbeta na ya kamsa, Juu ya miji yenye maboma, Juu ya buruji zilizo ndefu sana.
a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.
17
Nami nitawaletea wanadamu dhiki, hata watakwenda kama vipofu, kwa sababu wamemtenda Bwana dhambi; na damu yao itamwagwa kama mavumbi, na nyama yao kama mavi.
I will bring such distress on mankind that they will walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung.
18
Fedha yao wala dhahabu yao havitaweza kuwaokoa katika siku ile ya ghadhabu ya Bwana; bali nchi yote pia itateketezwa kwa moto wa wivu wake; maana atawakomesha watu wote wakaao katika nchi hii, naam, ukomo wa kutisha.
Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them on the Day of the LORD’s wrath. The whole earth will be consumed by the fire of His jealousy.” For indeed, He will make a sudden end of all who dwell on the earth.