uZefaniya
1:1 Izwi likaJehova elafika kuZefaniya, indodana kaKushi, indodana
kaGedaliya, indodana ka-Amariya, indodana kaHezekiya, ezinsukwini zika
uJosiya indodana ka-Amoni, inkosi yakwaJuda.
1:2 Ngiyoziqeda zonke izinto zisuke emhlabeni, kusho uJehova.
1:3 Ngiyakuqeda abantu nezilwane; ngiyakuqeda izinyoni zezulu;
nezinhlanzi zolwandle, nezikhubekiso kanye nababi;
Ngiyakunquma umuntu emhlabeni,” usho uJehova.
1:4 Futhi ngizokwelulela isandla sami phezu kukaJuda, futhi phezu kwabo bonke
abakhileyo eJerusalema; ngiyakunquma insali kaBali
le ndawo, negama lamaKemarimu kanye nabapristi;
1:5 Futhi labo abakhulekela ibutho lezulu phezu kwezindlu; kanye nabo
abakhonzayo nabafunga uJehova, nabafunga ngoMalikamu;
1:6 Futhi labo abahlubukayo kuJehova; lalabo abangenakho
wamfuna uJehova, akambuzanga.
1:7 Thula phambi kobuso beNkosi uJehova, ngoba usuku lukaJehova
iseduze, ngokuba uJehova ulungisile umhlatshelo, usho owakhe
izivakashi.
1:8 Futhi kuyothi ngosuku lomhlatshelo weNkosi, ukuthi I
izojezisa izikhulu, nabantwana benkosi, nabo bonke abanjalo
embethe izembatho ezingaziwayo.
1:9 Ngalolo suku ngiyakubajezisa bonke abeqa embundwini;
abagcwalisa izindlu zamakhosi abo ngobudlova nangenkohliso.
1:10 Futhi kuyokwenzeka ngalolo suku, kusho uJehova, ukuthi kuyoba
makube ngumsindo wokukhala esangweni lezinhlanzi, nokuhhewula okuvela ngasesangweni lezinhlanzi
okwesibili, nokuphahlazeka okukhulu okuvela emagqumeni.
1:11 Hewulani, nina bakhileyo Makteshi, ngoba bonke abantu abathengisi banqunywa
phansi; bonke abathwala isiliva bayakunqunywa.
1:12 Futhi kuyokwenzeka ngaleso sikhathi, ukuthi ngiyohlola iJerusalema
namakhandlela, nijezise amadoda ahlezi ezinsikeni zawo: lokho
bathi ezinhliziyweni zabo: UJehova akenzi okuhle, akenzi nokubi.
1:13 Ngakho-ke impahla yabo iyoba yimpango, nezindlu zabo zibe a
bayakwakha izindlu, kepha bangahlali kuzo; futhi bona
bayakutshala izivini, kepha bangaphuzi iwayini lazo.
1:14 Usuku olukhulu lukaJehova luseduze, luseduze, futhi lushesha kakhulu
izwi losuku lukaJehova; iqhawe liyakukhala khona
kabuhlungu.
1:15 Lolo suku lungusuku lolaka, usuku lwenkathazo nokucindezeleka, usuku losizi
incithakalo nencithakalo, usuku lobumnyama nesigayegaye, usuku lwe
amafu nobumnyama obukhulu,
1:16 Usuku lwecilongo nokuhlaba umkhosi ngokumelene nemizi enezivikelo eziqinile, futhi ngokumelene
imibhoshongo ephakeme.
1:17 Futhi ngiyoletha usizi phezu kwabantu, ukuze bahambe njengezimpumputhe.
ngokuba bonile kuJehova; igazi labo liyakuba
othululwa njengothuli, nenyama yabo njengomquba.
1:18 Isiliva labo noma igolide labo ngeke ukwazi ukubakhulula e
usuku lolaka lukaJehova; kepha izwe lonke liyakudliwa nguJehova
umlilo womhawu wakhe, ngokuba uyakuqeda konke masinyane
abahlala ezweni.