Psalms 35
1 Of David. Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
2 Take up Your shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.
3 Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers; say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.
5 May they be like chaff in the wind, as the angel of the LORD drives them away.
Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
6 May their path be dark and slick, as the angel of the LORD pursues.
Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.
7 For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.
Ngoba kungelasizatho bangifihlele imbule labo emgodini, kungelasizatho bawugebhele umphefumulo wami.
8 May ruin befall them by surprise; may the net they hid ensnare them; may they fall into the hazard they created.
Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and exult in His salvation.
Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
10 All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”
Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
11 Hostile witnesses come forward; they make charges I know nothing about.
Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
12 They repay me evil for good, to the bereavement of my soul.
Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth; I humbled myself with fasting, but my prayers returned unanswered.
Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.
14 I paced about as for my friend or brother; I was bowed down with grief, like one mourning for his mother.
Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
15 But when I stumbled, they assembled in glee; they gathered together against me. Assailants I did not know slandered me without ceasing.
Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
16 Like godless jesters at a feast, they gnashed their teeth at me.
Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
17 How long, O Lord, will You look on? Rescue my soul from their ravages, my precious life from these lions.
Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
18 Then I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people.
Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
19 Let not my enemies gloat over me without cause, nor those who hate me without reason wink in malice.
Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful schemes against those who live quietly in the land.
Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
21 They gape at me and say, “Aha, aha! Our eyes have seen!”
Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
22 O LORD, You have seen it; be not silent. O Lord, be not far from me.
Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
23 Awake and rise to my defense, to my cause, my God and my Lord!
Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
24 Vindicate me by Your righteousness, O LORD my God, and do not let them gloat over me.
Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
25 Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, just what we wanted!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.
26 May those who gloat in my distress be ashamed and confounded; may those who exalt themselves over me be clothed in shame and reproach.
Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
27 May those who favor my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “Exalted be the LORD who delights in His servant’s well-being.”
Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.
28 Then my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness and Your praises all day long.
Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
