Psalms 78
1 Understanding for Asaph. Attend, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter propositions from the beginning.
Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
3 How great things have we heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
4 They have not been hidden from their children, in another generation. Declaring the praises of the Lord, and his powers, and his wonders which he hath done.
Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
5 And he set up a testimony in Jacob: and made a law in Israel. How great things he commanded our fathers, that they should make the same known to their children:
Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
6 That another generation might know them. The children that should be born and should rise up, and declare them to their children.
ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
7 That they may put their hope in God and may not forget the works of God: and may seek his commandments.
Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
8 That they may not become like their fathers, a perverse and exasperating generation. A generation that set not their heart aright: and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
9 The sons of Ephraim who bend and shoot with the bow: they have turned back in the day of battle.
Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
10 They kept not the covenant of God: and in his law they would not walk.
kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
11 And they forgot his benefits, and his wonders that he had shewn them.
Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
12 Wonderful things did he do in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Tanis.
Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
13 He divided the sea and brought them through: and he made the waters to stand as in a vessel.
Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
14 And he conducted them with a cloud by day: and all the night with a light of fire.
Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
15 He struck the rock in the wilderness: and gave them to drink, as out of the great deep.
Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
16 He brought forth water out of the rock: and made streams run down as rivers.
wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
17 And they added yet more sin against him: they provoked the most High to wrath in the place without water.
Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
18 And they tempted God in their hearts, by asking meat for their desires.
Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
19 And they spoke ill of God: they said: Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
20 Because he struck the rock, and the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide a table for his people?
Wathi lapho etshaya idwala, amanzi antshantshaza, kwageleza amanzi amanengi. Kodwa angasipha njalo lokudla na? Angabalethela inyama abantu bakhe na?”
21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was angry: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel.
UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
22 Because they believed not in God: and trusted not in his salvation.
ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
23 And he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of heaven.
Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the bread of heaven.
wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
25 Man ate the bread of angels: he sent them provisions in abundance.
Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
26 He removed the south wind from heaven: and by his power brought in the southwest wind.
Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
27 And he rained upon them flesh as dust: and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea.
Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
28 And they fell in the midst of their camp, round about their pavilions.
Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
29 So they did eat, and were filled exceedingly, and he gave them their desire:
Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
30 They were not defrauded of that which they craved. As yet their meat was in their mouth:
Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
31 And the wrath of God came upon them. And he slew the fat ones amongst them, and brought down the chosen men of Israel.
ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
32 In all these things they sinned still: and they believed not for his wondrous works.
Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
33 And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years in haste.
Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned, and came to him early in the morning.
Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
35 And they remembered that God was their helper: and the most high God their redeemer.
Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
36 And they loved him with their mouth: and with their tongue they lied unto him:
Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
37 But their heart was not right with him: nor were they counted faithful in his covenant.
inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
38 But he is merciful, and will forgive their sins: and will not destroy them. And many a time did he turn away his anger: and did not kindle all his wrath.
Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
39 And he remembered that they are flesh: a wind that goeth and returneth not.
Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
40 How often did they provoke him in the desert: and move him to wrath in the place without water?
Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
41 And they turned back and tempted God: and grieved the holy one of Israel.
Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of him that afflicted them:
Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
43 How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanis.
usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
44 And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that they might, not drink.
Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
45 He sent amongst them divers sores of flies, which devoured them: and frogs which destroyed them.
Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
46 And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to the locust.
Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
47 And he destroyed their vineyards with hail, and their mulberry trees with hoarfrost.
Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
48 And he gave up their cattle to the hail, and their stock to the fire.
Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
49 And he sent upon them the wrath of his indignation: indignation and wrath and trouble, which he sent by evil angels.
Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
50 He made a way for a path to his anger: he spared not their souls from death, and their cattle he shut up in death.
Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
51 And he killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt: the firstfruits of all their labour in the tabernacles of Cham.
Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
52 And he took away his own people as sheep: and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
53 And he brought them out in hope, and they feared not: band the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
54 And he brought them into the mountain of his sanctuary: the mountain which his right hand had purchased. And he cast out the Gentiles before them: and by lot divided to them their land by a line of distribution.
Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
55 And he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tabernacles.
Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
56 Yet they tempted, and provoked the most high God: and they kept not his testimonies.
Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
57 And they turned away, and kept not the covenant: even like their fathers they were turned aside as a crooked bow.
Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
58 They provoked him to anger on their hills: and moved him to jealousy with their graven things.
Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
59 God heard, and despised them, and he reduced Israel exceedingly as it were to nothing.
Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
60 And he put away the tabernacle of Silo, his tabernacle where he dwelt among men.
Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
61 And he delivered their strength into captivity: and their beauty into the hands of the enemy.
Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
62 And he shut up his people under the sword: and he despised his inheritance.
Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
63 Fire consumed their young men: and their maidens were not lamented.
Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
64 Their priests fell by the sword: and their widows did not mourn.
abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
65 And the Lord was awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that hath been surfeited with wine.
INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
66 And he smote his enemies on the hinder parts: he put them to an everlasting reproach.
Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim:
Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
68 But he chose the tribe of Juda, mount Sion which he loved.
kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
69 And he built his sanctuary as of unicorns, in the land which he founded for ever.
Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
70 And he chose his servant David, and took him from the hocks of sheep: he brought him from following the ewes great with young,
Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
71 To feed Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
72 And he fed them in the innocence of his heart: and conducted them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
