Psalms 17
1 A prayer of David. Lord, please hear my cry for justice! Please pay attention to my call for help! Listen to the prayer of an honest man!
Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
2 Vindicate me before you—for you see what is right.
Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
3 You have observed my thoughts, you have visited me at night, you have examined me—and you have found nothing wrong. I promised myself I wouldn't say anything I shouldn't.
Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
4 With regard to the actions of others: I have done what you told me and I have avoided what violent people do.
Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
5 I have not strayed from your path; my feet have not slipped from it.
ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
6 God, I call out to you because I know you will answer; please listen carefully to what I have to say.
Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
7 Show me how wonderful your trustworthy love really is, Savior of those who come to you for protection against their enemies!
Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
8 Keep me safe as someone you love; hide me underneath your wings.
Ngigcine njengenhlamvu yelihlo; ungifihle emthunzini wempiko zakho,
9 Protect me from the attacks of the wicked who want to destroy me, from my enemies who surround me, intent on killing me.
kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
10 They have no compassion, and all they have to say is pure arrogance.
Bayazivalela ngamahwahwa abo; ngomlomo wabo bakhuluma ngokuzigqaja.
11 They hunt me down and surround me, looking for the chance to knock me down in the dust.
Sebesihanqile emanyathelweni ethu; amehlo abo bawamise besithobele emhlabathini.
12 They are like lions, longing to tear their prey apart; like fierce lions crouching in ambush.
Unjengesilwane esikhuthalele ukudabula, lanjengesilwane esitsha esiquthileyo endaweni ezisithekileyo.
13 Lord, stand up and confront them! Force them to back down! By your sword rescue me from the wicked!
Vuka, Nkosi! Uhlangabeze ubuso bakhe, umphosele phansi. Khulula umphefumulo wami komubi, oyinkemba yakho,
14 Lord, by your power, save me from people whose only thought is for this world. May they be filled with what you have in store for them, their children too, with left-overs for their grandchildren!
kubo abantu, abayisandla sakho, Nkosi, ebantwini bomhlaba, osabelo sabo sikulokhukuphila, osisu sabo usigcwalisa ngokuligugu kwakho; bagcwele abantwana, njalo batshiyele izingane zabo okuseleyo kwabo.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in all its goodness. When I awake, I will be so pleased to see you face to face.
Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
