Psalms 78
1 Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; 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 with a parable; I will utter dark sayings concerning days of old;
Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
3 That which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us,
esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
4 We will not hide from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength, and His wondrous works that He hath done.
Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children that should be born; who should arise and tell them to their children,
ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
7 That they might put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments;
Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
8 And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
9 The children of Ephraim were as archers handling the bow, that 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 refused to walk in His law;
kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
11 And they forgot His doings, and His wondrous works that He had shown them.
Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
12 Marvellous things did He in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
13 He cleaved the sea, and caused them to pass through; and He made the waters to stand as a heap.
Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
14 By day also He led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
15 He cleaved rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the great deep.
Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
17 Yet went they on still to sin against Him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
18 And they tried God in their heart by asking food for their craving.
Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
19 Yea, they spoke against God; they said: 'Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
20 Behold, He smote the rock, that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed; can He give bread also? or will He provide flesh 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 wroth; and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also went 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 commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
24 And He caused manna to rain upon them for food, and gave them of the corn of heaven.
wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
25 Man did eat the bread of the mighty; He sent them provisions to the full.
Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
26 He caused the east wind to set forth in heaven; and by His power He brought on the south wind.
Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
27 He caused flesh also to rain upon them as the dust, and winged fowl as the sand of the seas;
Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
28 And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their dwellings.
Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled; and He gave them that which they craved.
Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
30 They were not estranged from their craving, their food was yet in their mouths,
Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
31 When the anger of God went up against them, and slew of the lustieth among them, and smote down the young men of Israel.
ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not in His wondrous works.
Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
33 Therefore He ended their days as a breath, and their years in terror.
Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
34 When He slew them, then they would inquire after Him, and turn back and seek God earnestly.
Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
35 And they remembered that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their redeemer.
Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
36 But they beguiled Him with their mouth, and lied unto Him with their tongue.
Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
37 For their heart was not stedfast with Him, neither were they faithful in His covenant.
inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
38 But He, being full of compassion, forgiveth iniquity, and destroyeth not; yea, many a time doth He turn His anger away, and doth not stir up all His wrath.
Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
39 So He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.
Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
40 How oft did they rebel against Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert!
Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
41 And still again they tried God, and set bounds to the Holy One of Israel.
Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
42 They remembered not His hand, nor the day when He redeemed them from the adversary.
Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
43 How He set His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan;
usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
44 And turned their rivers into blood, so that they could not drink their streams.
Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
46 He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust.
Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycamore-trees with frost.
Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
48 He gave over their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to fiery bolts.
Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
49 He sent forth upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, a sending of messengers of evil.
Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
50 He levelled a path for His anger; He spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
51 And smote all the first-born in Egypt, the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
52 But He made His own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
53 And He led them safely, and they feared not; but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
54 And He brought them to His holy border, to the mountain, which His right hand had gotten.
Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
55 He drove out the nations also before them, and allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
56 Yet they tried and provoked God, the Most High, and kept not His testimonies;
Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
57 But turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers; they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
58 For they provoked Him with their high places, and moved Him to jealousy with their graven images.
Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
59 God heard, and was wroth, and He greatly abhorred Israel;
Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
60 And He forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which He had made to dwell among men;
Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
61 And delivered His strength into captivity, and His glory into the adversary's hand.
Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
62 He gave His people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with His inheritance.
Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
63 Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins had no marriage-song.
Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.
abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
65 Then the Lord awaked as one asleep, like a mighty man recovering from wine.
INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
66 And He smote His adversaries backward; He put upon them a perpetual reproach.
Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
67 Moreover He abhorred the tent of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which He loved.
kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
69 And He built His sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which He hath founded for ever.
Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
70 He chose David also His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
71 From following the ewes that give suck He brought him, to be shepherd over Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance.
wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
72 So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; and lead them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
