< Psalms 144 >
1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
Kayibongwe iNkosi, idwala lami, efundisela izandla zami impi, iminwe yami ukulwa;
2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdues my people under me.
umusa wami, lenqaba yami, umphotshongo wami ophakemeyo, lomkhululi wami, isihlangu sami, lengiphephela kuyo, ethobisa abantu bami ngaphansi kwami.
3 LORD, what is man, that you take knowledge of him! or the son of man, that you make account of him!
Nkosi, umuntu uyini ukuthi umazi? Indodana yomuntu ukuthi uyinanze?
4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passes away.
Umuntu unjengeze, insuku zakhe zinjengesithunzi esidlulayo.
5 Bow your heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
Nkosi, khothamisa amazulu akho, wehle; thinta izintaba ukuze zithunqe.
6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out your arrows, and destroy them.
Phazimisa umbane, ubachithe, uthumele imitshoko yakho, ubahlakaze.
7 Send your hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children;
Yelula isandla sakho uphezulu, ungikhulule, ungophule emanzini amanengi, esandleni sabantwana besizwe,
8 Whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
9 I will sing a new song to you, O God: on a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises to you.
Ngizahlabelela kuwe ingoma entsha, Nkulunkulu; ngizahlabelela indumiso kuwe ngogubhu olulentambo ezilitshumi.
10 It is he that gives salvation to kings: who delivers David his servant from the hurtful sword.
Wena onika amakhosi usindiso, okhulula uDavida inceku yakho enkembeni embi.
11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
Ngophula, ungikhulule esandleni sabantwana besizwe, abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
Ukuthi amadodana ethu abe njengezilimo ezikhula ebutsheni bazo, amadodakazi ethu njengamatshe engonsi abazwe njengomfanekiso wesigodlo!
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
Ukuthi iziphala zethu zigcwale ziveze uhlobo ngohlobo; izimvu zethu zizale izinkulungwane, yebo, izinkulungwane ezilitshumi emadlelweni ethu!
14 That our oxen may be strong to labor; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
Ukuthi inkabi zethu zingathwaliswa, kungabi lokufohlela phakathi, njalo kungabi lokuphuma, kumbe kungabi lesililo ezitaladeni zethu!
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yes, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Bayathaba abantu okunjalo kubo; bayathaba abantu abaNkulunkulu wabo yiNkosi.