Psalms 78
1 Give ear, 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 a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
4 We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he has 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 which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
7 That they might set their hope 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 steadfast with God.
Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, 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 forgot his works, and his wonders that he had showed them.
Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
12 Marvelous 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 divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
14 In the daytime 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 split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
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 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
19 Yes, they spoke against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?
Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can 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 this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also 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 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
24 And had rained down manna on them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.
Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
26 He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
27 He rained flesh also on them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
28 And he let it fall in the middle of their camp, round about their habitations.
Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
31 The wrath of God came on them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen 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 for his wondrous works.
Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
33 Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
34 When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after God.
Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.
Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied to him with their tongues.
Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yes, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again.
Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
41 Yes, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
43 How he had worked 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 had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
45 He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
46 He gave also their increase to the caterpillar, and their labor to the locust.
Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
49 He cast on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
50 He made a way to 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 firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
52 But 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 on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them 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 tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies:
Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully 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 to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
59 When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
60 So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
61 And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy’s hand.
Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
62 He gave his people over also to the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance.
Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
63 The fire consumed their young men; and their maidens were not given to marriage.
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 out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouts by reason of wine.
INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle 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 high palaces, like the earth which he has established 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 great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
