Psalms 35
1 A psalm of David. Yahweh, work against those who work against me; fight against those who fight against me.
Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
2 Grab your small shield and large shield; rise up and help me.
Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.
3 Use your spear and battle ax against those who chase me; say to my soul, “I am your salvation.”
Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.
4 May those who seek my life be shamed and dishonored. May those who plan to harm me be turned back and confounded.
Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.
5 May they be as chaff before the wind, as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.
Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
6 May their way be dark and slippery, as the angel of Yahweh chases them.
Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.
7 Without cause they set their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life.
Ngoba kungelasizatho bangifihlele imbule labo emgodini, kungelasizatho bawugebhele umphefumulo wami.
8 Let destruction overtake them by surprise. Let the net that they have set catch them. Let them fall into it, to their destruction.
Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
9 But I will be joyful in Yahweh and rejoice in his salvation.
Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
10 All my bones will say, “Yahweh, who is like you, who rescues the oppressed from those who are too strong for them and the poor and needy from those who try to rob them?”
Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they accuse me falsely.
Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
12 They repay me evil for good. I am sorrowful.
Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
13 But, when they were sick, I wore sackcloth; I fasted for them with my head bowed on my chest.
Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.
14 I went about in grief as for my brother; I bent down in mourning as for my mother.
Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
15 But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together; they gathered together against me, and I was surprised by them. They tore at me without stopping.
Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
16 With no respect at all they mocked me; they grind their teeth at me in rage.
Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks, my life from the lions.
Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
18 Then I will thank you in the great assembly; I will praise you among many people.
Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
19 Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me; do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.
Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
20 For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those in our land who live in peace.
Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
21 They open their mouths wide against me; they said, “Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it.”
Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
22 You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent; Lord, do not be far from me.
Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
23 Arouse yourself and awake to my defense; My God and my Lord, defend my cause.
Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
24 Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness; do not let them rejoice over me.
Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
25 Do not let them say in their heart, “Aha, we have what we wanted.” Do not let them say, “We have devoured him.”
Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.
26 May they be put to shame and may they be confounded who rejoice at my distress. May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.
Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
27 Let those who desire my vindication shout for joy and be glad; may they say continually, “Yahweh be praised, he who delights in the welfare of his servant.”
Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.
28 Then I will tell of your justice and praise you all day long.
Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
