< Psalms 73 >
1 A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
3 For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
4 For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
5 They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
6 Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
7 Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
8 They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
9 They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
10 Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
11 They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
12 Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
14 For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
15 If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
18 Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
19 How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
20 As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
21 For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
22 I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
24 You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
25 Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
26 My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
27 For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
28 But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.