Lamentations 3
1 I [am] the man [who] hath seen affliction By the rod of His wrath.
Ngiyindodaebone inhlupheko ngentonga yolaka lwayo.
2 Me He hath led, and causeth to go [in] darkness, and without light.
Ingikhokhele yangihambisa emnyameni kodwa hatshi ekukhanyeni.
3 Surely against me He turneth back, He turneth His hand all the day.
Isibili iphenduke yamelana lami; iphendule isandla sayo imelene lami usuku lonke.
4 He hath worn out my flesh and my skin. He hath broken my bones.
Igugisile inyama yami lesikhumba sami; yephulile amathambo ami.
5 He hath built up against me, And setteth round poverty and weariness.
Yakhile imelene lami, yangihanqa ngenyongo lobunzima.
6 In dark places He hath caused me to dwell, As the dead of old.
Ingihlalise endaweni ezimnyama, njengabafa endulo.
7 He hath hedged me about, and I go not out, He hath made heavy my fetter.
Ingibiyele ukuze ngingaphumi, yenza iketane lami lethusi laba nzima.
8 Also when I call and cry out, He hath shut out my prayer.
Njalo nxa ngikhala ngimemeza, ivalela phandle umkhuleko wami.
9 He hath hedged my ways with hewn work, My paths He hath made crooked.
Ibiyele indlela yami ngamatshe abaziweyo, yenza izindlela zami zagoba.
10 A bear lying in wait He [is] to me, A lion in secret hiding-places.
Yaba kimi njengebhere elicathemeyo, isilwane ezindaweni zensitha.
11 My ways He is turning aside, and He pulleth me in pieces, He hath made me a desolation.
Iphambule izindlela zami, yangidabudabula, yangenza unxiwa.
12 He hath trodden His bow, And setteth me up as a mark for an arrow.
Igobisile idandili layo, yangimisa njengento yokunenjwa ngomtshoko.
13 He hath caused to enter into my reins The sons of His quiver.
Yenze amadodana esamba semitshoko yayo angena ezinsweni zami.
14 I have been a derision to all my people, Their song all the day.
Ngaba yinhlekisa kibo bonke abantu bakithi, ingoma yabo usuku lonke.
15 He hath filled me with bitter things, He hath filled me [with] wormwood.
Ingisuthise ngezinto ezibabayo, yanginathisa umhlonyane.
16 And He breaketh with gravel my teeth, He hath covered me with ashes.
Njalo ichoboze amazinyo ami ngokhethe, yangigiga emlotheni.
17 And Thou castest off from peace my soul, I have forgotten prosperity.
Njalo wena walahla umphefumulo wami khatshana lokuthula; ngikhohlwe okuhle.
18 And I say, Perished hath my strength and my hope from Jehovah.
Ngakho ngithi: Kubhubhile amandla ami lethemba lami eNkosini.
19 Remember my affliction and my mourning, Wormwood and gall!
Khumbula inhlupheko yami lokuzulazula kwami, umhlonyane lenyongo.
20 Remember well, and bow down doth my soul in me.
Umphefumulo wami uhlala ukukhumbula, njalo ukhotheme phakathi kwami.
21 This I turn to my heart — therefore I hope.
Lokhu ngiyakubuyisela enhliziyweni yami, ngakho-ke ngiyathemba.
22 The kindnesses of Jehovah! For we have not been consumed, For not ended have His mercies.
Kuyizihawu zeNkosi ukuthi kasiqedwanga, ngoba izisa zakhe kazipheli;
23 New every morning, abundant [is] thy faithfulness.
zintsha ikuseni yonke; lukhulu uthembeko lwayo.
24 My portion [is] Jehovah, hath my soul said, Therefore I hope for Him.
INkosi iyisabelo sami, kutsho umphefumulo wami; ngakho-ke ngizathemba kiyo.
25 Good [is] Jehovah to those waiting for Him, To the soul [that] seeketh Him.
INkosi ilungile kwabayilindelayo, kumphefumulo oyidingayo.
26 Good! when one doth stay and stand still For the salvation of Jehovah.
Kuhle ukuthi umuntu athembe, njalo ngokuthula kusindiso lweNkosi.
27 Good for a man that he beareth a yoke in his youth.
Kuhle emuntwini ukuthi athwale ijogwe ebutsheni bakhe.
28 He sitteth alone, and is silent, For He hath laid [it] upon him.
Kahlale yedwa, athule, ngoba isimethese lona.
29 He putteth in the dust his mouth, if so be there is hope.
Kabeke umlomo wakhe othulini; mhlawumbe kungaba khona ithemba.
30 He giveth to his smiter the cheek, He is filled with reproach.
Kanikele isihlathi sakhe komtshayayo; asuthe inhlamba.
31 For the Lord doth not cast off to the age.
Ngoba iNkosi kayiyikulahla kuze kube phakade.
32 For though He afflicted, yet He hath pitied, According to the abundance of His kindness.
Ngoba lanxa idabukisile, kanti izakuba lesihawu ngobunengi bezisa zayo.
33 For He hath not afflicted with His heart, Nor doth He grieve the sons of men.
Ngoba kayihluphi ngenhliziyo yayo idabukise abantwana babantu;
34 To bruise under one's feet any bound ones of earth,
ukuchoboza ngaphansi kwenyawo zayo zonke izibotshwa zomhlaba;
35 To turn aside the judgment of a man, Over-against the face of the Most High,
ukuphambukisa ilungelo lomuntu phambi kobuso boPhezukonke;
36 To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord hath not approved.
ukuphambanisa umuntu kudaba lwakhe, iNkosi kayikuboni yini?
37 Who [is] this — he hath said, and it is, [And] the Lord hath not commanded [it]?
Ngubani ongakukhuluma, njalo kwenzeke, nxa iNkosi ingakulayanga?
38 From the mouth of the Most High Go not forth the evils and the good.
Kakuphumi ububi lokuhle emlonyeni woPhezukonke yini?
39 What — sigh habitually doth a living man, A man for his sin?
Ngakho usolelani umuntu ophilayo, umuntu ngezono zakhe?
40 We search our ways, and investigate, And turn back unto Jehovah.
Asihlole silinge izindlela zethu, sibuyele eNkosini.
41 We lift up our heart on the hands unto God in the heavens.
Asiphakamisele inhliziyo lezandla zethu kuNkulunkulu emazulwini.
42 We — we have transgressed and rebelled, Thou — Thou hast not forgiven.
Thina siphambukile, saba lenkani; wena kawuthethelelanga.
43 Thou hast covered Thyself with anger, And dost pursue us; Thou hast slain — Thou hast not pitied.
Wembese ngolaka, waxotshana lathi, wabulala, kawuhawukelanga.
44 Thou hast covered Thyself with a cloud, So that prayer doth not pass through.
Uzembese ngeyezi, ukuze kungedluli umkhuleko.
45 Offscouring and refuse Thou dost make us In the midst of the peoples.
Usenze saba yimfucuza lezibi phakathi kwezizwe.
46 Opened against us their mouth have all our enemies.
Zonke izitha zethu zivule umlomo wazo zimelene lathi.
47 Fear and a snare hath been for us, Desolation and destruction.
Ukwesaba lomgodi kukhona phambi kwethu, incithakalo lokwephuka.
48 Rivulets of water go down my eye, For the destruction of the daughter of my people.
Ilihlo lami lehlisa imifula yamanzi ngokuchitheka kwendodakazi yabantu bami.
49 Mine eye is poured out, And doth not cease without intermission,
Ilihlo lami liyajuluka, kaliyekeli, kungelakuma,
50 Till Jehovah looketh and seeth from the heavens,
ize ikhangele phansi ibone iNkosi isezulwini.
51 My eye affecteth my soul, Because of all the daughters of my city.
Ilihlo lami lenza umphefumulo wami ube buhlungu ngenxa yawo wonke amadodakazi omuzi wakithi.
52 Hunted me sore as a bird have my enemies without cause.
Izitha zami zingizingele kabuhlungu njengenyoni, kungelasizatho.
53 They have cut off in a pit my life, And they cast a stone against me.
Bayiqumile impilo yami emgodini, baphosa ilitshe phezu kwami.
54 Flowed have waters over my head, I have said, I have been cut off.
Amanzi ageleza phezu kwekhanda lami; ngathi: Ngiqunyiwe.
55 I called Thy name, O Jehovah, from the lower pit.
Ngabiza ibizo lakho, Nkosi, ngisemgodini phansi;
56 My voice Thou hast heard, Hide not Thine ear at my breathing — at my cry.
wezwa ilizwi lami; ungafihli indlebe yakho ekuphefumuleni kwami, ekukhaleleni kwami usizo.
57 Thou hast drawn near in the day I call Thee, Thou hast said, Fear not.
Wasondela ngosuku lapho ngikubiza, wathi: Ungesabi.
58 Thou hast pleaded, O Lord, the pleadings of my soul, Thou hast redeemed my life.
Nkosi, uzimele izindaba zomphefumulo wami, wahlenga impilo yami.
59 Thou hast seen, O Jehovah, my overthrow, Judge Thou my cause.
Nkosi, ubonile ukoniwa kwami; yahlulela udaba lwami.
60 Thou hast seen all their vengeance, All their thoughts of me.
Ubonile yonke impindiselo yabo, wonke amacebo abo amelene lami.
61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Jehovah, All their thoughts against me,
Uzwile inhlamba yabo, Nkosi, wonke amacebo abo amelene lami,
62 The lips of my withstanders, Even their meditation against me all the day.
indebe zabangivukelayo, lokuzindla kwabo kumelene lami lonke usuku.
63 Their sitting down, and their rising up, Behold attentively, I [am] their song.
Khangela ukuhlala kwabo, lokusukuma kwabo; ngiyingoma yabo.
64 Thou returnest to them the deed, O Jehovah, According to the work of their hands.
Buyisela kibo impindiselo, Nkosi, njengokomsebenzi wezandla zabo.
65 Thou givest to them a covered heart, Thy curse to them.
Banike ubulukhuni benhliziyo, isiqalekiso sakho kibo.
66 Thou pursuest in anger, and destroyest them, From under the heavens of Jehovah!
Xotshana labo ngolaka, ubabhubhise bangabi ngaphansi kwamazulu eNkosi.
