Psalms 17
1 A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.
Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
2 From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.
Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
3 Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.
Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
4 As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;
Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
5 To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.
ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
6 I — I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech.
Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
7 Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.
Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
8 Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.
Ngigcine njengenhlamvu yelihlo; ungifihle emthunzini wempiko zakho,
9 From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.
kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
10 Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:
Bayazivalela ngamahwahwa abo; ngomlomo wabo bakhuluma ngokuzigqaja.
11 'Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.
Sebesihanqile emanyathelweni ethu; amehlo abo bawamise besithobele emhlabathini.
12 His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.
Unjengesilwane esikhuthalele ukudabula, lanjengesilwane esitsha esiquthileyo endaweni ezisithekileyo.
13 Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, Thy sword,
Vuka, Nkosi! Uhlangabeze ubuso bakhe, umphosele phansi. Khulula umphefumulo wami komubi, oyinkemba yakho,
14 From men, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.
kubo abantu, abayisandla sakho, Nkosi, ebantwini bomhlaba, osabelo sabo sikulokhukuphila, osisu sabo usigcwalisa ngokuligugu kwakho; bagcwele abantwana, njalo batshiyele izingane zabo okuseleyo kwabo.
15 I — in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Thy form!
Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
