Amahubo 129

1 Ingoma yemiqanso. Sebengihluphe kakhulu kusukela ebutsheni bami katsho njalo u-Israyeli,

A Song of Ascents. Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:

2 sebengihluphe kakhulu kusukela ebutsheni bami, kodwa kabangehlulanga.

many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 Abalimi bawulimile umhlane wami benza imifolo emide.

The ploughers ploughed on my back. They made their furrows long.

4 Kodwa uThixo ulungile; ungikhulule ezintanjeni zababi.

The LORD is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

5 Akuthi bonke abayizondayo iZiyoni babuyiselwe emuva beyangekile.

Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.

6 Sengathi bangaba njengotshani obukhula ephahleni obubuna bungakakhuli;

Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

7 umvuni angeke agcwalisa isandla sakhe ngabo, loba lowo obuthayo agcwalise izingalo zakhe.

with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.

8 Sengathi labo abadlulayo bangabokuthi, “Izibusiso zikaThixo mazibe kuwe; siyakubusisa ngegama likaThixo.”

Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the LORD’s name.”