Amahubo 39
1 Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElikaJeduthuni. Ihubo likaDavida. Ngathi, “Ngizaziqaphela izindlela zami, ngiluthinte ulimi lwami esonweni; ngizawugcika umlomo wami nxa ababi bekhona phambi kwami.”
I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue. I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked man is before me.
2 Kodwa kwathi lapho ngithule ngithe zwi, ngingatsho lutho loba lungoluhle ubuhlungu benhliziyo yami bakhula.
I was mute with silence. I held my peace, even from good, and my sorrow was stirred.
3 Inhliziyo yami yavutha ngaphakathi kwami; kwathi lapho ngizuliswa yimicabango, umlilo wavutha; ngasengikhuluma ngolimi lwami:
My heart was hot within me. While I was musing the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Ngitshengisa, Thixo, isiphetho sempilo yami lobunengi bezinsuku zami; ngazisa ukuthi impilo yami igijima kanganani.
Jehovah, make me to know my end, and the measure of my days, what it is. Let me know how frail I am.
5 Usuwenze insuku zami zaba lobubanzi besandla; ububanzi beminyaka yami kabusilutho kuwe. Impilo yabantu ingumoya kuphela, kanye lalabo abakhanya behlalisekile.
Behold, thou have made my days as handbreadths, and my life-time is as nothing before thee. Surely every man at his best condition is altogether vanity. (Selah)
6 Umuntu uhambahamba njengesithunzi nje; uyatshikatshika, kodwa konke akwenzayo kuyize lodwa; ubuthelela inotho engazi ukuthi izakuba ngekabani.
Surely every man walks in a shadow. Surely they are disquieted in vain. He heaps up, and knows not who shall gather them.
7 Kodwa okwamanje, Thixo, ngisafunani kambe? Ithemba lami likuwe.
And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in thee.
8 Ngisindisa kuzozonke iziphambeko zami; ungangenzi inhlekisa yezitha.
Deliver me from all my transgressions. Make me not the reproach of the foolish.
9 Ngathula; ngangingeke ngiwuvule umlomo wami, ngoba lokhu kwenziwe nguwe.
I was mute. I opened not my mouth, because thou did it.
10 Susa uswazi lwakho kimi; sengikhulelwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho.
Remove thy stroke away from me. I am consumed by the blow of thy hand.
11 Abantu uyabakhuza ubajezisele isono sabo; ucikiza inotho yabo njengenondo ngempela umuntu ngamunye ungumoya nje.
When thou have corrected man with rebukes for iniquity, thou make his beauty to disintegrate like a moth. Surely every man is vanity. (Selah)
12 Zwana umkhuleko wami, Oh Thixo, lalela isikhalazo sami ngicela uncedo; ungabi ligcikandlebe nxa ngikhala. Phela ngihlala lawe nginjengesihambi, ngiyisethekeli njengoba okhokho bonke babenjalo.
Hear my prayer, O Jehovah, and give ear to my cry. Keep not silent at my tears, for I am a stranger with thee, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
13 Ake ukhangele eceleni nje ukuze ngithokoze njalo, ngingakasuki lapha ngibe ngongasekho.”
O spare me, that I may recover strength before I go from here, and be no more.
