Amahubo 39
1 Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElikaJeduthuni. Ihubo likaDavida. Ngathi, “Ngizaziqaphela izindlela zami, ngiluthinte ulimi lwami esonweni; ngizawugcika umlomo wami nxa ababi bekhona phambi kwami.”
Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.
2 Kodwa kwathi lapho ngithule ngithe zwi, ngingatsho lutho loba lungoluhle ubuhlungu benhliziyo yami bakhula.
I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.
3 Inhliziyo yami yavutha ngaphakathi kwami; kwathi lapho ngizuliswa yimicabango, umlilo wavutha; ngasengikhuluma ngolimi lwami:
My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.
4 “Ngitshengisa, Thixo, isiphetho sempilo yami lobunengi bezinsuku zami; ngazisa ukuthi impilo yami igijima kanganani.
I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”
5 Usuwenze insuku zami zaba lobubanzi besandla; ububanzi beminyaka yami kabusilutho kuwe. Impilo yabantu ingumoya kuphela, kanye lalabo abakhanya behlalisekile.
Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.
6 Umuntu uhambahamba njengesithunzi nje; uyatshikatshika, kodwa konke akwenzayo kuyize lodwa; ubuthelela inotho engazi ukuthi izakuba ngekabani.
So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.
7 Kodwa okwamanje, Thixo, ngisafunani kambe? Ithemba lami likuwe.
And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.
8 Ngisindisa kuzozonke iziphambeko zami; ungangenzi inhlekisa yezitha.
Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.
9 Ngathula; ngangingeke ngiwuvule umlomo wami, ngoba lokhu kwenziwe nguwe.
I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.
10 Susa uswazi lwakho kimi; sengikhulelwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho.
Remove your scourges from me.
11 Abantu uyabakhuza ubajezisele isono sabo; ucikiza inotho yabo njengenondo ngempela umuntu ngamunye ungumoya nje.
I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.
12 Zwana umkhuleko wami, Oh Thixo, lalela isikhalazo sami ngicela uncedo; ungabi ligcikandlebe nxa ngikhala. Phela ngihlala lawe nginjengesihambi, ngiyisethekeli njengoba okhokho bonke babenjalo.
O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.
13 Ake ukhangele eceleni nje ukuze ngithokoze njalo, ngingakasuki lapha ngibe ngongasekho.”
Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.
