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 Idithun himself, a canticle of David. I said: I will take heed to my ways: that I sin not with my tongue. I have set guard to my mouth, when the sinner stood against me.
2 Kodwa kwathi lapho ngithule ngithe zwi, ngingatsho lutho loba lungoluhle ubuhlungu benhliziyo yami bakhula.
I was dumb, and was humbled, and kept silence from 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 in my meditation a fire shall flame out.
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 is the number of my days: that I may know what is wanting to me.
5 Usuwenze insuku zami zaba lobubanzi besandla; ububanzi beminyaka yami kabusilutho kuwe. Impilo yabantu ingumoya kuphela, kanye lalabo abakhanya behlalisekile.
Behold thou hast made my days measurable: and my substance is as nothing before thee. And indeed all things are vanity: every man living.
6 Umuntu uhambahamba njengesithunzi nje; uyatshikatshika, kodwa konke akwenzayo kuyize lodwa; ubuthelela inotho engazi ukuthi izakuba ngekabani.
Surely man passeth as an image: yea, and he is disquieted in vain. He storeth up: and he knoweth not for whom he shall gather these things.
7 Kodwa okwamanje, Thixo, ngisafunani kambe? Ithemba lami likuwe.
And now what is my hope? is it not the Lord? and my substance is with thee.
8 Ngisindisa kuzozonke iziphambeko zami; ungangenzi inhlekisa yezitha.
Deliver thou me from all my iniquities: thou hast made me a reproach to the fool.
9 Ngathula; ngangingeke ngiwuvule umlomo wami, ngoba lokhu kwenziwe nguwe.
I was dumb, and I opened not my mouth, because thou hast done it.
10 Susa uswazi lwakho kimi; sengikhulelwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho.
Remove thy scourges from me. The strength of thy hand hath made me faint in rebukes:
11 Abantu uyabakhuza ubajezisele isono sabo; ucikiza inotho yabo njengenondo ngempela umuntu ngamunye ungumoya nje.
Thou hast corrected man for iniquity. And thou hast made his soul to waste away like a spider: surely in vain is any man 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.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and my supplication: give ear to my tears. Be not silent: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner as all my fathers were.
13 Ake ukhangele eceleni nje ukuze ngithokoze njalo, ngingakasuki lapha ngibe ngongasekho.”
O forgive me, that I may be refreshed, before I go hence, and be no more.
