Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
2 Kodwa mina, inyawo zami zaphose zatshelela; ngaphose ngakhuthisa ukunyathela.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped.
3 Ngasuka ngahawukela abaklolodayo ngibona ukuphumelela kwezigangi.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kabalazo inhlungu; imizimba yabo iphilile iqinile.
For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Yikho lokhu abayikho khona ababi bavele kabananzi, iyanda eyabo inotho.
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 Kodwa mina kimi kuhle ukuba seduze loNkulunkulu. Sengenze uThixo Wobukhosi isiphephelo sami; ngizafakaza ngazozonke izenzo zakho.
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
