Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are of a pure heart.
2 Kodwa mina, inyawo zami zaphose zatshelela; ngaphose ngakhuthisa ukunyathela.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped;
3 Ngasuka ngahawukela abaklolodayo ngibona ukuphumelela kwezigangi.
For I was envious at the arrogant, seeing the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kabalazo inhlungu; imizimba yabo iphilile iqinile.
For they have no pangs in their death, and their body is well nourished;
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
They have not the hardships of mankind, neither are they plagued like [other] men:
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore pride encompasseth them as a neck-chain, violence covereth them [as] a garment;
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
Their eyes stand out from fatness, they exceed the imaginations of their heart:
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They mock and speak wickedly of oppression, they speak loftily:
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore his people turn hither, and waters in fulness are wrung out to them.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
And they say, How can God know, and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Yikho lokhu abayikho khona ababi bavele kabananzi, iyanda eyabo inotho.
Behold, these are the wicked, and they prosper in the world: they heap up riches.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Truly have I purified my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency:
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
For all the day have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
If I said, I will speak thus, behold, I should be faithless to the generation of thy children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
When I thought to be able to know this, it was a grievous task in mine eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God; [then] understood I their end.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Truly thou settest them in slippery places, thou castest them down in ruins.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How are they suddenly made desolate! they pass away, consumed with terrors.
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream, when one awaketh, wilt thou, Lord, on arising despise their image.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
When my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins,
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
Then I was brutish and knew nothing; I was [as] a beast with thee.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden my right hand;
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
Thou wilt guide me by thy counsel, and after the glory, thou wilt receive me.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in the heavens? and there is none upon earth I desire beside thee.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
My flesh and my heart faileth: God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For behold, they that are far from thee shall perish; thou destroyest every one that goeth a whoring from thee.
28 Kodwa mina kimi kuhle ukuba seduze loNkulunkulu. Sengenze uThixo Wobukhosi isiphephelo sami; ngizafakaza ngazozonke izenzo zakho.
But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, that I may declare all thy works.
