Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as 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 well nigh slipped.
3 Ngasuka ngahawukela abaklolodayo ngibona ukuphumelela kwezigangi.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kabalazo inhlungu; imizimba yabo iphilile iqinile.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Yikho lokhu abayikho khona ababi bavele kabananzi, iyanda eyabo inotho.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
28 Kodwa mina kimi kuhle ukuba seduze loNkulunkulu. Sengenze uThixo Wobukhosi isiphephelo sami; ngizafakaza ngazozonke izenzo zakho.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
