Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 Kodwa mina, inyawo zami zaphose zatshelela; ngaphose ngakhuthisa ukunyathela.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well near slipped.
3 Ngasuka ngahawukela abaklolodayo ngibona ukuphumelela kwezigangi.
For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kabalazo inhlungu; imizimba yabo iphilile iqinile.
For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore pride compasses them about as a chain; violence covers them as a garment.
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore his people return here: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
And they say, How does 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 ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Truly I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of your children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Surely you did set them in slippery places: you cast them down into destruction.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream when one wakes; so, O Lord, when you wake, you shall despise their image.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before you.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I am continually with you: you have held me by my right hand.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven but you? and there is none on earth that I desire beside 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 for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, see, they that are far from you shall perish: you have destroyed all them that go a whoring from 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 draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all your works.
