Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
A Psalm of Asaph. 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 nigh 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 compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth 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 walketh through the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full [cup] are wrung out to 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, 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.
Verily I have cleansed my heart [in] vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
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 thy 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 thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst 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] awaketh; [so], O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt 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 thee.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I [am] continually with thee: thou hast holden [me] by my right hand.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me [to] glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? and [there is] none upon earth [that] I desire beside thee.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
My flesh and my heart faileth: [but] God [is] the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
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 thy works.
