Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
BOOK THIRD: “A Psalm of Assaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, to such as are pure of heart.
2 Kodwa mina, inyawo zami zaphose zatshelela; ngaphose ngakhuthisa ukunyathela.
But as for me, it lacked but little that my feet had been moved: almost nothing was needed that my steps had 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 deadly fetters for them, but their strength is firm.
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
They share not in the trouble of mortals, and with men are they not afflicted.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore is pride their neck-chain: violence envelopeth them as a garment.
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
Their eyes start out from fatness: they have exceeded their heart's imaginings.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They scorn, and speak wickedly of oppression: loftily do they speak.
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They set their mouth in the heavens, and their tongue walketh busily on the earth.
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore do his people turn away hither: and waters of a full cup are drained by them.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
And they say, How should 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 yet prospering continually they increase in wealth.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Verily in vain have I thus cleansed my heart, and have washed in innocency my hands:
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
While I was afflicted all the day, and my chastisement [came] every morning.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
But if I were to say, I will speak thus: behold, I would be treacherous against the generation of thy children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
And when I should think to know this, it would be trouble in my eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
Until I enter into the sanctuary of God; and understand what their future will be.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Surely thou placest them on slippery spots: thou lettest them fall down into destruction.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they perish, they come to their end with terrific events.
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream after awaking, O Lord, reject thou in wrath their image.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
For it fermented in my heart, and in my reins I felt sharp thrusts;
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
But I was indeed foolish, and I knew it not: I was as a [thoughtless] beast with thee.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast seized hold of me by my right hand.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
With thy counsel wilt thou guide me, and afterward take me on to glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven? and beside thee I desire nothing upon earth.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
Though my flesh and my heart should fall; yet the rock of my heart, and my portion will be God for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, lo, those that are far from thee shall perish: thou destroyest every one that strayeth away from thee.
28 Kodwa mina kimi kuhle ukuba seduze loNkulunkulu. Sengenze uThixo Wobukhosi isiphephelo sami; ngizafakaza ngazozonke izenzo zakho.
But as regardeth me, to draw near to God is good for me: I have put in the Lord Eternal my trust, that I may relate all thy works.
