Amahubo 73
1 Ihubo lika-Asafi. Ngempela uNkulunkulu ulungile ku-Israyeli, kulabo abahlanzekileyo enhliziyweni.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 Kodwa mina, inyawo zami zaphose zatshelela; ngaphose ngakhuthisa ukunyathela.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 Ngasuka ngahawukela abaklolodayo ngibona ukuphumelela kwezigangi.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Kabalazo inhlungu; imizimba yabo iphilile iqinile.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 Kabalayo imithwalo enzima ejayelekileyo ebantwini; kabahlukuluzwa loba yini njengabanye abantu.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuziqhenya kuyisigqizo sabo entanyeni; bazigqokisa ngokwenza isihluku.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Ezinhliziyweni zabo ezingelazwelo kuphuma ububi; iminakano emibi yezingqondo zabo ayilamikhawulo.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngomona; bayaqholoza basongele ukuncindezela.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 Imilomo yabo ithi izulu selingelabo, lezilimi zabo zihle ziwuthathe umhlaba.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Yikho abantu bakibo bebakholwa, bawanathe amanzi kakhulukazi.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 Bathi, “UNkulunkulu angakwazi kanjani? OPhezukonke ulalo ulwazi na?”
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Yikho lokhu abayikho khona ababi bavele kabananzi, iyanda eyabo inotho.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Ngempela bekuyize ukugcina inhliziyo yami ihlanzekile; kube yize ukugeza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 Ilanga lonke ngitshona ngikhathazwa; ngiyajeziswa ekuseni zonke insuku.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 Aluba ngangithe, “Ngizakhuluma ngitsho njalo,” ngabe ngangibakhohlisa abantwabakho.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 Ngathi ngizama ukukuzwisisa konke lokhu ngezwa kungisinda,
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena endlini engcwele kaNkulunkulu; lapho-ke ngasengizwisisa isiphetho sabo.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Ngempela uyababeka endaweni etshelelayo; ubalahlela phansi ekubhujisweni.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 Yeka, ukubhujiswa kwabo lula nje, bakhuculwe nje yikwesaba!
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 Njengephupho nxa umuntu ephaphama kuzakuba njalo lapho usuvuka, Thixo, uzabeyisa njengemifanekiso yengqondo kuphela.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 Lapho inhliziyo yami yayifuthelene lomoya wami uthukuthele,
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 ngangiyisithutha esingaziyo; ngangiyinyamazana yeganga kuwe.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Ikanti ngihlezi ngilawe; uyangibamba ngesandla sami sokunene.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Uyangikhokhela ngokweluleka kwakho kuthi ngemva kwalokho uzangithatha ungise ebukhosini.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
25 Ngilobani na ezulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Lomhlaba kawulakho engikufisayo ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kungehluleka kodwa uNkulunkulu ungamandla enhliziyo yami, uyisabelo sami laphakade.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 Labo abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; uyababhidliza bonke abangathembekanga kuwe.
For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves 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 put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
