Amahubo 74
1 Ihubo lika-Asafu Kungani ususilahlile kokuphela na, awu Nkulunkulu? Kungani ulaka lwakho luvutha phezu kwezimvu zedlelo lakho na?
A contemplation by Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Khumbula abantu owabathengayo ekadeni, isizwe selifa lakho owasihlengayo iNtaba iZiyoni, owawuhlala khona.
Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance: Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
3 Phenduka ungene emanxiweni aphakade la, incithakalo yonke le yenziwe yisitha endlini engcwele.
Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
4 Izitha zakho zazibhonga endaweni owawuhlangana lathi kuyo; zamisa impawu zazo njengeziboniso.
Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.
5 Zenza njengabantu abaphakamise amahloka ukuphendla indlela yabo eguswini.
They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.
6 Zafohloza konke okubaziweyo ngamahloka azo langezando.
Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
7 Zatshisa indlu yakho engcwele yaphela nya; zangcolisa indawo ehlala iBizo lakho.
They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
8 Zathi ngezinhliziyo zazo, “Sizababhuqa baphele nya!” Zatshisa zonke izindawo zokukhonzela uNkulunkulu elizweni.
They said in their heart, “We will crush them completely.” They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
9 Kasisaboniswa mimangaliso; kakuselabuphrofethi, kakho kithi owaziyo ukuthi kuzaze kube nini kunjalo.
We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
10 Koze kube nini isitha sikuklolodela na, awu Nkulunkulu? Izitha zizalithuka kokuphela ibizo lakho na?
How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
11 Kungani ufinyeza isandla sakho sokunene na? Sikhuphe ezingoxweni zezembatho zakho ubabhubhise.
Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it from your chest and consume them!
12 Kodwa wena Nkulunkulu uyiNkosi yami kwasekadeni; uletha insindiso emhlabeni.
Yet God is my King of old, working salvation throughout the earth.
13 Kwakunguwe owaqhekeza ulwandle ngamandla akho; wafohloza amakhanda esilo phakathi kwamanzi.
You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 Kwakunguwe owachoboza amakhanda kaLeviyathani waba yikudla kwezidalwa zasenkangala.
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
15 Kwakunguwe owavula imithombo lemifula; womisa qha imifula eyayihlala igeleza.
You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
16 Imini ngeyakho, ngobakho njalo lobusuku; walimisa ilanga kanye lenyanga.
The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 Kwakunguwe owamisa imingcele yonke yomhlaba; wenza ihlobo kanye lobusika.
You have set all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
18 Khumbula ukuthi isitha besikuklolodela, Thixo, ukuthi iziwula bezihlambaza ibizo lakho.
Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
19 Ungaqhubeli umphefumulo wejuba lakho ezinyamazaneni; ungaze wakhohlwa kokuphela impilo yabantu bakho abahluphekayo.
Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don’t forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Nanzelela isivumelwano sakho, ngoba izikhundla zobugebenga zigcwele kulolonke ilizwe ezindaweni ezilamathunzi.
Honor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
21 Ungayekeli abancindezelweyo babuyele beyangekile; sengathi abayanga labaswelayo bangalidumisa ibizo lakho.
Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Phakama, awu Nkulunkulu, vikela okungokwakho; khumbula ukuthi iziwula zikuhleka njani ilanga lonke.
Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
23 Ungakulibali ukuvungama kwalabo abalwa lawe, ukuxokozela kwezitha zakho, okuzwakala kokuphela.
Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.
