Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
Maschil. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;
3 esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
Which have come to our hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers.
4 Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done.
5 Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
He put up a witness in Jacob, and made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give knowledge of them to their children;
6 ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
So that the generation to come might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would give word of them to their children;
7 Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
So that they might put their hope in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;
8 Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to God.
9 Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the day of the fight.
10 kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
They were not ruled by God's word, and they would not go in the way of his law;
11 Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.
12 Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
He did great works before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters were massed together on this side and on that.
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
In the daytime he was guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.
16 wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?
20 Wathi lapho etshaya idwala, amanzi antshantshaza, kwageleza amanzi amanengi. Kodwa angasipha njalo lokudla na? Angabalethela inyama abantu bakhe na?”
See, the rock was cut open by his power, so that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people?
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
So these things came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel;
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
Because they had no faith in God, and no hope in his salvation.
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
And he sent down manna like rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Man took part in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
He sent an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power.
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,
28 Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about their tents.
29 Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
The wrath of God came on them, and put to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.
32 Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his great wonders.
33 Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
So their days were wasted like a breath, and their years in trouble.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he sent death on them, then they made search for him; turning to him and looking for him with care;
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
In the memory that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him;
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him.
38 Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
So he kept in mind that they were only flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again.
40 Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!
41 Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
Again they put God to the test, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
They did not keep in mind the work of his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters;
43 usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to get drink from their streams.
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent different sorts of flies among them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction.
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
He gave the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the locusts.
47 Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees were damaged by the bitter cold.
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
Ice was rained down on their cattle; thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks.
49 Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul from death, but gave their life to disease.
51 Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.
53 Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.
56 Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.
58 Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.
59 Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;
61 Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.
63 Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.
64 abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.
65 INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.
69 Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.
70 Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
71 wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.
72 Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.
