Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
An instruction. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter riddles from of old,
3 esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us:
4 Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
We will not hide [them] from their sons, shewing forth to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, and his strength, and his marvellous works which he hath done.
5 Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
6 ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
That the generation to come might know [them], the children that should be born; that they might rise up and tell [them] to their children,
7 Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
And that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but observe his commandments;
8 Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that prepared not their heart, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.
9 Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
The sons of Ephraim, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;
11 Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
And forgot his doings, and his marvellous works which he had shewn them.
12 Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
In the sight of their fathers had he done wonders, in the land of Egypt, the field of Zoan.
13 Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through; and made the waters to stand as a heap;
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
And he led them with a cloud in the daytime, and all the night with the light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
He clave rocks in the wilderness, and gave [them] drink as out of the depths, abundantly;
16 wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
And he brought streams out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
Yet they still went on sinning against him, provoking the Most High in the desert;
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
And they tempted God in their heart, by asking meat for their lust;
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
And they spoke against God: they said, Is God able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
20 Wathi lapho etshaya idwala, amanzi antshantshaza, kwageleza amanzi amanengi. Kodwa angasipha njalo lokudla na? Angabalethela inyama abantu bakhe na?”
Behold, he smote the rock, and waters gushed out, and streams overflowed; is he able to give bread also, or provide flesh for his people?
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
Therefore Jehovah heard, and was wroth; and fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also went up against Israel:
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
Because they believed not in God, and confided not in his salvation;
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of the heavens,
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them the corn of the heavens.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Man did eat the bread of the mighty; he sent them provision to the full.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
He caused the east wind to rise in the heavens, and by his strength he brought the south wind;
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
And he rained flesh upon them as dust, and feathered fowl as the sand of the seas,
28 Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations:
29 Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
And they did eat, and were well filled; for that they lusted after, he brought to them.
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
They were not alienated from their lust, their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
When the anger of God went up against them; and he slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
32 Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
For all this, they sinned still, and believed not in his marvellous works;
33 Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
And he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he slew them, then they sought him, and returned and sought early after God;
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
And they remembered that God was their rock, and God, the Most High, their redeemer.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied unto him with their tongue;
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
For their heart was not firm toward him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
38 Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
But he was merciful: he forgave the iniquity, and destroyed [them] not; but many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his fury:
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
And he remembered that they were flesh, a breath that passeth away and cometh not again.
40 Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!
41 Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
And they turned again and tempted God, and grieved the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
They remembered not his hand, the day when he delivered them from the oppressor,
43 usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
How he set his signs in Egypt, and his miracles in the field of Zoan;
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
And turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, that they could not drink;
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent dog-flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them;
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
And he gave their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust;
47 Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with hail-stones;
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
And he delivered up their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to thunderbolts.
49 Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and distress, — a mission of angels of woes.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He made a way for his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
51 Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
And he smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the first-fruits of their vigour in the tents of Ham.
52 Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
And he made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock;
53 Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
And he led them safely, so that they were without fear; and the sea covered their enemies.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
And he brought them to his holy border, this mountain, which his right hand purchased;
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
And he drove out the nations before them, and allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
But they tempted and provoked God, the Most High, and kept not his testimonies,
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
And they drew back and dealt treacherously like their fathers: they turned like a deceitful bow.
58 Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
And they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
59 Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
God heard, and was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
And he forsook the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he had dwelt among men,
61 Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
And gave his strength into captivity, and his glory into the hand of the oppressor;
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
And delivered up his people unto the sword, and was very wroth with his inheritance:
63 Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
The fire consumed their young men, and their maidens were not praised in [nuptial] song;
64 abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows made no lamentation.
65 INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, like a mighty man that shouteth aloud by reason of wine;
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
And he smote his adversaries in the hinder part, and put them to everlasting reproach.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
And he rejected the tent of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim,
68 kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved;
69 Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
And he built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.
70 Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
And he chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
From following the suckling-ewes, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
And he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and led them by the skilfulness of his hands.
