Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
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 dark sayings 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 children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of YHWH, and his strength, and his wonderful works that 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, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
7 Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
That they might set their hope in Elohim, and not forget the works of El, but keep 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 set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with El.
9 Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
10 kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
They kept not the covenant of Elohim, and refused to walk in his law;
11 Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.
12 Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
13 Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths.
16 wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness.
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
And they tempted El in their heart by asking meat for their lust.
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
Yea, they spake against Elohim; they said, Can El furnish 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, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
Therefore YHWH heard this, and was wroth: so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel;
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
Because they believed not in Elohim, and trusted not in his salvation:
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by his power he brought in the south wind.
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea:
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.
So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire;
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
The wrath of Elohim came upon them, and 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 for his wondrous works.
33 Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and inquired early after El.
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
And they remembered that Elohim was their rock, and El Elyon their redeemer.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
For their heart was not right with 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, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind 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.
Yea, they turned back and tempted El, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
43 usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan:
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
And had turned their rivers into blood; and their floods, that they could not drink.
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
He gave also their increase unto the caterpiller, and their labour unto the locust.
47 Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost.
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot 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 trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He made a way to 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 smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
52 Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
But 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 on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased.
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
Yet they tempted and provoked the most high Elohim, and kept not his testimonies:
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow.
58 Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
For 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.
When Elohim heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel:
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
61 Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand.
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was 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 given to marriage.
64 abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lameintation.
65 INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
Then YHWH awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
Moreover he refused the tabernacle 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 high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever.
70 Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
He chose David also 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 ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
