Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
“A Maskil of Assaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction: incline thy ear to the words of my mouth.
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
I will open with a parable my mouth: I will utter riddles out of ancient times;
3 esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
Which we have heard and know, and which our fathers have related unto us.
4 Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
We will not conceal them from their children, relating to the latest generation the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful deeds which he hath done.
5 Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
Yea, he established a testimony in Jacob, and instituted 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.
In order that the latest generation might know them, even the children that are to be born; that they may arise and relate them to their children;
7 Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
That they may place in God their hope, and not forget the doings of God, but observe his commandments;
8 Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
And that they may not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that had not directed their heart firmly, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.
9 Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
The children of Ephraim, like well-armed archers, that turn round on the day of battle,
10 kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
Kept not the covenant of God, and in his law they refused to walk;
11 Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
And they forgot his deeds, as also his wonders, which he had permitted them to see.
12 Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
In the presence of their fathers did he do wonders, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zo'an.
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 stand upright as a wall.
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
And he led them with the cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the mighty deep.
16 wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
And he brought forth running streams out of the rock, and caused water to run down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
But they repeated to sin yet more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
And they tempted God in their heart, by asking food for their desire.
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
Yea, they spoke against God: they said, Will God be able to set in order 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, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed: shall he also be able to give bread? or can he provide flesh for his people?
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
Therefore, when the Lord heard this, he became wroth: and a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also ascended against Israel,
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
Because they had not believed in God, and had not trusted in his salvation.
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
Then he ordained the skies from above, and the doors of heaven he opened;
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
And he let rain down upon them manna to eat, and the corn of heaven gave he unto them.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Angels' bread did man eat: he sent them provision to satisfaction.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
He caused an east wind to pass along the heavens; and he led forth by his strength the south wind.
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
And he let rain upon them flesh [as plentiful] as the dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea;
28 Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
And he let them fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations.
29 Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
And they ate, and were greatly satisfied, and what they longed for he brought unto them.
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
They were not estranged from their longing, yet was their food in their mouth:
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
When the wrath of God ascended against them, and he slew some of the fattest of them, and the young men of Israel did he strike down.
32 Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
With all this they sinned again, and believed not in his wonders.
33 Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
Therefore he caused their days to come to an end in nought, and their years in dread.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he slew them, then did they seek him, and they returned and inquired earnestly after God.
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
And they remembered that God was their rock, and the most high God their redeemer.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
Nevertheless they prayed insincerely to him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him.
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
For their heart was not firm with him, and they were not faithful in his covenant.
38 Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
But he, being merciful, forgave the iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not awaken all his fury.
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
And he remembered that they are but flesh, a spirit that passeth away, and returneth not again.
40 Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
How oft did they rebel against him in the wilderness, grieve him in the desert!
41 Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
Yea, they once more tempted God, and set limits to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
They remembered not his hand, the day when he ransomed them from the adversary;
43 usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
When he displayed in Egypt his signs, and his wonderful tokens in the fields of Zo'an.
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
And he changed their rivers into blood; and their running streams, that they could not drink [of them].
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent out among them various wild beasts, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
And he gave unto the cricket their products, and their labor unto the locust.
47 Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
He slew with hail their vines, and their sycamore-trees with ice-bolts.
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
And he surrendered to the hail their cattle, and their herds to the lightning's flashes.
49 Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
He let loose against them the fierceness of his anger, wrath and indignation, and distress, a host of angels of misfortune.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He leveled a path for his anger; he withheld not from death their soul, and their life he surrendered to the pestilence;
51 Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
And he smote all the first-born in Egypt; the first of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
But he caused his own people to depart like flocks, and guided them like a drove in the wilderness.
53 Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
And he led them in safety, so that they felt no dread; but the sea covered over their enemies.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
And he brought them to his holy territory, even to this mount, which his right hand had acquired.
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
And he drove out from before them nations, and divided them by the measuring-line as an inheritance, and he caused to dwell in their tents the tribes of Israel.
56 Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the most high God, and his testimonies they kept not;
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
But swerved aside, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers; they turned about 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 with their graven images they moved him to jealousy.
59 Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
God heard this, and he became wroth, and felt greatly disgusted with Israel;
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
And he cast off the dwelling at Shiloh, the tabernacle where he had dwelt among men;
61 Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
And he gave up his strength unto captivity, and his glory into the adversary's hand.
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
And he surrendered his people unto the sword; and with his inheritance was he wroth.
63 Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
His young men the fire devoured; and his virgins were not demanded in marriage.
64 abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
His priests fell by the sword; and his widows did not weep.
65 INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
Then awoke the Lord as one that sleepeth, like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
And he smote his enemies backward: a perpetual disgrace on them.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
Yet was he disgusted with the tent of Joseph, and of the tribe of Ephraim he made not choice;
68 kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
But he chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved.
69 Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
And he built like high [mountains] his sanctuary, like the earth which he hath founded for ever.
70 Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
And he made choice of David his servant, and took him from the sheep-folds:
71 wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
From following the ewes with young 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 by the skilfulness of his hands did he lead them.
