Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
“A psalm of Asaph.” Give ear, O my people, to my instruction! 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 psalm; I will utter sayings of ancient times.
3 esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
What we have heard and learned, And our fathers have told us,
4 Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
We will not hide from their children; Showing to the generation to come the praises of Jehovah, His might, and the wonders he hath wrought.
5 Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
For he appointed statutes in Jacob, And established a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers To make known to their children;
6 ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
So that the generation to come might know them; The children, which should be born, and rise up, Who should declare them to their children;
7 Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
That they might put their trust in God, And not forget his deeds, But keep his commandments;
8 Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
And might not be, like their forefathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation, —A generation whose heart was not fixed upon God, And whose spirit was not steadfast toward the Almighty.
9 Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
The children of Ephraim were like armed bowmen, Who turn their backs 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 mighty deeds, And the wonders he had shown 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; Yea, he made the waters to stand as a heap.
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
By day he led them by a cloud, And all the night by a light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
He clave the rocks in the wilderness, And gave them drink, as from the great deep.
16 wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
From the rock he brought flowing streams, And made water to run down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
Yet still they sinned against him, And provoked the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
They tempted God in their hearts, By asking food for their delight.
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
Yea, they spake against God, and said, “Can God spread 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 the water flowed, And streams gushed forth: Is he also able to give bread? Can he provide flesh for his people?”
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
When, therefore, the LORD heard this, he was wroth: So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger arose against Israel.
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
Because they believed not in God, And trusted not in his aid.
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
Yet he had commanded the clouds above, And had opened the doors of heaven;
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
And had rained down upon them manna for food, And had given them the corn of heaven.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Every one ate the food of princes; He sent them bread to the full.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
Then he caused a strong wind to blow in the heavens, And by his power he brought a south wind;
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
He rained down flesh upon them as dust, And feathered fowls as the sand of the sea.
28 Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
He caused them to 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 filled; For he gave them their own desire.
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
Their desire was not yet satisfied, And their meat was yet in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
When the wrath of God came upon them, And slew their strong men, 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 put no trust in his wondrous works.
33 Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, And their years in sudden destruction.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he slew them, they sought him; They returned, and sought earnestly for God;
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
And remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High their redeemer.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
But they only flattered him with their mouths, And spake falsely to him with their tongues.
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
For their hearts were not true to him, Nor were they steadfast in his covenant.
38 Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
Yet, being full of compassion, he forgave their iniquity, And would not utterly destroy them; Often he restrained his indignation, And stirred not up all his anger.
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
He remembered that they were but flesh, —A breath, that passeth and cometh not back.
40 Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
How often did they provoke him in the wilderness! How often did they anger him in the desert!
41 Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
Again and again they tempted God, And offended 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.
What signs he had wrought in Egypt, And what wonders in the fields of Zoan.
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
He turned their rivers into blood, So that they could not drink of their streams.
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent amongst them flies, which devoured them, And frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
He gave also their fruits to the caterpillar, And their labor to the locust.
47 Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore-trees with frost.
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
He also gave up their cattle to hail, And their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
He sent against them the fierceness of his anger, Wrath, indignation, and woe, —A host of angels of evil.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He made a way for his anger, He spared them not from death, But gave up their lives to the pestilence.
51 Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
He smote all the firstborn in 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 led forth his own people like sheep, And guided them like a flock in the wilderness.
53 Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
He led them on safely, so that they feared not, While the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
He brought them to his own sacred border, Even to this mountain which his right hand had gained.
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
He cast out the nations before them, And divided their land by a measuring-line, as an inheritance, And caused the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
56 Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
Yet they tempted and provoked God, the Most High, And kept not his statutes;
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
Like their fathers they were faithless, and turned back; They turned aside, like a deceitful bow.
58 Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
They provoked his anger by their high places, And stirred up his jealousy by their graven images.
59 Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
God saw this, and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
So that he forsook the habitation at Shiloh, The tabernacle where he dwelt among men,
61 Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
And delivered his strength into captivity, And his glory into the hand of the enemy.
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
His own people he gave up to the sword, And was wroth with his own inheritance.
63 Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
Fire consumed their young men, And their maidens did not bewail them.
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.
But at length the Lord awaked as from sleep, As a hero who had been overpowered by wine;
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
He smote his enemies, and drove them back, And covered them with everlasting disgrace.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
Yet he rejected the tents 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.
Where he built, like the heavens, his sanctuary; Like the earth, which he hath established 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 tending the suckling ewes he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance.
72 Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
He fed them with an upright heart, And guided them with skilful hands.
