Amahubo 78
1 Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn 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, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
5 Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching 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, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell 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 God, and not forget God’s deeds, 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 didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
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 didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk in his law.
11 Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
12 Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
He did marvelous things 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 split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
14 Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
15 Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the 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.
Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
19 Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God 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 struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?”
21 UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
22 ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation.
23 Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
24 wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
25 Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
26 Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
27 Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
28 Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
29 Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
30 Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food 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, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
32 Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe 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 terror.
34 Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.
36 Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
For their heart was not right with him, neither were they 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 iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
39 Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
40 Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
41 Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
43 usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
44 Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
45 Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
46 Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
He also gave their increase 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, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
48 Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
He also gave over their livestock to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
49 Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
50 Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare 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 struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
53 Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
54 Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
55 Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
He also drove out the nations before them, 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.
Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,
57 Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted 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 engraved images.
59 Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
60 Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
so that he abandoned the tent 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, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
62 Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
63 Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
64 abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.
65 INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
66 Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
67 Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
68 kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
69 Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
70 Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
He also 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 ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
72 Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
