Amahubo 90
1 Umkhuleko kaMosi umuntu kaNkulunkulu. Thixo, wena ulikhaya lethu kuzozonke izizukulwane.
BOOK FOURTH: “A prayer of Moses the man of God.” Lord, a place of refuge hast thou been unto us in all generations.
2 Izintaba zingakabikhona lalapho ungakawuvezi umhlaba kanye lelizwe, kusukela phakade kuze kube phakade unguNkulunkulu.
Before yet the mountains were brought forth, or thou hadst ever produced the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
3 Ubuyisela abantu ethulini, usithi, “Buyelani othulini, lina madodana abantu.”
Thou turnest man to contrition, and sayest, Return ye children of men.
4 Ngoba iminyaka eyinkulungwane ekuboneni kwakho injengosuku olusanda kudlula, kumbe njengomlindo webusuku.
For a thousand years are in thy eyes but as the yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Uyabakhucula abantu ebuthongweni bokufa; banjengotshani obutsha obekuseni
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning [they grow] like the grass which changeth.
6 lokuba ekuseni buhluma bubutsha, kuthi ntambama sebomile sebubunile.
In the morning it blossometh, and is changed: in the evening it is mowed off, and withereth.
7 Ulaka lwakho luyasitshabalalisa sithuthumeliswe yikucaphuka kwakho.
For [thus] are we consumed by thy anger, and by thy fury are we terrified.
8 Usubuchayile ububi bethu phambi kwakho, izono zethu zensitha wazichaya ekukhanyeni kobukhona bakho.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our concealed sins before the light of thy countenance.
9 Zonke insuku zethu ziyedlula ngaphansi kolaka lwakho; leminyaka yethu siyiphetha ngokububula.
For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we consume our years like a word that is spoken.
10 Ubude bezinsuku zethu buyiminyaka engamatshumi ayisikhombisa loba amatshumi ayisificaminwembili, nxa silamandla; kanti lelobanga layo liluhlupho losizi, ngoba iphanga yedlule, lathi siphaphe nje sedlule.
The days of our years in this life are seventy years; and if by uncommon vigor they be eighty, yet is their greatness trouble and mishap; for it soon hasteneth off, and we fly away.
11 Ngubani owaziyo amandla olaka lwakho na? Ngoba intukuthelo yakho inkulu njengokwesatshwa okukufaneleyo.
Who knoweth the strength of thy anger, and thy wrath which is like the fear of thee?
12 Sifundise ukubala kuhle insuku zethu, ukuze sizuze inhliziyo yenhlakanipho.
Let us then know how to number our days, that we may obtain a heart endowed with wisdom.
13 Phola, Oh Thixo! Koze kube nini kulokhu kunjalo na? Woba lesihawu ezincekwini zakho.
Return, O Lord, how long yet? and bethink thee concerning thy servants.
14 Sisuthise ekuseni ngothando lwakho olungaphuthiyo, ukuze sihlabelele ngentokozo sijabule zonke insuku zethu.
O satisfy us in the morning with thy kindness, that we may be glad and rejoice throughout all our days.
15 Senze sijabule okwensuku ezilingana ukusihlupha kwakho, okwensuku ezilingana lalezo esesabona ngazo ukudubeka.
Cause us to rejoice as many days as those wherein thou hast afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen unhappiness.
16 Sengathi imisebenzi yakho ingatshengiswa ezincekwini zakho, inkazimulo yakho ebantwaneni babo.
Let thy act be visible on thy servants, and thy majesty over their children.
17 Sengathi umusa weNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu ungehlela kithi; uqinise umsebenzi wezandla zethu yebo, qinisa umsebenzi wezandla zethu.
And may the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and the work of our hands do thou firmly establish upon us: yea, the work of our hands—firmly establish thou it.
