Izililo 5
1 Khumbula, Nkosi, ukuthi kwenzakaleni kithi; khangela, ubone ihlazo lethu.
Remember, Yahweh, what has happened to us; look and see our disgrace.
2 Ilifa lethu seliphendulelwe kwabezizwe, izindlu zethu kwabemzini.
Our inheritance has been turned over to strangers; our houses to foreigners.
3 Siyizintandane, kungelababa; omama banjengabafelokazi.
We have become orphans, the fatherless, and our mothers are like widows.
4 Amanzi ethu siwanathile ngemali; inkuni zethu ziza ngentengo.
We must pay silver for the water we drink, and we must pay silver to get our own wood.
5 Sizingelwa ezintanyeni zethu, sidiniwe, kasilakuphumula.
Those who are coming after us are close behind us; we are weary and we can find no rest.
6 Sinike isandla sethu kwabeGibhithe, labeAsiriya, ukuze sisuthiswe ngesinkwa.
We have given ourselves to Egypt and to Assyria to get enough food.
7 Obaba bona, kabasekho, njalo thina sithwele iziphambeko zabo.
Our fathers sinned, and they are no more, and we bear their iniquities.
8 Izigqili ziyasibusa, kakho ongasihluthuna esandleni sazo.
Slaves rule over us, and there is no one to deliver us from their hand.
9 Sizuza isinkwa sethu ngengozi yempilo yethu, ngenxa yenkemba yenkangala.
We get our bread only by risking our lives, because of the sword in the wilderness.
10 Ijwabu lethu limnyama njengeziko ngenxa yokutshisa okukhulu kwendlala.
Our skin has grown as hot as an oven because of the burning heat of hunger.
11 Badlova abesifazana eZiyoni, izintombi ezimsulwa emizini yakoJuda.
Women are raped in Zion, and virgins in the cities of Judah.
12 Iziphathamandla zaphanyekwa ngesandla sazo; ubuso babadala kabuhlonitshwanga.
Princes are hung up by their own hands, and no honor is shown to the elders.
13 Amajaha athwala amatshe okuchola, labafana bakhubeka ngaphansi kwenkuni.
Young men are forced to grind grain with a millstone, and boys stagger under heavy loads of wood.
14 Abadala baphelile esangweni, amajaha ekuhlabeleleni.
The elders have left the city gate, and the young men have left their music.
15 Intokozo yenhliziyo yethu iphelile, ukugida kwethu kwaphenduka ukulila.
The joy of our heart has ceased and our dancing has turned into mourning.
16 Umqhele wekhanda lethu uwile; hawu, maye kithi, ngoba sonile!
The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
17 Ngenxa yalokhu inhliziyo yethu iphela amandla; ngenxa yalezizinto amehlo ethu afiphele.
For this our heart has become sick, for these things our eyes grow dim
18 Ngenxa yentaba yeZiyoni elunxiwa, amakhanka ahamba phezu kwayo.
for Mount Zion lies desolate, with jackals prowling over it.
19 Wena, Nkosi, uhlezi kuze kube nininini, isihlalo sakho sobukhosi sisuka esizukulwaneni sisiya esizukulwaneni.
But you, Yahweh, reign forever, and you will sit upon your throne from generation to generation.
20 Usikhohlweleni njalonjalo, usidela okobude bezinsuku?
Why do you forget us forever? Why do you forsake us for so many days?
21 Siphendulele kuwe, Nkosi, sizaphenduka; yenza insuku zethu zibe zintsha njengasendulo.
Restore us to yourself, Yahweh, and we will be restored. Renew our days as they were long ago—
22 Kodwa ususilahlile isibili; usithukuthelele kakhulukazi.
unless you have utterly rejected us and you are angry with us beyond measure.
