Amahubo 102
1 Nkosi, zwana umkhuleko wami, lokukhala kwami kakuze kuwe.
The prayer: for a weary and suffering person who pours out their grief to the Lord. Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you.
2 Ungangifihleli ubuso bakho osukwini lohlupho lwami; beka indlebe yakho kimi; mhla ngibiza ungiphendule masinyane.
Hide not your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me: when I call, answer me speedily.
3 Ngoba insuku zami ziyanyamalala njengentuthu, lamathambo ami ayatsha njengeziko.
For my days pass away like smoke: my bones are burned through as with fire.
4 Inhliziyo yami itshayiwe, yabuna njengotshani, ngaze ngakhohlwa ukudla isinkwa sami.
My heart is scorched, withered like grass; I forget to eat my bread.
5 Ngenxa yelizwi lokububula kwami amathambo ami anamathela esikhumbeni sami.
By reason of my loud groaning, my flesh clings to my bones.
6 Ngifanana lewunkwe yenkangala, senginjengesikhova sezindawo ezidilikileyo.
Like a desert-owl of the wilderness, like an owl among ruins am I.
7 Ngiyalinda, senginjengenyoni ehlezi yodwa ephahleni.
I make my sleepless lament like a bird on the house-top alone.
8 Izitha zami ziyangithuka usuku lonke; abangihlanyelayo bafunga ngami.
All the day wild foes revile me, using my name for a curse.
9 Ngoba ngidle umlotha njengesinkwa, ngixubanise okunathwayo kwami lezinyembezi,
For ashes have been my bread, and tears have been mixed with my cup.
10 ngenxa yentukuthelo yakho lolaka lwakho; ngoba ungiphakamisile, wasungilahla phansi.
Because of your passionate anger, you did raise me, then hurl me to the ground.
11 Insuku zami zinjengesithunzi eselulekayo, njalo mina ngiyabuna njengotshani.
My days come to an end, shadows lengthen, I wither like grass.
12 Kodwa wena, Nkosi, uzahlala kuze kube nininini, lesikhumbuzo sakho kusizukulwana lesizukulwana.
But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever, your fame endures to all generations.
13 Wena uzavuka uhawukele iZiyoni; ngoba isikhathi sokuyitshengisa umusa, yebo, isikhathi esimisiweyo sesifikile.
You will arise and have pity on Zion; it’s time to be gracious; her hour has come.
14 Ngoba inceku zakho ziyawathanda amatshe ayo, zilesihawu ethulini lwayo.
For even her stones are dear to your servants, even the dust of her ruins they look on with love.
15 Khona izizwe zizalesaba ibizo leNkosi, lamakhosi wonke omhlaba udumo lwayo.
Then the nations will revere the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth his glory,
16 Lapho iNkosi izayakha iZiyoni, izabonakala enkazimulweni yayo.
when the Lord shall have built up Zion, and revealed himself in his glory,
17 Izaphendukela emkhulekweni wongelalutho, kayiyikudelela umthandazo wabo.
in response to the prayer of the destitute, whose prayer he will not despise.
18 Lokhu kuzabhalelwa isizukulwana esilandelayo, labantu abazadalwa bazadumisa iNkosi.
Let this be recorded for ages to come, that the Lord may be praised by a people yet unborn.
19 Ngoba yakhangela phansi isekuphakameni kwendawo yayo engcwele; iNkosi isemazulwini yakhangela emhlabeni,
For he shall look down from his holy height, from the heavens the Lord will gaze on the earth,
20 ukuzwa ukububula kwesibotshwa, ukukhulula abamiselwa ukufa;
to hear the groans of the prisoner, to free those who are doomed to die;
21 ukulandisa ibizo leNkosi eZiyoni, lendumiso yayo eJerusalema,
that people may recount the Lord’s fame in Zion, and the praise of him in Jerusalem,
22 lapho izizwe zibuthana ndawonye, lemibuso, ukuyikhonza iNkosi.
when the nations are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to worship the Lord.
23 Yathoba amandla ami endleleni, yafinyeza insuku zami.
He has broken my strength on the way, he has shortened my days.
24 Ngathi: Nkulunkulu wami, ungangisusi phakathi kwensuku zami, iminyaka yakho isesizukulwaneni lezizukulwana.
I will say, “My God, take me not hence in the midst of my days. “Your years endure age after age.
25 Endulo wawusekela umhlaba, lamazulu angumsebenzi wezandla zakho.
Of old you have founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
26 Lokho kuzabhubha, kodwa wena uzakuma. Kuzaguga-ke konke njengesembatho, njengesigqoko uzakuguqula, njalo kuzaguqulwa.
They shall perish; but you do stand. They shall all wax old like a garment, and change as a robe you will change them.
27 Kodwa wena unguwe njalo, leminyaka yakho kayipheli.
But you are the same, your years are endless.
28 Abantwana benceku zakho bazahlala, lenzalo yazo izaqiniswa phambi kwakho.
The children of your servants abide, evermore shall their seed be before you.”
