Amahubo 104
1 Bonga iNkosi, mphefumulo wami. Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, umkhulu kakhulu; wembethe ubukhosi lodumo.
Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great, clad in awful splendor,
2 Ozembesa ngokukhanya njengesembatho, owendlala amazulu njengekhetheni.
covered with robe of light. You stretch out the heavens like the cloth of a tent.
3 Owabeka imijabo yamakamelo akhe aphezulu emanzini, owenza amayezi abe yinqola yakhe, ohamba phezu kwempiko zomoya.
He lays the beams of his chambers on water. He takes dark clouds for his chariot, and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 Owenza izingilosi zakhe zibe yimimoya, izinceku zakhe zibe ngumlilo olamalangabi.
He takes the winds for his messengers, the fire and the flame for his servants.
5 Wamisa umhlaba phezu kwezisekelo zawo, kawuyikuzanyazanyiswa phakade laphakade.
He founded the earth upon pillars, to sustain it unshaken forever.
6 Wawugubuzela ngokujula njengesembatho; amanzi ema phezu kwezintaba.
With the garment of ocean he covered it, waters towered over the mountains.
7 Ekukhuzeni kwakho abaleka; elizwini lokuduma kwakho aphangisa asuka;
But at your rebuke they fled, scared by the roar of your thunder,
8 - zenyuka izintaba, zehla izihotsha - endaweni owawuwamisele wona.
mountains rose, valleys sank down to the place appointed for them.
9 Wamisa umngcele angewudlule, kawayikubuya agubuzele umhlaba.
They dared not pass the bounds set for them, or cover the earth any more.
10 Othumela imithombo ezihotsheni, yahamba phakathi kwezintaba.
He sent brooks into the valleys, they meander between the mountains.
11 Yanathisa yonke inyamazana yeganga, obabhemi beganga bacitsha ukoma kwabo.
The wild beasts all drink from them, and the wild asses quench their thirst.
12 Inyoni zamazulu zakhela emaceleni ayo, zizwakalisa ilizwi ziphakathi kwezingatsha.
The birds have their home by the banks, and sing in the branches.
13 Uthelela izintaba esemakamelweni akhe aphezulu; umhlaba usuthiswa ngesithelo semisebenzi yakho.
From his chambers above he gives drink to the mountains, and satisfies earth with the vials of heaven.
14 Umilisela izifuyo utshani, lemibhida yokusiza umuntu, ukuveza ukudla emhlabathini,
He makes grass grow for the cattle, and herbs for people. He brings bread out of the earth;
15 lewayini elithokozisa inhliziyo yomuntu, ukwenza ubuso bukhanye ngamafutha, lesinkwa esiqinisa inhliziyo yomuntu.
wine, to gladden hearts; oil, to make faces shine; bread, to strengthen hearts.
16 Ziyasutha izihlahla zeNkosi, imisedari yeLebhanoni eyayihlanyelayo.
The trees of the Lord drink their fill the cedars he planted on Lebanon,
17 Lapho inyoni ezakhela khona izidleke; ingabuzane, izihlahla zefiri ziyindlu yalo.
where the little birds build their nest, and the stork whose home is the cypress.
18 Intaba eziphakemeyo zingezamagogo, amadwala ayisiphephelo sezimbila.
The high hills are for the wild goats, and the rocks are for coneys to hide in.
19 Inyanga wayenzela izikhathi ezimisiweyo; ilanga liyazi ukutshona kwalo.
He created the moon to mark seasons, and told the sun when to set.
20 Wenza umnyama, kube sebusuku, phakathi kwabo kuphume yonke inyamazana yehlathi.
You make it dark: night comes, when all the wild beasts creep out.
21 Izilwane ezintsha zibhongela impango, lokudinga ukudla kwazo kuNkulunkulu.
Young lions that roar for their prey, seeking their meat from God.
22 Ilanga liphuma, zibuthane, zilale ezikhundleni zazo.
At sunrise they slink away, and lie down in their dens.
23 Umuntu uphuma aye emsebenzini wakhe lemtshikatshikeni wakhe kuze kuhlwe.
Then people go forth to their work, and toil till evening.
24 Minengi kangakanani imisebenzi yakho, Nkosi! Yonke uyenze ngenhlakanipho; umhlaba ugcwele inotho yakho.
How many, O Lord, are your works, all of them made in wisdom! The earth is filled with your creatures.
25 Lolulwandle olukhulu lolubanzi ngezinhlangothi, lapho okulezihuquzelayo khona ezingelakubalwa, izinto eziphilayo ezincinyane kanye lezinkulu.
And there is the great broad sea, where are countless things in motion, living creatures, both great and small.
26 Kuhamba khona imikhumbi, uLeviyathani owambumbela ukuthi adlale kulo.
There go the ships, and the Leviathan you made to play there.
27 Zonke lezi zilindele kuwe, ukuthi uzinike ukudla kwazo ngesikhathi sazo.
They all look in hope to you, to give them their food in due season.
28 Uyazinika, zibuthe; uvula isandla sakho, zisuthe okuhle.
And you give with open hand; they gather and eat to their heart’s desire.
29 Ufihla ubuso bakho, zikhathazeke; ususa umoya wazo, zife, zibuyele ethulini lwazo.
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take their breath away, they die and go back to their dust.
30 Uthumela umoya wakho, zidalwe; wenze bube butsha ubuso bomhlaba.
But a breath from your lips creates them, and renews the face of the earth.
31 Udumo lweNkosi kalume kuze kube nininini; iNkosi kayithokoze ngemisebenzi yayo.
May the glory of the Lord be forever, may the Lord rejoice in his works.
32 Ikhangela umhlaba, uthuthumele; ithinta izintaba, zithunqe.
A glance of his makes the earth tremble, a touch of his makes the hills smoke.
33 Ngizahlabelela iNkosi ngisaphila; ngizahlabelela indumiso kuNkulunkulu wami nxa ngisekhona.
I will sing to the Lord while I live, I will play to my God while I am.
34 Ukuzindla kwami ngaye kuzakuba mnandi; mina ngizathokoza eNkosini.
May my musing be sweet to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Izoni kaziqedwe emhlabeni, kungabe kusaba khona ababi. Bonga iNkosi, mphefumulo wami. Dumisani iNkosi!
But may sinners be swept from the earth, and the wicked vanish forever. O my soul, bless the Lord. Hallelujah.
