Amahubo 129

1 Kanengi bangihluphile kusukela ebutsheni bami, katsho-ke uIsrayeli,

A Song of the going up. Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young (let Israel now say);

2 kanengi bangihluphile kusukela ebutsheni bami, kanti kabangehlulanga.

Great have been my troubles from the time when I was young, but my troubles have not overcome me.

3 Abalimi balima emhlana wami, bayenza yaba mide imifolo yabo.

The ploughmen were ploughing on my back; long were the wounds they made.

4 INkosi ilungile, iqumile intambo zababi.

The Lord is true: the cords of the evil-doers are broken in two.

5 Kabayangeke babuyiselwe emuva bonke abazonda iZiyoni.

Let all the haters of Zion be shamed and turned back.

6 Kababe njengotshani ephahleni, obubuna bungakakhuli,

Let them be like the grass on the house-tops, which is dry before it comes to full growth.

7 ovunayo angagcwalisi ngabo isandla sakhe, lalowo obopha izithungo isifuba sakhe.

He who gets in the grain has no use for it; and they do not make bands of it for the grain-stems.

8 Labadlulayo bangatsho ukuthi: Isibusiso seNkosi kasibe phezu kwenu; siyalibusisa ebizweni leNkosi.

And those who go by do not say, The blessing of the Lord be on you; we give you blessing in the name of the Lord.