Amahubo 139
1 Nkosi, ungihlolile, uyangazi.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known [me].
2 Wena uyakwazi ukuhlala kwami lokusukuma kwami; uyaqedisisa imicabango yami ukhatshana.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Uyahlungula ukuhamba kwami lokulala kwami, uzejwayele indlela zami zonke.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted [with] all my ways.
4 Ngoba kalikho ilizwi elimini lwami, khangela Nkosi, usulazi lonke.
For [there is] not a word in my tongue, [but], lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Ungizingelezile emuva langaphambili, ubeke isandla sakho phezu kwami.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Lolulwazi lumangalisa kakhulu kimi; luphakeme, kangilakho ukufinyelela kulo.
[Such] knowledge [is] too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot [attain] unto it.
7 Ngizakuya ngaphi ngisuke kuMoya wakho? Kumbe ngizabalekela ngaphi ngisuke ebusweni bakho?
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 Uba ngisenyukela emazulwini, lapho ukhona; uba ngisendlala icansi lami esihogweni, khangela, ukhona. (Sheol h7585)
If I ascend up into heaven, thou [art] there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou [art there]. (Sheol h7585)
9 Uba ngithatha amaphiko okusa, ngihlale emikhawulweni yolwandle,
[If] I take the wings of the morning, [and] dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 lalapho isandla sakho sizangikhokhela, lesokunene sakho singibambe.
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 Uba ngisithi: Isibili umnyama uzangifihla, ngitsho ubusuku buzakuba yikukhanya kimi inhlangothi zonke.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Ngitsho umnyama kawufihli kuwe, kodwa ubusuku bukhanya njengemini; njengomnyama kunjalo ukukhanya kuwe.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].
13 Ngoba wena ungumnini wezinso zami, wangeluka esiswini sikamama.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 Ngizakudumisa, ngenxa yokuthi ngenziwe ngokwesabekayo, ngokumangalisayo. Imisebenzi yakho iyamangalisa; lomphefumulo wami uyakwazi kuhle kakhulu.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well.
15 Amathambo ami ayengafihlekanga kuwe, lapho ngangisenziwa ekusithekeni, ngenziwa ngobuciko ezindaweni ezizikileyo zomhlaba.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Amehlo akho abona ibumba lami; legwalweni lwakho zonke lezi zabhalwa, izinsuku okwabunjwa ngazo, kungakabikho lakunye kwakho.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.
17 Iligugu kangakanani-ke kimi imicabango yakho, O Nkulunkulu; bukhulu kangakanani ubunengi bayo!
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 Uba ngingayibala, minengi kuletshebetshebe. Lapho ngivuka, ngilokhu ngilawe.
[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Isibili uzambulala omubi, Nkulunkulu! Ngakho lina bantu abomele igazi sukani kimi;
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 abakhuluma ngenkohliso ngawe, ziphatha ngeze ibizo lakho, izitha zakho.
For they speak against thee wickedly, [and] thine enemies take [thy name] in vain.
21 Kangibazondi yini, Nkosi, abakuzondayo, nginengwe ngabakuvukelayo?
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 Ngiyabazonda ngenzondo epheleleyo; sebeyizitha kimi.
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Ngihlola, Nkulunkulu, uyazi inhliziyo yami; ngilinga, uyazi imicabango yami,
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 ubone ukuthi ikhona indlela embi kimi yini, ungikhokhele endleleni ephakade.
And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
