Amahubo 139
1 Nkosi, ungihlolile, uyangazi.
To the Chief Musician, David’s. A Melody. O Yahweh! thou hast searched me, and observed:
2 Wena uyakwazi ukuhlala kwami lokusukuma kwami; uyaqedisisa imicabango yami ukhatshana.
Thou, hast observed my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou hast given heed to my desire, from afar:
3 Uyahlungula ukuhamba kwami lokulala kwami, uzejwayele indlela zami zonke.
My path and my couch, hast thou examined, and, all my ways, thou well knowest.
4 Ngoba kalikho ilizwi elimini lwami, khangela Nkosi, usulazi lonke.
Surely there hath not been a word on my tongue, [but] behold! O Yahweh, thou hast observed it on every side.
5 Ungizingelezile emuva langaphambili, ubeke isandla sakho phezu kwami.
Behind and before, hast thou shut me in, and hast laid upon me thy hand: —
6 Lolulwazi lumangalisa kakhulu kimi; luphakeme, kangilakho ukufinyelela kulo.
Knowledge, too wonderful, for me! high, I cannot attain to it!
7 Ngizakuya ngaphi ngisuke kuMoya wakho? Kumbe ngizabalekela ngaphi ngisuke ebusweni bakho?
Whither can I go from thy spirit? or whither, from thy face, can I flee?
8 Uba ngisenyukela emazulwini, lapho ukhona; uba ngisendlala icansi lami esihogweni, khangela, ukhona. (Sheol h7585)
If I ascend the heavens, there, thou art! If I spread out hades as my couch, behold thee! (Sheol h7585)
9 Uba ngithatha amaphiko okusa, ngihlale emikhawulweni yolwandle,
If I mount the wings of the dawn, settle down in the region beyond the sea,
10 lalapho isandla sakho sizangikhokhela, lesokunene sakho singibambe.
Even there, thy hand shall 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, darkness, shall cover me! then, night, is light about me.
12 Ngitsho umnyama kawufihli kuwe, kodwa ubusuku bukhanya njengemini; njengomnyama kunjalo ukukhanya kuwe.
Even darkness, will not conceal from thee, —but, night, like day, will shine, So is the darkness, as the light!
13 Ngoba wena ungumnini wezinso zami, wangeluka esiswini sikamama.
For, thou, didst possess thyself of my reins, thou didst weave me together in the womb of my mother.
14 Ngizakudumisa, ngenxa yokuthi ngenziwe ngokwesabekayo, ngokumangalisayo. Imisebenzi yakho iyamangalisa; lomphefumulo wami uyakwazi kuhle kakhulu.
I thank thee, in that fearfully was my being distinguished, Wonderful are thy works, and, mine own soul, is observing [them] intently!
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, when I was skilfully figured in the lower parts of the earth.
16 Amehlo akho abona ibumba lami; legwalweni lwakho zonke lezi zabhalwa, izinsuku okwabunjwa ngazo, kungakabikho lakunye kwakho.
Mine unfinished substance, thine eyes beheld, and, in thy book, all the parts thereof were written, —the days they should be fashioned! while yet there was not one among them.
17 Iligugu kangakanani-ke kimi imicabango yakho, O Nkulunkulu; bukhulu kangakanani ubunengi bayo!
To me, then, how precious have thy desires become, O GOD! How numerous, the heads of them!
18 Uba ngingayibala, minengi kuletshebetshebe. Lapho ngivuka, ngilokhu ngilawe.
I would recount them! Beyond the sands, they multiply, I rouse myself—and am still with thee.
19 Isibili uzambulala omubi, Nkulunkulu! Ngakho lina bantu abomele igazi sukani kimi;
Wilt thou not, O GOD, slay the lawless one? Therefore, ye men of bloodshed, depart from me!
20 abakhuluma ngenkohliso ngawe, ziphatha ngeze ibizo lakho, izitha zakho.
For they speak of thee wickedly, Thy foes lift up [their hand] unto falsehood.
21 Kangibazondi yini, Nkosi, abakuzondayo, nginengwe ngabakuvukelayo?
Do I not hate, them who hate thee, O Yahweh? And loathe, them who rise up against thee?
22 Ngiyabazonda ngenzondo epheleleyo; sebeyizitha kimi.
With completeness of hatred, I hate them, As enemies, have they become to me.
23 Ngihlola, Nkulunkulu, uyazi inhliziyo yami; ngilinga, uyazi imicabango yami,
Search me, O GOD, and observe my heart, Try me, and observe my cares;
24 ubone ukuthi ikhona indlela embi kimi yini, ungikhokhele endleleni ephakade.
And see if there be any idol-way in me, and lead me in a way age-abiding.
