Amahubo 144
1 Kayibongwe iNkosi, idwala lami, efundisela izandla zami impi, iminwe yami ukulwa;
“By David.” Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who exerciseth my hands for the battle, my fingers for the war:
2 umusa wami, lenqaba yami, umphotshongo wami ophakemeyo, lomkhululi wami, isihlangu sami, lengiphephela kuyo, ethobisa abantu bami ngaphansi kwami.
My kindness, and my strong-hold; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.
3 Nkosi, umuntu uyini ukuthi umazi? Indodana yomuntu ukuthi uyinanze?
Lord, what is man, that thou takest cognizance of him: the son of a mortal, that thou regardest him!
4 Umuntu unjengeze, insuku zakhe zinjengesithunzi esidlulayo.
Man is like the breath: his days are like a passing shadow.
5 Nkosi, khothamisa amazulu akho, wehle; thinta izintaba ukuze zithunqe.
O Lord, bend thy heavens, and come down: touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Phazimisa umbane, ubachithe, uthumele imitshoko yakho, ubahlakaze.
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: send out thy arrows, and confound them.
7 Yelula isandla sakho uphezulu, ungikhulule, ungophule emanzini amanengi, esandleni sabantwana besizwe,
Stretch out thy hands from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of the children of the stranger.
8 abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and whose right hand is the right hand of falsehood.
9 Ngizahlabelela kuwe ingoma entsha, Nkulunkulu; ngizahlabelela indumiso kuwe ngogubhu olulentambo ezilitshumi.
O God, a new song will I sing unto thee: upon the ten-stringed psaltery will I sing praises unto thee.
10 Wena onika amakhosi usindiso, okhulula uDavida inceku yakho enkembeni embi.
[Thou art he] that giveth victory unto kings: who riddeth David his servant from the evil-bringing sword.
11 Ngophula, ungikhulule esandleni sabantwana besizwe, abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of the children of the stranger, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and whose right hand is the right hand of falsehood.
12 Ukuthi amadodana ethu abe njengezilimo ezikhula ebutsheni bazo, amadodakazi ethu njengamatshe engonsi abazwe njengomfanekiso wesigodlo!
So that our sons may be like plants, grown up in their youth: our daughters, like corner-pillars, sculptured in the model of a palace.
13 Ukuthi iziphala zethu zigcwale ziveze uhlobo ngohlobo; izimvu zethu zizale izinkulungwane, yebo, izinkulungwane ezilitshumi emadlelweni ethu!
May our garners be full, furnishing all manner of store: our sheep bringing forth thousands and ten thousands in our open pastures.
14 Ukuthi inkabi zethu zingathwaliswa, kungabi lokufohlela phakathi, njalo kungabi lokuphuma, kumbe kungabi lesililo ezitaladeni zethu!
May our oxen be strong to labor: may there be no breach, nor migration, nor loud complaint in our streets.
15 Bayathaba abantu okunjalo kubo; bayathaba abantu abaNkulunkulu wabo yiNkosi.
Happy the people, that fare thus: happy the people, whose God is the Lord.
