Amahubo 144
1 Kayibongwe iNkosi, idwala lami, efundisela izandla zami impi, iminwe yami ukulwa;
David’s. Blessed be Yahweh, my Rock, who teacheth my hands to war, my fingers to fight:
2 umusa wami, lenqaba yami, umphotshongo wami ophakemeyo, lomkhululi wami, isihlangu sami, lengiphephela kuyo, ethobisa abantu bami ngaphansi kwami.
My lovingkindness and my stronghold, my high tower and my deliverer—mine! My buckler, and he in whom I have sought refuge, —He that subdueth my people under me.
3 Nkosi, umuntu uyini ukuthi umazi? Indodana yomuntu ukuthi uyinanze?
O Yahweh! what is the earthborn, And yet thou hast acknowledged him, —the son of a mortal, And yet thou hast taken account of him:
4 Umuntu unjengeze, insuku zakhe zinjengesithunzi esidlulayo.
The earthborn, resembleth, a vapour, his days, are like a passing shadow.
5 Nkosi, khothamisa amazulu akho, wehle; thinta izintaba ukuze zithunqe.
O Yahweh! bow thy heavens and come down, Touch the mountains, that they smoke:
6 Phazimisa umbane, ubachithe, uthumele imitshoko yakho, ubahlakaze.
Flash forth lightning, that thou mayest scatter them, Send out thine arrows, that thou mayest confound them:
7 Yelula isandla sakho uphezulu, ungikhulule, ungophule emanzini amanengi, esandleni sabantwana besizwe,
Put forth thy hands from on high: —Snatch me away and rescue me out of mighty waters, out of the hand of the sons of the alien,
8 abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
Whose mouth, hath spoken deceit, and, whose right hand, is a 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, —On a harp of ten strings, will I make music to thee:
10 Wena onika amakhosi usindiso, okhulula uDavida inceku yakho enkembeni embi.
Who giveth victory unto kings—Who snatcheth away David his servant, from the calamitous sword.
11 Ngophula, ungikhulule esandleni sabantwana besizwe, abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
Snatch me away and rescue me out of he hand of the sons of the alien, —whose mouth hath spoken deceit, and, whose right hand, is a right hand of falsehood: —
12 Ukuthi amadodana ethu abe njengezilimo ezikhula ebutsheni bazo, amadodakazi ethu njengamatshe engonsi abazwe njengomfanekiso wesigodlo!
That, our sons, may be like plants well grown while yet young, —Our daughters, like corner pillars, —carved, in the construction of a palace:
13 Ukuthi iziphala zethu zigcwale ziveze uhlobo ngohlobo; izimvu zethu zizale izinkulungwane, yebo, izinkulungwane ezilitshumi emadlelweni ethu!
Our garners, full, pouring out from one kind to another; Our flocks, multiplying by thousands—by myriads, in our open fields:
14 Ukuthi inkabi zethu zingathwaliswa, kungabi lokufohlela phakathi, njalo kungabi lokuphuma, kumbe kungabi lesililo ezitaladeni zethu!
Our oxen, well-laden; no breaking in and no departing, —and no loud lament in our places of concourse: —
15 Bayathaba abantu okunjalo kubo; bayathaba abantu abaNkulunkulu wabo yiNkosi.
How happy the people that is in such a case! How happy the people that hath Yahweh for its God!
