Amahubo 144
1 Kayibongwe iNkosi, idwala lami, efundisela izandla zami impi, iminwe yami ukulwa;
A Psalm of David. Blessed be the LORD my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:
2 umusa wami, lenqaba yami, umphotshongo wami ophakemeyo, lomkhululi wami, isihlangu sami, lengiphephela kuyo, ethobisa abantu bami ngaphansi kwami.
My goodness, and my fortress; 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 knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!
4 Umuntu unjengeze, insuku zakhe zinjengesithunzi esidlulayo.
Man is like vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away.
5 Nkosi, khothamisa amazulu akho, wehle; thinta izintaba ukuze zithunqe.
Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.
6 Phazimisa umbane, ubachithe, uthumele imitshoko yakho, ubahlakaze.
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot thy arrows, and destroy them.
7 Yelula isandla sakho uphezulu, ungikhulule, ungophule emanzini amanengi, esandleni sabantwana besizwe,
Send thy hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of foreigners;
8 abamlomo wabo ukhuluma amanga, lesandla sabo sokunene singesokunene senkohliso.
Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
9 Ngizahlabelela kuwe ingoma entsha, Nkulunkulu; ngizahlabelela indumiso kuwe ngogubhu olulentambo ezilitshumi.
I will sing a new song to thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises to thee.
10 Wena onika amakhosi usindiso, okhulula uDavida inceku yakho enkembeni embi.
It is he that giveth salvation to kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful 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 foreigners, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their 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 as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 Ukuthi iziphala zethu zigcwale ziveze uhlobo ngohlobo; izimvu zethu zizale izinkulungwane, yebo, izinkulungwane ezilitshumi emadlelweni ethu!
That our barns may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 Ukuthi inkabi zethu zingathwaliswa, kungabi lokufohlela phakathi, njalo kungabi lokuphuma, kumbe kungabi lesililo ezitaladeni zethu!
That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Bayathaba abantu okunjalo kubo; bayathaba abantu abaNkulunkulu wabo yiNkosi.
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
