Amahubo 17
1 Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
“A prayer of David.” Hear, O Lord, [the cause of] righteousness, attend unto my entreaty, give ear unto my prayer, coming from lips without deceit.
2 Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
Let from thy presence my sentence come forth; let thy eyes behold what is right.
3 Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast thought of me in the night; thou hast refined me—thou couldst find nothing: my purpose doth not pass beyond [the words of] my mouth.
4 Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
Among the deeds of men did I observe, by the word of thy lips, the paths of the dissolute.
5 ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
My steps held firmly to thy tracks, [and] my footsteps did not slip.
6 Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
I call on thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thy ear unto me, hear my speech.
7 Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
Show marvelously thy loving-kindnesses, O thou that savest those who put their trust [in thee] from those that rise up [against them] by thy right hand.
8 Ngigcine njengenhlamvu yelihlo; ungifihle emthunzini wempiko zakho,
Keep me as the apple of the eye; conceal me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
From the wicked that despoil me, my enemies, who, to take my life, compass me about.
10 Bayazivalela ngamahwahwa abo; ngomlomo wabo bakhuluma ngokuzigqaja.
They are enclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 Sebesihanqile emanyathelweni ethu; amehlo abo bawamise besithobele emhlabathini.
On our steps they now encompass us: they direct their eyes to turn aside in the land.
12 Unjengesilwane esikhuthalele ukudabula, lanjengesilwane esitsha esiquthileyo endaweni ezisithekileyo.
Every man is just like a lion that is greedy to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in a covert.
13 Vuka, Nkosi! Uhlangabeze ubuso bakhe, umphosele phansi. Khulula umphefumulo wami komubi, oyinkemba yakho,
Arise, O Lord, prevent him, cast him down; deliver my soul from the wicked, who is thy sword, —
14 kubo abantu, abayisandla sakho, Nkosi, ebantwini bomhlaba, osabelo sabo sikulokhukuphila, osisu sabo usigcwalisa ngokuligugu kwakho; bagcwele abantwana, njalo batshiyele izingane zabo okuseleyo kwabo.
From these men—thy hand—O Lord, from the men of this world, whose portion is in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hidden treasure: they have children in plenty, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
As for me, in righteousness shall I behold thy face: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with contemplating thy likeness.
