< Amahubo 17 >
1 Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
Sh'ma ·Hear obey·, Adonai, my righteous plea; Give ear to my prayer, that does not go out of deceitful lips.
2 Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
Let my judgement come out of your presence. Let your eyes look on equity.
3 Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
You have proved my heart. You have visited me in the night. You have tried me, and found nothing. I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
4 Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5 ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
My steps have held fast to your paths. My feet have not slipped.
6 Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
I have called on you, for you will answer me, God. Turn your ear to me. Sh'ma ·Hear obey· my speech.
7 Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
Show your marvelous chesed ·loving-kindness·, you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
8 Ngigcine njengenhlamvu yelihlo; ungifihle emthunzini wempiko zakho,
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9 kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
from the wicked who oppress me, my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10 Bayazivalela ngamahwahwa abo; ngomlomo wabo bakhuluma ngokuzigqaja.
They close up their callous hearts. With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 Sebesihanqile emanyathelweni ethu; amehlo abo bawamise besithobele emhlabathini.
They have now surrounded us in our steps. They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12 Unjengesilwane esikhuthalele ukudabula, lanjengesilwane esitsha esiquthileyo endaweni ezisithekileyo.
He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey, as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Vuka, Nkosi! Uhlangabeze ubuso bakhe, umphosele phansi. Khulula umphefumulo wami komubi, oyinkemba yakho,
Arise, Adonai, confront him. Cast him down. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your 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 men by your hand, Adonai, from men of the world, whose portion is in this life. You fill the belly of your cherished ones. Your sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
15 Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.