Amahubo 17
1 Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry; give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes look upon equity.
3 Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and findest nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the ways of the violent.
5 ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
My steps have held fast to thy paths, my feet have not slipped.
6 Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt answer me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, [and] hear my speech.
7 Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest them which 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, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
From the wicked that spoil me, my deadly enemies, that 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.
They have now compassed 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, and 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, O LORD, confront him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked by 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 men, by thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, whose portion is in [this] life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: they are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
As for me, I shall behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
