Amahubo 17
1 Zwana ukulunga, Nkosi, ulalele ukukhala kwami; ubeke indlebe emkhulekweni wami ongaphumi ezindebeni ezilenkohliso.
A Prayer of David. Hear, O Jehovah, righteousness, attend my cry, Give ear [to] my prayer, without lips of deceit.
2 Ukwahlulelwa kwami kakuphume ebukhoneni bakho, amehlo akho kawabone izinto eziqondileyo.
From before thee my judgment doth go out; Thine eyes do see uprightly.
3 Uyilingile inhliziyo yami, wangihambela ebusuku; ungihlolile, kawuficanga lutho; ngihlosile, umlomo wami kawuyikuphambuka.
Thou hast proved my heart, Thou hast inspected by night, Thou hast tried me, Thou findest nothing; My thoughts pass not over my mouth.
4 Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, ngelizwi lendebe zakho, mina ngizinqandile ezindleleni zomchithi,
As to doings of man, Through a word of Thy lips I have observed The paths of a destroyer;
5 ukusekela izinyathelo zami emikhondweni yakho, ukuze inyawo zami zingatsheleli.
To uphold my goings in Thy paths, My steps have not slidden.
6 Mina ngikubizile, ngoba uzangiphendula, Nkulunkulu; beka indlebe yakho kimi, uzwe inkulumo yami.
I — I called Thee, for Thou dost answer me, O God, incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech.
7 Tshengisa ngokumangalisayo uthandolomusa wakho, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene labo abathembela kuwe kwabavukelayo.
Separate wonderfully Thy kindness, O Saviour of the confiding, By Thy right hand, from withstanders.
8 Ngigcine njengenhlamvu yelihlo; ungifihle emthunzini wempiko zakho,
Keep me as the apple, the daughter of the eye; In shadow of Thy wings thou dost hide me.
9 kubo ubuso bababi abangicindezelayo, izitha zempilo yami ezingihanqileyo.
From the face of the wicked who spoiled me. Mine enemies in soul go round against me.
10 Bayazivalela ngamahwahwa abo; ngomlomo wabo bakhuluma ngokuzigqaja.
Their fat they have closed up, Their mouths have spoken with pride:
11 Sebesihanqile emanyathelweni ethu; amehlo abo bawamise besithobele emhlabathini.
'Our steps now have compassed [him];' Their eyes they set to turn aside in the land.
12 Unjengesilwane esikhuthalele ukudabula, lanjengesilwane esitsha esiquthileyo endaweni ezisithekileyo.
His likeness as a lion desirous to tear, As a young lion dwelling in secret places.
13 Vuka, Nkosi! Uhlangabeze ubuso bakhe, umphosele phansi. Khulula umphefumulo wami komubi, oyinkemba yakho,
Arise, O Jehovah, go before his face, Cause him to bend. Deliver my soul from the wicked, 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, Thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, their portion [is] in life, And [with] Thy hidden things Thou fillest their belly, They are satisfied [with] sons; And have left their abundance to their sucklings.
15 Mina, ngizakhangela ubuso bakho ekulungeni, ngeneliswe yisimo sakho ekuphaphameni kwami.
I — in righteousness, I see Thy face; I am satisfied, in awaking, [with] Thy form!
