Amahubo 22
1 Nkulunkulu wami, Nkulunkulu wami, ungitshiyeleni na? Ukhatshana lokungisiza, lamazwi okubhonga kwami?
For the music director. To the tune “Doe of the Dawn.” A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan, asking for help?
2 Nkulunkulu wami, ngiyakhala emini, kodwa kawungiphenduli, lebusuku, kodwa kangilakho ukuthula.
My God, every day I cry out to you, but you don't answer; at night too, but I get no rest.
3 Kodwa wena ungcwele, ohlezi ezibongweni zikaIsrayeli.
Yet you are holy, and the praises of Israel are your throne.
4 Obaba bethu bathemba kuwe, bathemba, wasubakhulula.
Our forefathers trusted in you; they trusted and you rescued them.
5 Bakhala kuwe, bakhululwa; bathembela kuwe, kabayangekanga.
They cried out to you for help, and they were saved. They trusted in you and were not defeated.
6 Kodwa ngingumswenya, kangisuye muntu, ihlazo labantu, ngeyiswa ngabantu.
But I'm a worm, not a man, scorned and despised by everyone.
7 Bonke abangibonayo bayangihleka usulu, bakhamisa indebe, banikine ikhanda,
People who see me mock me. They laugh at me and shake their heads, saying,
8 besithi: Wathembela eNkosini; kayimkhulule, imophule, ngoba yathokoza kuye.
“He trusts in the Lord—well then, let the Lord save him! If the Lord is such a friend, then let the Lord rescue him!”
9 Kodwa nguwe owangikhupha esiswini, wangenza ngathemba ngisemabeleni kamama.
However, you brought me safely through birth, and led me to trust in you at my mother's breasts.
10 Ngalahlelwa phezu kwakho kusukela esizalweni; kusukela esiswini sikamama unguNkulunkulu wami.
I was entrusted to you from birth; from the time I was born you have been my God.
11 Ungabi khatshana lami, ngoba uhlupho luseduze, ngoba kakho osizayo.
Do not be distant from me, because trouble is close by and no one else can help.
12 Izinkunzi ezinengi zingihanqile, ezilamandla zeBashani zingizingelezele.
Enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; strong bulls from Bashan have encircled me.
13 Zangikhamisela umlomo wazo, isilwane esiphangayo lesibhongayo.
Like roaring lions tearing at their prey they open their mouths wide against me.
14 Ngithululiwe njengamanzi, lamathambo ami wonke ehlukene; inhliziyo yami injengengcino, incibilikile phakathi kwemibilini yami.
I feel like I'm being poured out like water. I'm falling apart as if all my bones have become loose. My mind feels like it's wax melting inside me.
15 Amandla ami omile njengodengezi, lolimi lwami lunamathele emihlathini yami; ungibeke ethulini lokufa.
My strength has dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth. You're burying me as if I'm already dead.
16 Ngoba izinja zingigombolozele; inhlangano yababi ingihanqile; izandla zami lenyawo zami bazibhobozile.
Evil men surround me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 Ngingabala wonke amathambo ami; bona bayakhangela bayangijolozela.
I'm so thin I can count all my bones. People stare at me and gloat.
18 Babelana izigqoko zami, benza inkatho yokuphosa ngezembatho zami.
They divide my clothing among them; they roll dice for my clothes.
19 Kodwa, wena Nkosi, ungabi khatshana; mandla ami, phangisa ukungisiza.
But you, Lord, don't be far away from me! You are my strength—hurry, come and help me!
20 Khulula umphefumulo wami kuyo inkemba, wona wodwa owami emandleni enja.
Save me from death by the sword! Save my life—the only one I have—from the dogs!
21 Ngisindisa emlonyeni wesilwane; ngoba empondweni zezinyathi ungiphendule.
Rescue me from the mouth of the lion and from the wild bulls!
22 Ngizalandisa ibizo lakho kubafowethu, phakathi kwebandla ngizakudumisa.
I will tell my people all the wonderful things you have done; I will praise you in the congregation.
23 Lina elesaba iNkosi, idumiseni; lonke nzalo kaJakobe, ihlonipheni; liyesabe, lonke nzalo kaIsrayeli.
Praise the Lord, all who worship him! Honor him, every descendant of Jacob! Be in awe of him, every descendant of Israel!
24 Ngoba kayidelelanga kayinengwanga yinhlupheko yohluphekayo; njalo kayimfihlelanga ubuso bayo; kodwa lapho ekhala kuyo, yezwa.
For he has not ridiculed or scorned the suffering of the poor; he has not turned away from them, he has listened to their cries for help.
25 Indumiso yami izakuba ngawe ebandleni elikhulu; ngizakhokha izifungo zami phambi kwabayesabayo.
You are the subject of my praise in the great assembly. I will fulfill my promises before those who worship you.
26 Abamnene bazakudla basuthe; bazayidumisa iNkosi labo abayidingayo. Inhliziyo yenu izaphila kuze kube phakade.
The poor shall eat, and they shall be satisfied. All who come to the Lord will praise him—may you all live forever!
27 Imikhawulo yonke yomhlaba izakhumbula, iphendukele eNkosini; lezizukulwana zonke zezizwe zizakhonza phambi kwakho.
Everyone in the whole world will repent and return to the Lord; all the nations will worship before you.
28 Ngoba umbuso ungoweNkosi, njalo iyabusa phakathi kwezizwe.
For kingly power belongs to the Lord; he is the one who rules over the nations.
29 Bonke abakhulupheleyo bomhlaba bazakudla bakhonze; bonke abehlela othulini bazakhothama phambi kwayo, longagcini umphefumulo wakhe uphila.
All who prosper come to feast and worship. Bow down before him, all those destined for the grave—for none can keep themselves alive.
30 Inzalo izayikhonza; izabalelwa eNkosini kuso isizukulwana.
Our descendants will serve him; they will tell the next generation about the Lord.
31 Bazakuza bamemezele ukulunga kwayo ebantwini abazazalwa, ukuthi ikwenzile.
They will come and tell those yet to be born how good the Lord is, and all that he has done!
