Amahubo 35

1 Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.

[A Psalm] of David. Strive, O Jehovah, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me:

2 Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.

Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help;

3 Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.

And draw out the spear, and stop [the way] against my pursuers: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4 Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.

Let them be put to shame and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and brought to confusion that devise my hurt:

5 Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, and let the angel of Jehovah drive [them] away;

6 Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.

Let their way be dark and slippery, and let the angel of Jehovah pursue them.

7 Ngoba kungelasizatho bangifihlele imbule labo emgodini, kungelasizatho bawugebhele umphefumulo wami.

For without cause have they hidden for me their net [in] a pit; without cause they have digged [it] for my soul.

8 Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.

Let destruction come upon him unawares, and let his net which he hath hidden catch himself: for destruction let him fall therein.

9 Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.

And my soul shall be joyful in Jehovah; it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10 Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?

All my bones shall say, Jehovah, who is like unto thee, who deliverest the afflicted from one stronger than he, yea, the afflicted and the needy from him that spoileth him!

11 Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they lay to my charge things which I know not.

12 Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.

They reward me evil for good, [to] the bereavement of my soul.

13 Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I chastened my soul with fasting, and my prayer returned into mine own bosom:

14 Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.

I behaved myself as though [he had been] a friend, a brother to me; I bowed down in sadness, as one that mourneth [for] a mother.

15 Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.

But at my halting they rejoiced, and gathered together: the slanderers gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they did tear [me], and ceased not:

16 Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.

With profane jesters for bread, they have gnashed their teeth against me.

17 Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.

Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, my only one from the young lions.

18 Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.

I will give thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise thee among much people.

19 Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.

Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; let them not wink with the eye that hate me without cause.

20 Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.

For they speak not peace; and they devise deceitful words against the quiet in the land.

21 Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!

And they opened their mouth wide against me; they said, Aha! aha! our eye hath seen [it].

22 Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.

Thou hast seen [it], Jehovah: keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

23 Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.

Stir up thyself, and awake for my right, for my cause, my God and Lord!

24 Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.

Judge me, Jehovah my God, according to thy righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me.

25 Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.

Let them not say in their heart, Aha! so would we have it. Let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26 Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.

Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine adversity; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27 Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.

Let them exult and rejoice that delight in my righteousness; and let them say continually, Jehovah be magnified, who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant.

28 Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.

And my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness, [and] of thy praise, all the day.