Amahubo 35

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

A Psalm of David. Strive, O LORD, 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 rise up to my help.

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

Draw out also the spear, and the battle-axe, against them that pursue me; 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 ashamed and brought to confusion that seek after my soul; let them be turned back and be abashed that devise my hurt.

5 Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.

Let them be as chaff before the wind, the angel of the LORD thrusting them.

6 Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.

Let their way be dark and slippery, the angel of the LORD pursuing them.

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

For without cause have they hid for me the pit, even their net, without cause have they digged for my soul.

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

Let destruction come upon him unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself; with destruction let him fall therein.

9 Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD; 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: 'LORD, who is like unto Thee, who deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?'

11 Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.

Unrighteous witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I know not.

12 Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.

They repay me evil for good; bereavement is come to 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 afflicted my soul with fasting; and my prayer, may it return into mine own bosom.

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

I went about as though it had been my friend or my brother; I bowed down mournful, as one that mourneth for his mother.

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

But when I halt they rejoice, and gather themselves together; the abjects gather themselves together against me, and those whom I know not; they tear me, and cease not;

16 Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.

With the profanest mockeries of backbiting they gnash at me with their teeth.

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, mine only one from the lions.

18 Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.

I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation; I will praise Thee among a numerous people.

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

Let not them that are wrongfully mine enemies rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause.

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

For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

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

Yea, they open their mouth wide against me; they say: 'Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.'

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

Thou hast seen, O LORD; keep not silence; O Lord, be not far from me.

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

Rouse Thee, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

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

Judge me, O LORD 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, we have our desire'; 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 abashed together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves against me.

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

Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that delight in my righteousness; yea, let them say continually: 'Magnified be the LORD, who delighteth in the peace of His servant.'

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

And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness, and of Thy praise all the day.