Amahubo 35
1 Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
“Of David.” Contend, O Lord, with those that contend with me: fight against those that fight against me.
2 Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and rise up for my help.
3 Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.
And draw out the spear, and step in 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 those be put to shame and be confounded that seek after my life: let those be turned backward and be made to blush, that devise unhappiness for me.
5 Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
Let them be as chaff before the wind; and may the angel of the Lord cast them forth.
6 Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.
May their way be dark and slippery: and may the angel of the Lord 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 have they dug [pit-falls] against my life.
8 Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
May then destruction come upon each of them at unawares; and may his net that he hath hidden catch himself: in [utter] destruction let him fall therein.
9 Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
But my soul shall exult in the Lord: she shall be glad through his salvation.
10 Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
All my bones will 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 robbeth him?
11 Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
There rise up witnesses of violence; concerning what I know not they question me.
12 Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
They recompense me with evil in place of good, [bringing] bereavement on 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 with fasting my soul, and my prayer returned into my own bosom.
14 Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
As though he had been to me a friend or a brother did I walk about: as one that mourneth for a mother did I sorrowfully bend down my head.
15 Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
But in my downfall they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together; there gathered themselves together against me abject wretches, whom I knew not; they did tear me, and ceased not:
16 Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
With hypocritical babbling mockers, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
17 Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
O Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, from the young lions my solitary spirit.
18 Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
I will thank thee in the great assembly: among a mighty people will I praise thee.
19 Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
Let not rejoice over me those that are my enemies wrongfully: [nor] let those who hate me without cause wink with the eye.
20 Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
For they speak not peace; but against the quiet in the land they devise deceitful words.
21 Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
Yea, they opened wide against me their mouth; they said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.
22 Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
Thou hast seen it, O Lord! remain not silent: O Lord, be not far from me.
23 Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
Arouse thyself, and awake to do me justice, my God and my Lord, unto my cause.
24 Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Lord my God; 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, [this is the wish of] our soul: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.
26 Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
Let those be made ashamed and put to the blush together that rejoice at my mishap; let them be clothed with shame and confusion that magnify themselves above me.
27 Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.
Let those shout, and rejoice, that desire my righteousness: yea, let them say continually, Great is the Lord, who desireth the welfare of his servant.
28 Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness, all the day of thy praise.
