Amahubo 35
1 Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
“A psalm of David.” Contend, O LORD! with them that contend 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.
Draw forth the spear and the axe against my persecutors; Say to me, “I am thy salvation.”
4 Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.
May they be confounded and put to shame, who seek my life; May they be turned back with disgrace, who devise my hurt!
5 Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
May they be like dust before the wind; May the angel of the LORD drive them!
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 they have laid for me a snare; Without cause they have digged for me a pit.
8 Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
May unforeseen destruction come upon them! May the snare which they have laid lay hold on themselves, And may they fall into destruction!
9 Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
Then shall my soul rejoice in the LORD; It shall exult in his protection.
10 Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
All my bones shall say, Who, O LORD! is like thee, Who dost rescue the afflicted from the oppressor, The afflicted and destitute from the spoiler?
11 Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
False witnesses have risen up; They charge me with that which has not entered my mind.
12 Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
They repay me evil for good; They cause bereavement to my soul.
13 Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.
And yet I, during their sickness, clothed myself with sackcloth, And afflicted myself with fasting; And my prayer was turned to my bosom.
14 Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
I behaved myself as if he had been my friend or brother; I bowed down in sadness, as one mourning for his mother.
15 Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
But at my fall they rejoice, and gather themselves together; Revilers whom I know not assemble themselves against me; They tear me without ceasing.
16 Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
With base men who mock for their bread, They gnash at me with their teeth.
17 Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
How long, O LORD! wilt thou look on? O rescue my life from the destruction they plot for me; My precious life from these young lions!
18 Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
I will thank thee in the great assembly! Before a numerous people I will praise thee.
19 Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
Let not them that are my enemies wrongfully triumph over me; Let them not wink with the eye, who hate me without cause!
20 Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
For they speak not peace; They devise deceit against them that are quiet in the land.
21 Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
Yea, they open their mouths wide against me; They say, “Aha, aha! our eyes seeth it.”
22 Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
Thou seest it, O LORD! be not silent! O LORD! be not far from me!
23 Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
Arouse thyself; awake for my defence! My God and my Lord, awake to my cause!
24 Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
Judge me according to thy righteousness, O Jehovah, my God! Let them not triumph over me!
25 Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.
Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha! we have our wish!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
May they all be confounded and brought to shame, Who rejoice at my calamity! May they be clothed with ignominy and disgrace, Who exalt 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, Who favor my righteous cause; Let them ever say, “The LORD be praised, Who delighteth in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
So shall my tongue speak of thy righteousness, And daily repeat thy praise.
