Amahubo 39
1 Ngathi: Ngizaqaphelisa izindlela zami, ukuze ngingoni ngolimi lwami; ngizagcina umlomo wami ngetomu, omubi esesekhona phambi kwami.
“To the chief musician, to Jeduthun, a psalm of David.” I said, I will guard my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will guard my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked is before me.
2 Ngaba yisimungulu ngokuthula; ngathula kokuhle; lokuhlupheka kwami kwavuswa.
I was dumb in deep silence, I was quite still, even from [speaking] good; but my pain was greatly excited;
3 Inhliziyo yami yatshisa phakathi kwami, ngisacabanga umlilo wavutha; ngakhuluma ngolimi lwami,
My heart was hot within me, in my self-communing there burnt a fire: [then] spoke I with my tongue,
4 ngathi: Nkosi, ngazisa isiphetho sami lesilinganiso sensuku zami ukuthi siyini, ukuze ngazi ukuthi ngiyedlula kangakanani.
Let me know, O Lord, my end, and the measure of my days, what it is: I wish to know when I shall cease to be.
5 Khangela, wenze insuku zami zaba yibubanzi besandla, lobudala bami bunjengento engesilutho phambi kwakho; isibili ngulowo lalowomuntu ekumeni kwakhe uyize nje. (Sela)
Behold, measured out with the span hast thou made my days; and my whole duration is nothing before thee: yea, as nothing but vanity doth every man stand here. (Selah)
6 Isibili, umuntu uhambahamba esesithunzini; isibili, bayakhathazeka ngeze; uyabuthelela, kodwa kazi ukuthi ngubani ozakubutha.
As nothing but a shadowy image doth man walk about, yea, for vanity only do all make a noise: he heapeth up his gains, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
7 Pho-ke, ngilindeleni, Nkosi? Ithemba lami likuwe.
And now, what shall I wait for, O Lord? my hope is in thee.
8 Ngikhulula kuzo zonke iziphambeko zami. Ungangenzi ihlazo lesithutha.
From all my transgressions deliver thou me: render me not the object of reproach of the worthless.
9 Ngaba yisimungulu, kangivulanga umlomo wami, ngoba wakwenza wena.
I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou hadst done it.
10 Susa uswazi lwakho kimi, ngoba ngiyaqedwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho.
Remove thou thy plague away from me: from the blows of thy hand am I consumed.
11 Lapho ulaya umuntu ngokukhuza ngenxa yesiphambeko, wenza ubuhle bakhe buncibilike njengenundu; isibili ngulowo lalowomuntu uyize. (Sela)
When thou with corrections chastisest man for iniquity, thou causest his excellence to melt away as [if eaten by] the moth: yea, nothing but vanity is every man. (Selah)
12 Zwana umkhuleko wami, Nkosi, ubeke indlebe ekukhaleni kwami; ungathuleli izinyembezi zami, ngoba ngingowemzini kuwe, ohlala njengowezizwe, njengabo bonke obaba.
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry; be not silent at my tears; for a stranger am I with thee, a sojourner, like all my fathers.
13 Ungangihwaqeli ukuze ngihlumelele, ngingakasuki, ngingabe ngisaba khona.
Leave off from me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and am no more.
