Amahubo 39

1 Ngathi: Ngizaqaphelisa izindlela zami, ukuze ngingoni ngolimi lwami; ngizagcina umlomo wami ngetomu, omubi esesekhona phambi kwami.

For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I decided, “I will watch what I say so that I do not sin with my tongue. I will muzzle my mouth while in the presence of an evil man.”

2 Ngaba yisimungulu ngokuthula; ngathula kokuhle; lokuhlupheka kwami kwavuswa.

I kept silent; I kept back my words even from saying anything good, and my pain grew worse.

3 Inhliziyo yami yatshisa phakathi kwami, ngisacabanga umlilo wavutha; ngakhuluma ngolimi lwami,

My heart became hot; when I thought about these things, it burned like a fire. Then finally I spoke.

4 ngathi: Nkosi, ngazisa isiphetho sami lesilinganiso sensuku zami ukuthi siyini, ukuze ngazi ukuthi ngiyedlula kangakanani.

“Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life and the extent of my days. Show me how transient I am.

5 Khangela, wenze insuku zami zaba yibubanzi besandla, lobudala bami bunjengento engesilutho phambi kwakho; isibili ngulowo lalowomuntu ekumeni kwakhe uyize nje. (Sela)

See, you have made my days only the width of my hand, and my lifetime is like nothing before you. Surely every man is a single breath. (Selah)

6 Isibili, umuntu uhambahamba esesithunzini; isibili, bayakhathazeka ngeze; uyabuthelela, kodwa kazi ukuthi ngubani ozakubutha.

Surely every man walks about like a shadow. Surely everyone hurries about to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

7 Pho-ke, ngilindeleni, Nkosi? Ithemba lami likuwe.

Now, Lord, for what am I waiting? You are my only hope.

8 Ngikhulula kuzo zonke iziphambeko zami. Ungangenzi ihlazo lesithutha.

Rescue me from my sins; do not make me the reproach of fools.

9 Ngaba yisimungulu, kangivulanga umlomo wami, ngoba wakwenza wena.

I am silent and cannot open my mouth, because it is you who has done it.

10 Susa uswazi lwakho kimi, ngoba ngiyaqedwa yisidutshulo sesandla sakho.

Stop wounding me; I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.

11 Lapho ulaya umuntu ngokukhuza ngenxa yesiphambeko, wenza ubuhle bakhe buncibilike njengenundu; isibili ngulowo lalowomuntu uyize. (Sela)

When you discipline people for sin, you consume the things they desire like a moth; surely all people are nothing but vapor. (Selah)

12 Zwana umkhuleko wami, Nkosi, ubeke indlebe ekukhaleni kwami; ungathuleli izinyembezi zami, ngoba ngingowemzini kuwe, ohlala njengowezizwe, njengabo bonke obaba.

Hear my prayer, Yahweh, and listen to me; listen to my weeping! Do not be deaf to me, for I am like a foreigner with you, a refugee like all my ancestors were.

13 Ungangihwaqeli ukuze ngihlumelele, ngingakasuki, ngingabe ngisaba khona.

Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again before I die.”