Amahubo 42

1 Njengalokhu indluzele inxwanele izifula zamanzi, ngokunjalo umphefumulo wami unxwanela wena, Nkulunkulu.

Deer pant, desiring to drink water from a stream [when there is a drought] (OR, [when they are being pursued by hunters].) In the same way [SIM], God, I need you very much.

2 Umphefumulo wami womela uNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu ophilayo. Ngizafika nini ngibonakale phambi kobuso bukaNkulunkulu?

I desire to have fellowship with [MET] you, the all-powerful God. [I wonder], “When will I be able to go [back to the temple in Israel] and worship in your presence again?”

3 Inyembezi zami beziyikudla kwami emini lebusuku, lapho besithi kimi usuku lonke: Ungaphi uNkulunkulu wakho?

Every day and every night I cry; [it is as though] the only thing I have to drink is my tears; and while I do that, my enemies are continually asking me, “Why does your god not [help you]?”

4 Ngikhumbula lezizinto ngathulula umphefumulo wami phakathi kwami, ngoba ngadlula lexuku, ngaya labo endlini kaNkulunkulu ngelizwi lentokozo lendumiso, ixuku eligubha umkhosi.

I am very distressed [IDM] as I remember when I went with the crowd of people to the temple [in Jerusalem], leading them as we walked along; we were all shouting joyfully and singing to thank God [for what he had done]; we were a large group who were celebrating.

5 Udanelani mphefumulo wami? Ukhathazekelani phakathi kwami? Themba kuNkulunkulu, ngoba ngisezamdumisa, ngosizo lobuso bakhe.

So [I say to] myself, “(Why am I sad and discouraged?/I should not be sad and discouraged!) [RHQ] I confidently expect God [to help me], and again I will praise him, my God, the one who saves me.”

6 Nkulunkulu wami, umphefumulo wami udanile phakathi kwami; ngakho ngizakukhumbula ngiselizweni leJordani lelamaHermoni, ngisentabeni iMizari.

[But now, Yahweh], I am very discouraged [IDM], so I think about you, even from where the Jordan [River] gushes out from the bottom of Hermon [Mountain] and from Mizar Mountain.

7 Inziki ibiza inziki ekuhlokomeni kwezimpophoma zakho; wonke amagagasi akho lamaza akho adlule phezu kwami.

But here, the great sorrow that I feel is like water that you send down [MET]; [it is like] a waterfall that tumbles down and floods over me.

8 Emini iNkosi izalaya uthandolomusa wayo, lebusuku ingoma yayo izakuba lami; umkhuleko wami kuNkulunkulu wempilo yami.

Yahweh shows me each day that he faithfully loves me, and each night I sing to him and pray to him, the God who causes me to live.

9 Ngizakuthi kuNkulunkulu, idwala lami: Ungikhohlweleni? Ngihambelani ngikwezimnyama ngenxa yocindezelo lwesitha?

I say to God, [who is like] an [overhanging] rock [under which I can hide] [MET], “It seems that you have forgotten me. I (mourn/cry) constantly because my enemies act cruelly toward me” [RHQ].

10 Njengokuchoboza emathanjeni ami, izitha zami ziyangiklolodela, lapho zisithi kimi usuku lonke: Ungaphi uNkulunkulu wakho?

They make fun of me constantly; they continually ask, “Why does your god not help you?” [RHQ] And when they insult me [like that], [it is like] wounds that I feel even in my bones.

11 Udaneleni mphefumulo wami? Njalo ukhathazekelani phakathi kwami? Themba kuNkulunkulu, ngoba ngisezamdumisa, usindiso lobuso bami, loNkulunkulu wami.

But [I think, ] “(Why am I sad and discouraged?/I should not be sad and discouraged!) [RHQ] I will confidently expect God [to help me], and I will praise him again, my God, the one who saves me.”