Amahubo 44
1 Nkulunkulu, sizwile ngendlebe zethu, obaba basitshelile, umsebenzi owawenza ensukwini zabo, ensukwini zendulo.
To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. An instruction. O God, with our ears have we heard, our fathers have told us, the work thou wroughtest in their days, in the days of old:
2 Wena ngesandla sakho wazixotsha izizwe elifeni, wabahlanyela bona; wazihlupha izizwe, kodwa wabasabalalisa bona.
Thou, by thy hand, didst dispossess the nations, but them thou didst plant; thou didst afflict the peoples, but them didst thou cause to spread out.
3 Ngoba kabadlanga ilifa lelizwe ngenkemba yabo, lengalo yabo kayibasindisanga, kodwa isandla sakho sokunene, lengalo yakho, lokukhanya kobuso bakho, ngoba wawubathanda.
For not by their own sword did they take possession of the land, neither did their own arm save them; but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst delight in them.
4 Wena uyiNkosi yami, Nkulunkulu; laya ukukhululwa kukaJakobe.
Thou thyself art my king, O God: command deliverance for Jacob.
5 Ngawe sizadudula izitha zethu; ngebizo lakho sizabanyathelela phansi abasivukelayo.
Through thee will we push down our adversaries; through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
6 Ngoba kangithembeli kulo idandili lami, lenkemba yami kayiyikungisindisa.
For I will not put confidence in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
7 Kodwa usisindisile ezitheni zethu, wayangisa abasizondayo.
For thou hast saved us from our adversaries, and hast put them to shame that hate us.
8 KuNkulunkulu siyazincoma usuku lonke; lebizo lakho sizalidumisa kuze kube nininini. (Sela)
In God will we boast all the day, and we will praise thy name for ever. (Selah)
9 Kodwa ulahlile wasiyangisa, njalo kawuphumi lamabutho ethu.
But thou hast cast off, and put us to confusion, and dost not go forth with our armies;
10 Usenze ukuthi sibuyele emuva sisuka esitheni; labasizondayo baziphangela.
Thou hast made us to turn back from the adversary, and they that hate us spoil for themselves;
11 Usinikele njengezimvu zokudliwa, wasichithachitha phakathi kwezizwe.
Thou hast given us over like sheep [appointed] for meat, and hast scattered us among the nations;
12 Uthengisile abantu bakho ngokungelanotho, awuzuzanga lutho ngentengo yabo.
Thou hast sold thy people for nought, and hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price;
13 Usenze saba lihlazo kwabakhelene lathi, inhlekisa lendumazo kwabasiphahlileyo.
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a mockery and a derision for them that are round about us;
14 Usenze saba yisiga phakathi kwezizwe, ukunikinwa kwekhanda phakathi kwabantu.
Thou makest us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
15 Usuku lonke ukudunyazwa kwami kuphambi kwami, lehlazo lobuso bami lingigubuzele,
All the day my confusion is before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,
16 ngenxa yelizwi lomgconi lomhlambazi, ngenxa yesitha lomphindiseli.
Because of the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and the avenger.
17 Konke lokhu kusehlele, kube kanti kasikukhohlwanga, kasenzanga ngenkohliso esivumelwaneni sakho.
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely against thy covenant:
18 Inhliziyo yethu kayibuyelanga emuva, lezinyathelo zethu kaziphambukanga emkhondweni wakho,
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy path;
19 lanxa usichobozile endaweni yamaganyana, usembese ngethunzi lokufa.
Though thou hast crushed us in the place of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 Uba besilikhohliwe ibizo likaNkulunkulu wethu, loba selulela izandla zethu kunkulunkulu wezizweni,
If we had forgotten the name of our God, and stretched out our hands to a strange god,
21 uNkulunkulu ubengayikukuhlola lokhu yini? Ngoba uyayazi imfihlo yenhliziyo.
Would not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
22 Yebo, ngenxa yakho siyabulawa usuku lonke, kuthiwa sinjengezimvu zokuhlatshwa.
But for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for slaughter.
23 Phaphama, ulaleleni, Nkosi? Vuka, ungalahli kokuphela.
Awake, why sleepest thou, Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.
24 Ufihlelani ubuso bakho, ukhohlwe ukuhlupheka kwethu locindezelo lwethu?
Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?
25 Ngoba umphefumulo wethu ukhothamele othulini, isisu sethu sinamathela emhlabathini.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth.
26 Sukumela usizo lwethu, usihlenge ngenxa yomusa wakho.
Rise up for our help, and redeem us for thy loving-kindness' sake.
