< Amahubo 48 >
1 Yinkulu iNkosi, ingeyokudunyiswa kakhulu emzini kaNkulunkulu wethu, intaba yobungcwele bayo.
Yahweh is great, and he deserves to be greatly praised in the city where he [lives], [which is built on Zion], his sacred hill.
2 Yinhle ngokuphakama, yintokozo emhlabeni wonke intaba yeZiyoni, enhlangothini zenyakatho, umuzi weNkosi enkulu.
That city, on a high [hill], is beautiful; it is the city where the true [God], the great king, [lives], and it causes people all over the world to rejoice [when they see it].
3 Ezigodlweni zawo uNkulunkulu uyaziwa ukuthi uyinqaba.
God is in the strong towers there, and he shows that he protects the people in that city.
4 Ngoba, khangela, amakhosi abuthana, adlula kanyekanye.
Many kings gathered [with their armies] to attack [that city],
5 Wona awubona, ngokunjalo amangala, atshaywa luvalo, aphaphatheka.
but when they saw it, they were amazed; they became terrified, and ran away.
6 Ukuthuthumela kwawabamba lapho, umhelo njengowesifazana obelethayo.
Because they were very afraid, they trembled like a woman who is about to give birth to a child;
7 Ngomoya wempumalanga uphahlaza imikhumbi yeTarshishi.
they shook [like] ships sailing from Tarshish are shaken by a strong wind.
8 Njengesikuzwileyo ngokunjalo sikubonile emzini weNkosi yamabandla, emzini kaNkulunkulu wethu; uNkulunkulu uzawumisa kuze kube nininini. (Sela)
We had heard [that this city is glorious], and now we have seen that it is. It is the city in which Yahweh, the almighty one, [lives]. It is the city which God will preserve/protect forever.
9 Sizindle ngothandolomusa wakho, Nkulunkulu, phakathi kwethempeli lakho.
God, [here] in your temple we think about how you faithfully love us.
10 Njengalo ibizo lakho, Nkulunkulu, injalo indumiso yakho kuze kube semikhawulweni yomhlaba; isandla sakho sokunene sigcwele ukulunga.
You [MTY] are famous and (are praised/people praise you) all over the earth, because you rule powerfully [MTY] and justly.
11 Kayithokoze intaba yeZiyoni, amadodakazi akoJuda athabe, ngenxa yezahlulelo zakho.
The people who live near Zion Hill should be happy! The people in [all] the cities [MTY] in Judah should rejoice because you judge people fairly.
12 Ibhodeni iZiyoni, liyizingeleze, libale imiphotshongo yayo,
[You Israeli people should] walk around Zion [Hill] and count the towers there;
13 liqaphelise umthangala wayo, lidabule lihlole izigodlo zayo, ukuze lilandisele isizukulwana esilandelayo.
notice the walls there and examine the forts in order that you can tell about them to your children.
14 Ngoba lo uNkulunkulu unguNkulunkulu wethu kuze kube nini lanini; yena uzasikhokhela kuze kube sekufeni.
[Say to them], “This is [the city that belongs to] our God, [the one who lives] forever; he will guide us all of our lives.”