Amahubo 49

1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,

For the end, a Psalm for the sons of Core. Hear these words, all you nations, listen, all you that dwell upon the earth:

2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.

both the sons of mean men, and sons of [great] men; the rich and poor [man] together.

3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall bring [forth] understanding.

4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.

I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my riddle on the harp.

5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.

Therefore should I fear in the evil day? the iniquity of my heel shall compass me.

6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,

They that trust in their strength, and boast themselves in the multitude of their wealth—

7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,

A brother does not redeem, shall a man redeem? he shall not give to God a ransom for himself,

8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)

or the price of the redemption of his soul, though he labour for ever,

9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.

and live to the end, [so] that he should not see corruption.

10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.

When he shall see wise men dying, the fool and the senseless one shall perish together; and they shall leave their wealth to strangers.

11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.

And their sepulchres are their houses for ever, [even] their tabernacles to all generations: they have called their lands after their own names.

12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.

And man being in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like to them.

13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)

This their way is an offence to them: yet afterwards men will commend their sayings. (Pause)

14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)

They have laid [them] as sheep in Hades; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their help shall fail in Hades from their glory. (Sheol h7585)

15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)

But God shall deliver my soul from the power of Hades, when he shall receive me. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)

16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;

Fear not when a man is enriched, and when the glory of his house is increased.

17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.

For he shall take nothing when he dies; neither shall his glory descend with him.

18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,

For his soul shall be blessed in his life: he shall give thanks to you when you do well to him.

19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.

[Yet] he shall go in to the generation of his fathers; he shall never see light.

20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

Man that is in honour, understands not: he is compared to the senseless cattle, and is like them.