Amahubo 49
1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,
For the music director. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, everyone! Pay attention, people of the world—
2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.
whether you are highborn or lowborn, rich or poor!
3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.
For what I say is wise, and my thinking is perceptive.
4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.
I pay attention to wise sayings; I answer hard questions to a tune on the harp.
5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.
Why should I be afraid when trouble comes, when evil enemies surround me?
6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,
They trust in their wealth; they boast about their riches,
7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,
but no one can pay to rescue another from death; no one can pay a ransom to God.
8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)
Redemption is beyond price; no one could ever pay enough
9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.
that they could live forever and not face the grave.
10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.
Everyone knows that the wise die, those who are foolish and stupid too, leaving what they have to the next generation.
11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.
They think their homes will last forever, that where they live will continue for all generations.
12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.
But human beings, for all their fame, don't understand. They die, just like the animals.
13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)
This is the way of foolish people, yet those who come after them think they were clever! (Selah)
14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are destined for the grave. Death will be their shepherd. Those who live right will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will decay in the grave, far from their homes. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)
But surely God will rescue me from the power of the grave; he will grab me back. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;
Don't be disturbed when people become rich, filling their houses with possessions.
17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.
For they won't take anything with them when they die; their wealth will not go down into the grave with them.
18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,
They congratulate themselves for all they possess—people always praise you when you do well—
19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.
but their destiny is the same as their forefathers: they will never again see the light of day.
20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.
Human beings, for all their fame, don't understand, and they die, just like the animals.
