Amahubo 49

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

For the Leader; a Psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye peoples; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world,

2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.

Both low and high, rich and poor together.

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

My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

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

I will incline mine ear to a parable; I will open my dark saying upon the harp.

5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.

Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of my supplanters compasseth me about,

6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,

Of them that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches?

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

No man can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him —

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

For too costly is the redemption of their soul, and must be let alone for ever —

9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.

That he should still live alway, that he should not see the pit.

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

For he seeth that wise men die, the fool and the brutish together perish, and leave their wealth to others.

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

Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling-places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.

But man abideth not in honour; he is like the beasts that perish.

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

This is the way of them that are foolish, and of those who after them approve their sayings. (Selah)

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

Like sheep they are appointed for the nether-world; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their form shall be for the nether-world to wear away, that there be no habitation for it. (Sheol h7585)

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

But God will redeem my soul from the power of the nether-world; for He shall receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

Be not thou afraid when one waxeth rich, when the wealth of his house is increased;

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

For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; his wealth shall not descend after him.

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

Though while he lived he blessed his soul: 'Men will praise thee, when thou shalt do well to thyself';

19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.

It shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see the light.

20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

Man that is in honour understandeth not; he is like the beasts that perish.