Amahubo 49
1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,
“For the leader of the music. A psalm of the sons of Korah.” Hear this, all ye nations; Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world;
2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.
Both high and low, rich and poor alike!
3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.
My mouth shall speak wisdom, And the meditation of my mind shall be understanding.
4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.
I will incline mine ear to a poem; I will utter my song upon the harp.
5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.
Why should I fear in the days of adversity, When the iniquity of my adversaries encompasseth me;
6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,
They who trust in their riches, And glory in the greatness of their wealth?
7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,
No one can redeem his brother from death, Nor give a ransom for him to God,
8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)
That he should live to eternity, And not see the pit.
9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.
Too costly is the redemption of his life, And he giveth it up for ever.
10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.
For he seeth that wise men die, As well as the foolish and the ignorant; They perish alike, And leave their wealth to others.
11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.
They imagine that their houses will endure for ever, And their dwelling-places from generation to generation: Men celebrate their names on the earth.
12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.
Yet man, who is in honor, abideth not; He is like the beasts that perish.
13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)
Such is the way which is their confidence! And they who come after them approve their maxims. (Pause)
14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they are cast into the underworld; Death shall feed upon them; And the upright shall soon trample upon them. Their form shall be consumed in the underworld, And they shall no more have a dwelling-place. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the underworld; Yea, he will take me under his care. (Pause) (Sheol h7585)
16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;
Be not thou afraid, when one becometh rich; When the glory of his house is increased!
17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.
For, when he dieth, he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him.
18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,
Though in his life he thought himself happy, —Though men praised thee, while thou wast in prosperity, —
19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.
Yet shalt thou go to the dwelling-place of thy fathers, Who never more shall see the light!
20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.
The man who is in honor, but without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
