Amahubo 49
1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,
For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world
2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.
people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.
3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.
My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.
4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.
I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.
5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.
Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,
6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,
who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?
7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,
For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,
8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)
for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.
to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.
10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.
But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.
11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.
The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.
12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.
Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.
13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)
This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)
14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)
Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)
But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;
So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.
17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.
Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.
18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,
Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,
19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.
they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.
20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.
The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.
