Amahubo 49
1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,
For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. Hear this, all you peoples; give ear, all you 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 will speak wisdom and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.
4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.
I will incline my ear to a parable; I will begin my parable with the harp.
5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.
Why should I fear the days of evil, when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?
6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,
Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth and boast about the amount of their riches?
7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,
It is certain that no one can redeem his brother or give God a ransom for him,
8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)
For the redemption of one's life is costly, and no one can pay what we owe.
9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.
No one can live forever so that his body should not decay.
10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.
For he will see decay. Wise men die; the fool and the brute alike 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 inner thought is that their families will continue forever, and the places where they live, to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.
But man, having wealth, does not remain alive; he is like the beasts that perish.
13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)
This, their way, is their folly; yet after them, men approve of 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 Sheol, and death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule over them in the morning, and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol, with no place for them to live. (Sheol h7585)
15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol; he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)
16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;
Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, and the glory of his house increases.
17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.
For when he dies he will take nothing away; his glory will not go down after him.
18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,
He blessed his soul while he lived— and men praise you when you live for yourself—
19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.
he will go to the generation of his fathers and they will never see the light again.
20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.
One who has wealth but no understanding is like the beasts, which perish.
