Amahubo 50
1 USomandla, uNkulunkulu, iNkosi, ukhulumile, ubiza umhlaba kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekutshoneni kwalo.
A psalm of Asaph. The Lord, the Almighty God, speaks! He summons everyone on earth, from the east to the west.
2 EseZiyoni, ukuphelela kobuhle, uNkulunkulu ukhanyile.
God shines out of Mount Zion, perfect in beauty.
3 UNkulunkulu wethu uzakuza, kayikuthula; umlilo phambi kwakhe uzaqothula, enhlangothini zonke zakhe kuzakuba lesiphepho esikhulu.
Our God arrives, and does not stay quiet. Fire flames before him, burning everything up; a violent storm rages around him.
4 Uzabiza amazulu ephezulu, lomhlaba, ukwahlulela abantu bakhe.
He summons the heavens above and the earth to witness the judgment of his people.
5 Buthelani kimi abangcwele bami, abenza isivumelwano lami ngomhlatshelo.
“Bring me those who trust in me—those who confirmed the agreement with me through sacrifice.”
6 Lamazulu azatshumayela ukulunga kwakhe, ngoba uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ungumahluleli. (Sela)
The heavens declare his decisions are right, for God himself is the judge. (Selah)
7 Zwanini bantu bami, ngizakhuluma; Israyeli, ngizafakaza ngimelene lawe. NginguNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho.
“My people, listen to what I have to say. I am bringing charges against you, Israel. I am God, your God!
8 Kangikusoli ngenxa yemihlatshelo yakho; leminikelo yakho yokutshiswa ihlala iphambi kwami.
I'm not complaining about your sacrifices or burnt offerings that you offer all the time.
9 Kangiyikuthatha ijongosi elivela emzini wakho, lezimpongo ezivela ezibayeni zakho.
I do not require bulls from your barns or goats from your pens,
10 Ngoba ngeyami yonke inyamazana yehlathi, izinkomo ezisentabeni eziyizinkulungwane.
for I own all the animals of the forest, and the cattle on a thousand hills belong to me.
11 Ngiyazazi izinyoni zonke zezintaba, lezilo zommango zikimi.
I know every bird of the mountains; all living things in the fields are mine.
12 Uba bengilambile, bengingayikukutshela, ngoba umhlaba ngowami lokugcwala kwawo.
If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you, for the earth and everything in it are mine.
13 Ngizayidla yini inyama yezinkunzi, kumbe nginathe igazi lezimpongo?
Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?
14 Nikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokubonga, ukhokhe izithembiso zakho koPhezukonke.
Give an offering of thanks to God; keep the promises you made to the Most High,
15 Ungibize osukwini lokuhlupheka, ngizakukhulula, ubusungidumisa.
and call on me when you're in trouble. I will rescue you, and you will thank me.”
16 Kodwa komubi uNkulunkulu uthi: Ulani lokuthi utshumayele izimiso zami, kumbe uthathe isivumelwano sami emlonyeni wakho?
But to the wicked God says, “What's the point of mechanically repeating my laws or making empty promises about obeying the agreement?
17 Ngoba wena uzonda ukuqondiswa, ulahla amazwi ami emva kwakho.
You hate my discipline, and you toss my words away, leaving them behind you.
18 Uba ubona isela, uthokozelana lalo, lesabelo sakho sisezifebeni.
When you see people stealing, you admire them; you associate with adulterers.
19 Umlomo wakho uyawunikela ebubini, lolimi lwakho luqambe inkohliso.
With your mouth you say evil things; you use your tongue to spread lies.
20 Uhlala ukhulume umelene lomfowenu, uhlebe indodana kanyoko.
You sit there and speak against your brother, slandering your own mother's son.
21 Lezizinto uzenzile, ngathula; wacabanga ukuthi nginjengawe kanye. Ngizakukhuza, ngikuhlele phambi kwamehlo akho.
I kept quiet when you did these things. You thought I was someone just like you. But now I confront you, and bring my charges against you.
22 Kuqapheleni-ke lokhu, lina elikhohlwa uNkulunkulu, hlezi ngilidabule, kungabi khona okukhululayo.
Think again, you people who dismiss God, or I will tear you apart, and no-one will be able to save you.
23 Onikela umnikelo wokubonga uyangidumisa; lolungisa indlela yakhe ngizambonisa usindiso lukaNkulunkulu.
But those who give an offering of thanks honor me, and to those who follow the right I will show them the salvation of God.”
