Amahubo 51
1 Ngihawukela, Nkulunkulu, ngokothandolomusa wakho; ngobunengi besihawu sakho yesula iziphambeko zami.
For the music director. A psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, please be gracious to me, because of your trustworthy love, because of your infinite kindness please wipe away my sins.
2 Ungigezisise ebubini bami, ungihlambulule esonweni sami.
Wash away all my guilt; cleanse me from my sin.
3 Ngoba mina ngiyazivuma iziphambeko zami, lesono sami sihlezi siphambi kwami.
I admit my rebellion; my sin always stares me in my face.
4 Ngonile kuwe, kuwe wedwa, ngenze okubi emehlweni akho, ukuze kuthiwe ulungile ekukhulumeni kwakho, uhlanzeke ekwahluleleni kwakho.
I have sinned against you, you alone. I have done evil in your sight. So you are right in what you say, and fair when you judge.
5 Khangela, ngazalelwa ebubini, lomama wangomulela esonweni.
It's true that I was born guilty—sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Khangela, uthanda iqiniso endaweni ezingaphakathi; lekusithekeni ungenza ngazi inhlakanipho.
But you want truth on the inside; you teach me wisdom deep within.
7 Ngihlanze ngehisope, ngizahlambuluka; ngigezisa, ngizakuba mhlophe kuleliqhwa elikhithikileyo.
Purify me with hyssop so I can be clean; wash me so I can be whiter than snow.
8 Ngizwise intokozo lenjabulo, ukuze athabe amathamboowachobozileyo.
Please let me hear joy and happiness again; let the bones you have crushed be glad once more.
9 Fihla ubuso bakho ezonweni zami, wesule zonke iziphambeko zami.
Turn your face away from looking at my sins; please wipe away my guilt.
10 Nkulunkulu, dala kimi inhliziyo ehlambulukileyo, njalo uvuselele umoya oqinileyo phakathi kwami.
Create a pure mind in me, God, and make me trustworthy again.
11 Ungangilahli ebusweni bakho, njalo ungasusi umoya wakho ongcwele kimi.
Don't expel me from your presence; don't take away your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Buyisela kimi intokozo yosindiso lwakho, ungisekele ngomoya ovumayo.
Give me back the happiness of your salvation; help me to have a willing nature.
13 Khona ngizafundisa abaphambukayo indlela zakho, lezoni zizaphendukela kuwe.
Then I will teach your ways to rebellious people, and these sinners will come back to you.
14 Ngikhulula ecaleni legazi, Nkulunkulu, Nkulunkulu wosindiso lwami, ulimi lwami luzahlabelela kakhulu ngokulunga kwakho.
God, please forgive me for the blood I have shed, God of my salvation, and I will sing for joy of your goodness.
15 Nkosi, vula indebe zami, lomlomo wami uzamemezela indumiso yakho.
Open my lips so I can speak your praise!
16 Ngoba kawuthandi umhlatshelo, ngoba bengizawunika; kawuthokozi ngomnikelo wokutshiswa.
For sacrifices don't make you happy, or I would bring one; burnt offerings aren't what pleases you.
17 Imihlatshelo kaNkulunkulu ingumoya odabukileyo; inhliziyo edabukileyo leyephukileyo, Nkulunkulu, kawuyikuyidelela.
The “sacrifices” that God wants are on the inside—the brokenness of repentance. God won't reject a broken and sorrowful heart.
18 Yenzele iZiyoni okuhle ngokuthanda kwakho; uyakhe imiduli yeJerusalema.
Be kind to Zion, help the city; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Khona uzajabulela iminikelo yokulunga, umnikelo wokutshiswa, lomnikelo wonke; khona bezanikela amajongosi phezu kwelathi lakho.
Then you will be pleased with sacrifices given in the right spirit, for all kinds of burnt offerings, and bulls sacrificed on your altar once more.
