Amahubo 55
1 Beka indlebe, Nkulunkulu, emkhulekweni wami, ungazifihli ekunxuseni kwami.
For the leader. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. Listen, God, to my prayer. Don’t hide yourself from my pleading.
2 Lalela kimi, ungiphendule; ngiyazulazula ekukhalazeni kwami, ngenza umsindo,
Hear me, and answer; for bitter is my lament.
3 ngenxa yelizwi lesitha, ngenxa yembandezelo yomubi; ngoba bangethwesa ububi, langentukuthelo bayangizonda.
I am wild with the noise of the foe, with the clamour of the ungodly; for they hurl disaster upon me, and attack me with fury.
4 Inhliziyo yami iyafutha phakathi kwami, lezethuso zokufa ziwele phezu kwami.
My heart shudders within me, terrors of deaths press on me,
5 Uvalo lokuthuthumela kungifikele, lokwesaba okukhulu kungigubuzele.
fear and trembling attack me, and horror wraps me round.
6 Ngasengisithi: Kungathi ngabe ngilempiko njengejuba! Bengizaphaphela khatshana, ngiphumule.
O for the wings of a dove: I would fly away and rest.
7 Khangela, bengingabalekela khatshana ngihlale enkangala. (Sela)
I would wander far away, find refuge in the wilderness. (Selah)
8 Bengizaphangisisa ukuphunyuka kwami, ngisuke emoyeni ovunguzayo, esiphephweni.
I would find myself a shelter from raging wind and tempest.
9 Sanganisa, Nkosi, yehlukanisa ulimi lwabo. Ngoba ngibone udlakela lokuxabana emzini.
Confuse them, Lord, upset their plans; for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Emini lebusuku bayawubhoda phezu kwemithangala yawo; njalo ububi lenkathazo kuphakathi kwawo.
By day and by night they make their rounds on the city walls, while within is crime and trouble,
11 Inkohlakalo iphakathi kwawo; imbandezelo lenkohliso kakusuki emgwaqweni wawo.
within is ruin. Her market-place is never free of deceit and tyranny.
12 Ngoba kakusisitha esingiyangisayo, uba kunjalo bengizakuthwala; kakusuye ongizondayo oziphakamisa phezu kwami; uba kunjalo bengizamcatshela.
The taunts were not those of a foe that I could have borne; the disdain was not that of an enemy I could have shunned them:
13 Kodwa nguwe, umuntu olingana lami, umngane wami lowejwayelene lami.
but it was you, my equal, my dear and familiar friend.
14 Esasicebisana ngokumnandi sonke, saya endlini kaNkulunkulu silixuku.
We used to be so close, together we walked in God’s house with the crowd.
15 Ukufa kakubazume, kabehlele esihogweni bephila, ngoba ububi busemizini yabo, phakathi kwabo. (Sheol h7585)
May death suddenly take them, may they go down to Sheol alive, for evil lives in their homes and their hearts. (Sheol h7585)
16 Mina ngizabiza uNkulunkulu, iNkosi ingisindise-ke.
But I will call on God, the Lord will save me.
17 Kusihlwa lekuseni lemini ngizakhalaza ngikhale kakhulu, ibisilizwa ilizwi lami.
Evening and morning and noon I lament and moan. He will hear my voice;
18 Ikhululile umphefumulo wami ngokuthula empini emelene lami, ngoba babebanengi kimi.
though I am attacked by many he will rescue me, unharmed from the war.
19 UNkulunkulu uzakuzwa, abahluphe, ngitsho yena obehlezi endulo. (Sela) Ngoba bengelazinguquko, ngakho kabamesabi uNkulunkulu.
God, who sits on his ancient throne will hear and will humble them, for they never change, they never fear God. (Selah)
20 Welule isandla sakhe kwabaxolelene laye, wasingcolisa isivumelwano sakhe.
My friend turned against me, betrayed his word.
21 Umlomo wakhe wawubutshelezi kulolaza, kanti inhliziyo yakhe yimpi; amazwi akhe abuthakathaka kulamafutha, kanti azinkemba ezihwatshiweyo.
His mouth was smoother than butter, but war filled his heart. His words were softer than oil, but sharper than swords.
22 Phosela umthwalo wakho phezu kweNkosi, yona izakusekela; kayiyikuvuma lanini ukuthi olungileyo anyikinywe.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you. He will never let the righteous be shaken.
23 Kodwa wena, Nkulunkulu, uzabehlisela emgodini wokubhujiswa; abantu begazi lenkohliso kabayikufinyelela lengxenyeni eyodwa kwezimbili yensuku zabo. Kodwa mina ngizathemba kuwe.
But you, God, will hurl them down to the deepest pit. Bloody and treacherous people will not live out half their days; but I will trust you.
