Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
A psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to them that are of a right heart!
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
But my feet were almost moved; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
Because I had a zeal on occasion of the wicked, seeing the prosperity of sinners.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For there is no regard to their death, nor is there strength in their stripes.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They are not in the labour of men: neither shall they be scourged like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
Therefore pride hath held them fast: they are covered with their iniquity and their wickedness.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
Their iniquity hath come forth, as it were from fatness: they have passed into the affection of the heart.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They have thought and spoken wickedness: they have spoken iniquity on high.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They have set their mouth against heaven: and their tongue hath passed through the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Therefore will my people return here and full days shall be found in them.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
And they said: How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
Behold these are sinners; and yet abounding in the world they have obtained riches.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
And I said: Then have I in vain justified my heart, and washed my hands among the innocent.
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
And I have been scourged all the day; and my chastisement hath been in the mornings.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I said: I will speak thus; behold I should condemn the generation of thy children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
I studied that I might know this thing, it is a labour in my sight:
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
Until I go into the sanctuary of God, and understand concerning their last ends.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
But indeed for deceits thou hast put it to them: when they were lifted up thou hast cast them down.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
How are they brought to desolation? they have suddenly ceased to be: they have perished by reason of their iniquity.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
As the dream of them that awake, O Lord; so in thy city thou shalt bring their image to nothing.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
For my heart hath been inflamed, and my reins have been changed:
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
And I am brought to nothing, and I knew not.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
I am become as a beast before thee: and I am always with thee.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
Thou hast held me by my right hand; and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away: thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God: That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
