Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
BOOK III A Psalm of Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, even to such as are pure in heart.
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
For I was envious at the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For there are no pangs at their death, and their body is sound.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
In the trouble of man they are not; neither are they plagued like men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
Therefore pride is as a chain about their neck; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
Their eyes stand forth from fatness; they are gone beyond the imaginations of their heart.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They scoff, and in wickedness utter oppression; they speak as if there were none on high.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Therefore His people return hither; and waters of fullness are drained out by them.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
And they say: 'How doth God know? And is there knowledge in the Most High?'
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
Behold, such are the wicked; and they that are always at ease increase riches.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Surely in vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency;
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
For all the day have I been plagued, and my chastisement came every morning.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I had said: 'I will speak thus', behold, I had been faithless to the generation of Thy children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
And when I pondered how I might know this, it was wearisome in mine eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
Until I entered into the sanctuary of God, and considered their end.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
Surely Thou settest them in slippery places; Thou hurlest them down to utter ruin.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
How are they become a desolation in a moment! They are wholly consumed by terrors.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
As a dream when one awaketh, so, O Lord, when Thou arousest Thyself, Thou wilt despise their semblance.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
For my heart was in a ferment, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
But I was brutish, and ignorant; I was as a beast before Thee.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou holdest my right hand.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
Thou wilt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me with glory.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And beside Thee I desire none upon earth.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the rock of my heart and my portion for ever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For, lo, they that go far from Thee shall perish; Thou dost destroy all them that go astray from Thee.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works.
