Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
“BOOK III. A psalm of Asaph.” Truly God is good to Israel, —To those who are pure in heart.
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
Yet my feet almost gave way; My steps had well nigh slipped:
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
For I was envious of the proud, When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For they have no pains even to their death; Their bodies are in full health.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They have not the woes of other men, Neither are they smitten like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
Therefore pride encircleth their neck as a collar; Violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
From their bosom issueth their iniquity; The designs of their hearts burst forth.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They mock, and speak of malicious oppression; Their words are haughty;
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They stretch forth their mouth to the heavens, And their tongue goeth through the earth;
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Therefore his people walk in their ways, And there drink from full fountains.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
And they say, “How doth God know? How can there be knowledge with the Most High?”
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
Behold these are the ungodly! Yet they are ever prosperous; they heap up riches.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain; In vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
For every day have I been smitten; Every morn have I been chastened.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I should resolve to speak like them, Surely I should be treacherous to the family of thy children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
So, when I studied to know this, It was painful to my eyes;
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
Until I went into the sanctuaries of God, And considered what was their end.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
Behold! thou hast set them on slippery places; Thou castest them down into unseen pits.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
How are they brought to desolation in a moment, And utterly consumed with sudden destruction!
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
As a dream when one awaketh, Thou, O Lord! when thou awakest, wilt make their vain show a derision.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
When my heart was vexed And I was pierced in my reins,
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
Then was I stupid and without understanding; I was like one of the brutes before thee.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
Yet am I ever under thy care; By my right hand thou dost hold me up.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
Thou wilt guide me with thy counsel, And at last receive me in glory.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in heaven but thee, And whom on earth do I love in comparison with thee?
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
Though my flesh and my heart fail, God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For, lo! they who are far from thee perish; Thou destroyest all who estrange themselves from thee.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But it is good for me to draw near to God; I put my trust in the Lord Jehovah, That I may declare all thy works.
