Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
A psalm of Asaph. Yes, God is good to the upright, the Lord to the pure in heart.
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
But my feet were almost gone, my steps had nearly slipped,
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
through envy of godless braggarts, when I saw how well they fared.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For never a pang have they, their body is sound and sleek.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They have no trouble like mortals, no share in human pain.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
So they wear their pride like a necklace, they put on the garment of wrong,
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
their eyes stand out with fatness, their heart swells with riotous fancies.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
Their speech is mocking and evil, condescending and crooked their speech.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They have set their mouth in the heavens, while their tongue struts about on the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Small wonder that people resort to them, and drink deep draughts of their lore.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
‘How does God know?’ they say, ‘And has the Most High any knowledge?’
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
See! These are the godless, with wealth and ease ever increasing.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Yes, in vain have I kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence;
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
for all the day long was I plagued not a morning but I was chastised.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
But to resolve to speak like they do would be treachery to your children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
So I sought to understand it, but a wearisome task it seemed:
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
till I entered the holy world of God and saw clearly their destiny.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
Yes, you set them on slippery places; down to destruction you hurl them.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
One moment and then what a horror of ruin! They are finished and ended in terrors.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
Like a dream, when one wakes, shall they be, whose phantoms the waker despises.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
So my bitterness of mind and the pain that stabbed my heart
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
show how dull I was and stupid just like a beast before you.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
But I am always with you, you have hold of my right hand.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
By a plan of yours you guide me and will afterward take me to glory.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom have I in the heavens but you? And on earth there is none I desire beside you.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
Though flesh and heart waste away, yet God is the rock of my heart, yet God is my portion forever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For see! Those who are far from you must perish, you destroy all who are false to you.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But I am happy when close to God; the Lord my God I have made my refuge, that I may recount all the things you have done.
