Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
God truly is good to [us] Israeli people, to those who totally want to do all that God desires.
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
As for me, I almost [stopped trusting in God]; [it was as though] my feet slipped and I stumbled [MET],
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
because I envied those who proudly [said that they did not need God], and I saw that they prospered [even though] they were wicked.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
Those people do not have any pains; they are [always] strong and healthy.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They do not have the troubles/difficulties that other people have; they do not have problems like others do.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
So they are proud, and their being proud is [like] a necklace [that they show to others], and they show off their violent actions like people show off their beautiful robes.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
From their inner beings they (pour out/do) evil deeds, and they are always thinking about more evil things to do.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They scoff at [other people], and they talk about doing evil things to them; they are proud while they plan to oppress others.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They say evil things about [God who is in] heaven [MTY], and they talk boastfully/proudly about things [that they have done] here on the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
The result is that people listen to what they say and praise them and do not think that they have done anything that is wrong.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
Wicked people say [to themselves], “God will certainly not [RHQ] know [what we have done]; [people say that] he is greater than any other god, but he does not know [everything].”
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
That is what wicked people are like; they never worry about anything, and they are always becoming richer.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
[So, God], I think it is useless that I have [RHQ] always done what you want me to, and that I have not sinned.
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
All day long I have problems, and every morning you punish me.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I had said the things that the wicked people say, I would have been sinning against your people.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
And when I tried to think about all this, it was very difficult for me [to understand it].
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
But when I went to your temple, [you spoke to me], and I understood what will happen to the wicked people [after they die].
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
[Now I know that] you will surely put them in slippery places, and they will fall down and die.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
They will be destroyed instantly; they will die in terrible ways.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
They [will disappear as quickly] as a dream disappears when a person awakes in the morning; Lord, when you arise, you will (cause them to disappear/forget all about them).
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
When I felt sad/bitter, and brokenhearted,
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
I was stupid and ignorant, and I behaved like an animal toward you.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
But I am always close to you, and you hold my hand.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
You guide me by teaching me, and (at the end [of my life]/when I die), you will receive me and honor me.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
You are in heaven and I belong to you [RHQ], and there is nothing on this earth that I desire more than that.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
My body and my mind may become very weak, but God, you continue to enable me to be strong; I belong to you forever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
Those who remain far from you will be destroyed; you will get rid of those who abandon you.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But [as for] me, it is wonderful to be near to God and to be protected by Yahweh, and to proclaim to others all that he has done [for me].
