Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who 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 nearly slipped.
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
They say, “How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?”
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence,
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I had said, “I will speak thus”, behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me—
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart.
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you.
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
