Amahubo 74
1 Nkulunkulu, usilahleleni kokuphela? Ulaka lwakho luvuthelani ngakuzo izimvu zedlelo lakho?
Maschil. Of Asaph. Of God, why have you put us away from you for ever? why is the fire of your wrath smoking against the sheep who are your care?
2 Khumbula ibandla lakho owalithenga endulo, intonga yelifa lakho owayihlengayo, le intaba yeZiyoni ohlala kuyo.
Keep in mind your band of worshippers, for whom you gave payment in the days which are past, whom you took for yourself as the people of your heritage; even this mountain of Zion, which has been your resting-place.
3 Phakamisa inyawo zakho ezincithakalweni eziqhubekayo, konke okubi izitha ezikwenzileyo endaweni engcwele.
Go up and see the unending destruction; all the evil which your haters have done in the holy place;
4 Izitha zakho zibhongile phakathi kwezindawo zakho zokubuthanela, zamisa impawu zazo zibe zimpawu.
Sending out their voices like lions among your worshippers; they have put up their signs to be seen.
5 Umuntu waziwa njengophakamisa amahloka eguswini lezihlahla.
They are cutting down, like a man whose blade is lifted up against the thick trees.
6 Kodwa khathesi zitshaye okubaziweyo kwayo ndawonye ngamahloka lezando.
Your doors are broken down with hammers and iron blades.
7 Zinikele indlu yakho engcwele emlilweni, zangcolisa indawo yokuhlala yebizo lakho ngokuyiwisela emhlabathini.
They have put on fire your holy place; they have made the place of your name unclean, pulling it down to the earth.
8 Zathi enhliziyweni yazo: Kasibachithe ndawonye. Zatshisa zonke indawo zokubuthanela zikaNkulunkulu elizweni.
They have said in their hearts, Let us put an end to them all together; they have given over to the fire all God's places of worship in the land.
9 Impawu zethu kasiziboni; kakusekho mprofethi; kakho kithi owaziyo ukuthi koze kube nini.
We do not see our signs: there is no longer any prophet, or anyone among us to say how long.
10 Koze kube nini, Nkulunkulu, umcindezeli edelela? Isitha sizahlambaza ibizo lakho kokuphela yini?
O God, how long will those who are against us say cruel things? will the hater go on looking down on your name for ever?
11 Usifinyezeleni isandla sakho, yebo isandla sakho sokunene? Sikhuphe phakathi kwesifuba sakho.
Why are you keeping back your hand, and covering your right hand in your robe?
12 Kanti uNkulunkulu uyiNkosi yami kusukela endulo, eyenza insindiso phakathi komhlaba.
For from the past God is my King, working salvation in the earth.
13 Nguwe owehlukanisa ulwandle ngamandla akho; wafohloza amakhanda emigobho emanzini.
The sea was parted in two by your strength; the heads of the great sea-beasts were broken.
14 Nguwe owachoboza amakhanda kaLeviyathani, wamnikela waba yikudla kwabantu enkangala.
The heads of the great snake were crushed by you; you gave them as food to the fishes of the sea.
15 Nguwe owaqhekeza umthombo lesifula, nguwe owomisa imifula egeleza njalo.
You made valleys for fountains and springs; you made the ever-flowing rivers dry.
16 Usuku ngolwakho, lobusuku ngobakho; nguwe owamisa ukukhanya lelanga.
The day is yours and the night is yours: you made the light and the sun.
17 Nguwe owamisa yonke imikhawulo yomhlaba; nguwe owenza ihlobo lobusika.
By you all the limits of the earth were fixed; you have made summer and winter.
18 Khumbula lokhu, isitha siyangisile, Nkosi, labantu abayizithutha bahlambazile ibizo lakho.
Keep this in mind, O Lord, that your haters have said cruel things, and that your name has been looked down on by a people of evil behaviour.
19 Ungawunikeli umphefumulo wejuba lakho ezinyamazaneni zendle; ungakhohlwa ixuku lezihlupheki zakho phakade.
O give not the soul of your dove to the hawk; let not the life of the poor go out of your memory for ever.
20 Nanzelela isivumelwano; ngoba indawo ezimnyama zomhlaba zigcwele indawo zokuhlala zesihluku.
Keep in mind your undertaking; for the dark places of the earth are full of pride and cruel acts.
21 Kangabuyeli eyangekile ocindezelweyo; ohluphekayo loswelayo kabalidumise ibizo lakho.
O let not the crushed be turned back in shame; let the low man and the poor give praise to your name.
22 Vuka, Nkulunkulu! Ulumele udaba lwakho, ukhumbule ihlazo lakho ngoyisiwula usuku lonke.
Up! O God, be the judge of your cause; keep in mind the bitter things which the man of evil behaviour says against you every day.
23 Ungakhohlwa ilizwi lezitha zakho, ukuxokozela kwabakuvukelayo kwenyuka njalonjalo.
Keep in mind the voice of your haters; the outcry of those who come against you goes up every day.
