Amahubo 74
1 Nkulunkulu, usilahleleni kokuphela? Ulaka lwakho luvuthelani ngakuzo izimvu zedlelo lakho?
[A contemplation by Asaph.] God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Khumbula ibandla lakho owalithenga endulo, intonga yelifa lakho owayihlengayo, le intaba yeZiyoni ohlala kuyo.
Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
3 Phakamisa inyawo zakho ezincithakalweni eziqhubekayo, konke okubi izitha ezikwenzileyo endaweni engcwele.
Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
4 Izitha zakho zibhongile phakathi kwezindawo zakho zokubuthanela, zamisa impawu zazo zibe zimpawu.
Your adversaries have roared in the midst of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.
5 Umuntu waziwa njengophakamisa amahloka eguswini lezihlahla.
They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.
6 Kodwa khathesi zitshaye okubaziweyo kwayo ndawonye ngamahloka lezando.
Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
7 Zinikele indlu yakho engcwele emlilweni, zangcolisa indawo yokuhlala yebizo lakho ngokuyiwisela emhlabathini.
They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
8 Zathi enhliziyweni yazo: Kasibachithe ndawonye. Zatshisa zonke indawo zokubuthanela zikaNkulunkulu elizweni.
They said in their heart, "We will crush them completely." They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
9 Impawu zethu kasiziboni; kakusekho mprofethi; kakho kithi owaziyo ukuthi koze kube nini.
We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
10 Koze kube nini, Nkulunkulu, umcindezeli edelela? Isitha sizahlambaza ibizo lakho kokuphela yini?
How long, God, shall the enemy mock? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
11 Usifinyezeleni isandla sakho, yebo isandla sakho sokunene? Sikhuphe phakathi kwesifuba sakho.
Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them.
12 Kanti uNkulunkulu uyiNkosi yami kusukela endulo, eyenza insindiso phakathi komhlaba.
Yet God is my King from long ago, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Nguwe owehlukanisa ulwandle ngamandla akho; wafohloza amakhanda emigobho emanzini.
You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14 Nguwe owachoboza amakhanda kaLeviyathani, wamnikela waba yikudla kwabantu enkangala.
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
15 Nguwe owaqhekeza umthombo lesifula, nguwe owomisa imifula egeleza njalo.
You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
16 Usuku ngolwakho, lobusuku ngobakho; nguwe owamisa ukukhanya lelanga.
The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 Nguwe owamisa yonke imikhawulo yomhlaba; nguwe owenza ihlobo lobusika.
You have set all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
18 Khumbula lokhu, isitha siyangisile, Nkosi, labantu abayizithutha bahlambazile ibizo lakho.
Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, LORD. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
19 Ungawunikeli umphefumulo wejuba lakho ezinyamazaneni zendle; ungakhohlwa ixuku lezihlupheki zakho phakade.
Do not deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Nanzelela isivumelwano; ngoba indawo ezimnyama zomhlaba zigcwele indawo zokuhlala zesihluku.
Honor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
21 Kangabuyeli eyangekile ocindezelweyo; ohluphekayo loswelayo kabalidumise ibizo lakho.
Do not let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Vuka, Nkulunkulu! Ulumele udaba lwakho, ukhumbule ihlazo lakho ngoyisiwula usuku lonke.
Arise, God. Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
23 Ungakhohlwa ilizwi lezitha zakho, ukuxokozela kwabakuvukelayo kwenyuka njalonjalo.
Do not forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.
