Amahubo 78
1 Lalelani, bantu bami, umthetho wami, libeke indlebe yenu emazwini omlomo wami.
Maschil. Of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law; let your ears be bent down to the words of my mouth.
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngomfanekiso, ngikhuphe izimfihlakalo zendulo,
Opening my mouth I will give out a story, even the dark sayings of old times;
3 esizizwileyo lesizaziyo, obaba abasitshela zona.
Which have come to our hearing and our knowledge, as they were given to us by our fathers.
4 Kasiyikuzifihlela abantwana babo, kusizukulwana esilandelayo, silandisa izindumiso zeNkosi, lamandla ayo, lezimangaliso ezenzileyo.
We will not keep them secret from our children; we will make clear to the coming generation the praises of the Lord and his strength, and the great works of wonder which he has done.
5 Ngoba wamisa ubufakazi koJakobe, wabeka umlayo koIsrayeli, awulaya obaba, ukuze bawazise abantwana babo,
He put up a witness in Jacob, and made a law in Israel; which he gave to our fathers so that they might give knowledge of them to their children;
6 ukuze isizukulwana esilandelayo sazi, abantwana abazazalwa, basukume batshele abantwana babo,
So that the generation to come might have knowledge of them, even the children of the future, who would give word of them to their children;
7 ukuze babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, bangayikhohlwa imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bagcine imithetho yakhe;
So that they might put their hope in God, and not let God's works go out of their minds, but keep his laws;
8 njalo bangabi njengaboyise, isizukulwana esilenkani lesivukelayo, isizukulwana esingaqondisanga inhliziyo yaso, lesimoya waso ungathembekanga kuNkulunkulu.
And not be like their fathers, a stiff-necked and uncontrolled generation; a generation whose heart was hard, whose spirit was not true to God.
9 Abantwana bakoEfrayimi, behlomile betshoka ngamadandili, babuyela emuva mhla wempi.
The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, were turned back on the day of the fight.
10 Kabasilondolozanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuhamba emlayweni wakhe.
They were not ruled by God's word, and they would not go in the way of his law;
11 Bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe lezimangaliso zakhe ayebatshengisa zona.
They let his works go out of their memory, and the wonders which he had made them see.
12 Phambi kwaboyise wenza isimangaliso elizweni leGibhithe, egangeni leZowani.
He did great works before the eyes of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 Waqhekeza ulwandle, wabachaphisa, wenza amanzi ema njengenqumbi.
The sea was cut in two so that they might go through; the waters were massed together on this side and on that.
14 Wabakhokhela ngeyezi emini, lebusuku bonke ngokukhanya komlilo.
In the daytime he was guiding them in the cloud, and all through the night with a light of fire.
15 Waqhekeza amadwala enkangala, wabanathisa kungathi kuvela ezinzikini ezinkulu.
The rocks of the waste land were broken by his power, and he gave them drink as out of the deep waters.
16 Waseveza izifula edwaleni, wenza amanzi ehla njengemifula.
He made streams come out of the rock; and waters came flowing down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baphinda futhi ukona kuye, ngokumvukela oPhezukonke enkangala.
And they went on sinning against him even more, turning away from the Most High in the waste land;
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yabo ngokucela ukudla kwenkanuko yabo.
Testing God in their hearts, requesting meat for their desire.
19 Basebekhuluma bemelene loNkulunkulu bathi: UNkulunkulu angalungisa itafula enkangala yini?
They said bitter words against God, saying, Is God able to make ready a table in the waste land?
20 Khangela, watshaya idwala, kwampompoza amanzi, lezifula zagabha; anganika lesinkwa yini? angalungisela abantu bakhe inyama na?
See, the rock was cut open by his power, so that the water came rushing out, and overflowing streams; is he able to give us bread? is he able to get meat for his people?
21 Ngakho iNkosi yezwa yathukuthela; umlilo wasubaselwa uJakobe, njalo lolaka lwavukela uIsrayeli,
So these things came to the Lord's ears, and he was angry; and a fire was lighted against Jacob, and wrath came up against Israel;
22 ngoba kabakholwanga kuNkulunkulu, kabathembanga esindisweni lwakhe.
Because they had no faith in God, and no hope in his salvation.
23 Lanxa walaya amayezi ngaphezulu, wavula iminyango yamazulu,
And he gave orders to the clouds on high, and the doors of heaven were open;
24 wabanisela imana ukuthi badle, wabapha amabele amazulu.
And he sent down manna like rain for their food, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Umuntu wadla isinkwa sabalamandla; wabathumela ukudla ukuze basuthe.
Man took part in the food of strong ones; he sent them meat in full measure.
26 Wenza umoya wempumalanga wavunguza emazulwini; langamandla akhe waqhuba umoya weningizimu.
He sent an east wind from heaven, driving on the south wind by his power.
27 Wasenisela phezu kwabo inyama njengothuli, lenyoni ezilempiko njengetshebetshebe lolwandle;
He sent down meat on them like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the sea,
28 wazenza zawela phakathi kwenkamba yabo, zagombolozela indawo zabo zokuhlala.
And he let it come down into their resting-place, round about their tents.
29 Ngakho badla basutha kakhulu, ngoba wabalethela isiloyiso sabo.
So they had food and were full; for he gave them their desire;
30 Kabehlukananga lenkanuko yabo; ukudla kusesemlonyeni wabo,
But they were not turned from their desires; and while the food was still in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwaselubavukela, wabulala kwabakhulupheleyo babo, watshaya abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli.
The wrath of God came on them, and put to death the fattest of them, and put an end to the young men of Israel.
32 Kulokhu konke bajinga besona, njalo kabakholwanga ngenxa yezimangaliso zakhe.
For all this they went on sinning even more, and had no faith in his great wonders.
33 Ngakho waziqeda izinsuku zabo ngeze, leminyaka yabo ovalweni.
So their days were wasted like a breath, and their years in trouble.
34 Lapho ebabulala, bamdinga, baphenduka, bamdingisisa uNkulunkulu.
When he sent death on them, then they made search for him; turning to him and looking for him with care;
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulidwala labo, loNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ungumhlengi wabo.
In the memory that God was their Rock, and the Most High God their saviour.
36 Kodwa bamyenga ngomlomo wabo, baqamba amanga kuye ngolimi lwabo.
But their lips were false to him, and their tongues were untrue to him;
37 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo yayingaqondanga kuye, njalo bengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
And their hearts were not right with him, and they did not keep their agreement with him.
38 Kodwa yena elesihawu wathethelela ububi babo, kababhubhisanga; yebo, kanengi walunqanda ulaka lwakhe, kakuvusanga konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
But he, being full of pity, has forgiveness for sin, and does not put an end to man: frequently turning back his wrath, and not being violently angry.
39 Ngoba wakhumbula ukuthi bayinyama, umoya odlulayo, ongabuyiyo.
So he kept in mind that they were only flesh; a breath which is quickly gone, and will not come again.
40 Kanengi kangakanani bemvukela ehlane, bemdabukisa enkangala.
How frequently did they go against him in the waste land, and give him cause for grief in the dry places!
41 Yebo baphenduka bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamdabukisa oNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
Again they put God to the test, and gave pain to the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabasikhumbulanga isandla sakhe, usuku abahlenga ngalo esitheni.
They did not keep in mind the work of his hand, or the day when he took them from the power of their haters;
43 Ukuthi wamisa njani izibonakaliso zakhe eGibhithe, lezimangaliso zakhe emmangweni weZowani,
How he had done his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Zoan;
44 lokuthi waphendula imifula yabo yaba ligazi, lezifula zabo, ukuze banganathi.
So that their rivers were turned to blood, and they were not able to get drink from their streams.
45 Wathumela phakathi kwabo umtshitshi wezibawu, ezabadlayo, lamaxoxo ababhubhisayo.
He sent different sorts of flies among them, poisoning their flesh; and frogs for their destruction.
46 Wasenika imihogoyi isivuno sabo, lomsebenzi wabo isikhonyane.
He gave the increase of their fields to worms, the fruits of their industry to the locusts.
47 Wabulala ivini labo ngesiqhotho, lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore ngongqwaqwane.
He sent ice for the destruction of their vines; their trees were damaged by the bitter cold.
48 Wasenikela izifuyo zabo esiqhothweni, lemihlambi yabo kuyo imibane.
Ice was rained down on their cattle; thunderstorms sent destruction among the flocks.
49 Waphosela phezu kwabo ukuvutha kolaka lwakhe, ukuthukuthela, lokucunuka, lokuhlupheka, ngokuthuma izithunywa zobubi.
He sent on them the heat of his wrath, his bitter disgust, letting loose evil angels among them.
50 Walungisela ulaka lwakhe indlela, kanqandanga umphefumulo wabo ekufeni, kodwa wanikela impilo yabo kumatshayabhuqe wesifo.
He let his wrath have its way; he did not keep back their soul from death, but gave their life to disease.
51 Wasetshaya wonke amazibulo eGibhithe, okokuqala kwamandla emathenteni kaHamu.
He gave to destruction all the first sons of Egypt; the first-fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham;
52 Wasebakhupha abantu bakhe njengezimvu, wabakhokhela enkangala njengomhlambi.
But he took his people out like sheep, guiding them in the waste land like a flock.
53 Wasebakhokhela bephephile ukuze bangesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwasibekela izitha zabo.
He took them on safely so that they had no fear; but their haters were covered by the sea.
54 Wasebafikisa emkhawulweni wendawo yakhe engcwele, le intaba, isandla sakhe sokunene esayizuzayo.
And he was their guide to his holy land, even to the mountain, which his right hand had made his;
55 Wasebaxotsha abezizwe phambi kwabo; wababela ilifa ngomzila, wahlalisa izizwe zakoIsrayeli emathenteni azo.
Driving out nations before them, marking out the line of their heritage, and giving the people of Israel their tents for a resting-place.
56 Kanti bamlinga, bamvukela uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, kabazigcinanga izifakazelo zakhe.
But they were bitter against the Most High God, testing him, and not keeping his laws;
57 Kodwa babuyela emuva, benza ngokungathembeki njengaboyise, baphanjulwa njengedandili elikhohlisayo.
Their hearts were turned back and untrue like their fathers; they were turned to one side like a twisted bow.
58 Ngoba bamthukuthelisa ngezindawo zabo eziphakemeyo, bavusa umona wakhe ngezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo.
They made him angry with their high places; moving him to wrath with their images.
59 UNkulunkulu esizwa wathukuthela, wamenyanya kakhulu uIsrayeli.
When this came to God's ears he was very angry, and gave up Israel completely;
60 Ngakho walitshiya ithabhanekele leShilo, ithente alimisa phakathi kwabantu.
So that he went away from the holy place in Shiloh, the tent which he had put among men;
61 Wasenikela amandla akhe ekuthunjweni, lenkazimulo yakhe esandleni sesitha.
And he let his strength be taken prisoner, and gave his glory into the hands of his hater.
62 Wasenikela abantu bakhe enkembeni, waselithukuthelela ilifa lakhe.
He gave his people up to the sword, and was angry with his heritage.
63 Umlilo waqeda amajaha abo, lezintombi zabo kazihlatshelelwanga.
Their young men were burned in the fire; and their virgins were not praised in the bride-song.
64 Abapristi babo bawa ngenkemba, labafelokazi babo kabalilanga.
Their priests were put to death by the sword, and their widows made no weeping for them.
65 Khona iNkosi yavuka njengobelele, njengeqhawe eliklabalala ngenxa yewayini.
Then was the Lord like one awaking from sleep, and like a strong man crying out because of wine.
66 Yazitshaya izitha zayo emuva, yazithela ihlazo phakade.
His haters were turned back by his blows and shamed for ever.
67 Yasilahla ithente likaJosefa, kayikhethanga isizwe sakoEfrayimi.
And he put the tent of Joseph on one side, and took not the tribe of Ephraim;
68 Kodwa yakhetha isizwe sakoJuda, intaba yeZiyoni eyithandayo.
But he took the tribe of Judah for himself, and the mountain of Zion, in which he had pleasure.
69 Yayakha indlu yayo engcwele njengezingqonga, njengomhlaba ewusekeleyo kuze kube nininini.
And he made his holy place like the high heaven, like the earth which is fixed by him for ever.
70 Yasikhetha uDavida inceku yayo, yamthatha ezibayeni zezimvu;
He took David to be his servant, taking him from the place of the flocks;
71 ekulandeleni izimvukazi ezenyisayo, yamletha ukwelusa uJakobe abantu bayo, loIsrayeli ilifa layo.
From looking after the sheep which were giving milk, he took him to give food to Jacob his people, and to Israel his heritage.
72 Njalo wabelusa njengobuqotho benhliziyo yakhe, wabakhokhela ngobugabazi bezandla zakhe.
So he gave them food with an upright heart, guiding them by the wisdom of his hands.
