Amahubo 78
1 Lalelani, bantu bami, umthetho wami, libeke indlebe yenu emazwini omlomo wami.
A maskil of Asaph. My people, attend to my teaching: bend your ears to the words of my mouth,
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngomfanekiso, ngikhuphe izimfihlakalo zendulo,
as I open my mouth in a poem on the riddling story of the past.
3 esizizwileyo lesizaziyo, obaba abasitshela zona.
What we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us,
4 Kasiyikuzifihlela abantwana babo, kusizukulwana esilandelayo, silandisa izindumiso zeNkosi, lamandla ayo, lezimangaliso ezenzileyo.
we will not hide from their children. We will tell to the next generation the praises and might of the Lord, and the wonders that he has done.
5 Ngoba wamisa ubufakazi koJakobe, wabeka umlayo koIsrayeli, awulaya obaba, ukuze bawazise abantwana babo,
He set up a testimony in Jacob, a law he appointed in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to make known to their children,
6 ukuze isizukulwana esilandelayo sazi, abantwana abazazalwa, basukume batshele abantwana babo,
that the next generation should know it, that the children yet to be born should arise and tell their children;
7 ukuze babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, bangayikhohlwa imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bagcine imithetho yakhe;
that in God they might put their confidence, and not forget God’s works; but that they might keep his commandments,
8 njalo bangabi njengaboyise, isizukulwana esilenkani lesivukelayo, isizukulwana esingaqondisanga inhliziyo yaso, lesimoya waso ungathembekanga kuNkulunkulu.
and not be like their ancestors, a generation defiant and stubborn, a generation with heart unsteady, and spirit unfaithful towards God.
9 Abantwana bakoEfrayimi, behlomile betshoka ngamadandili, babuyela emuva mhla wempi.
Ephraimites, armed bowmen, turned back in the day of battle.
10 Kabasilondolozanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuhamba emlayweni wakhe.
They did not keep God’s covenant, they refused to walk in his law.
11 Bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe lezimangaliso zakhe ayebatshengisa zona.
They forgot what he had done, and the wonders he had shown them.
12 Phambi kwaboyise wenza isimangaliso elizweni leGibhithe, egangeni leZowani.
He did wonders before their ancestors in the country of Zoan in Egypt.
13 Waqhekeza ulwandle, wabachaphisa, wenza amanzi ema njengenqumbi.
Through the sea which he split he brought them, making waters stand up like a heap;
14 Wabakhokhela ngeyezi emini, lebusuku bonke ngokukhanya komlilo.
he led them by day with a cloud, all the night with a light of fire.
15 Waqhekeza amadwala enkangala, wabanathisa kungathi kuvela ezinzikini ezinkulu.
From the rocks which he split in the wilderness, he gave them to drink as of ocean’s abundance.
16 Waseveza izifula edwaleni, wenza amanzi ehla njengemifula.
He brought streams out of the rock, and made water run down like rivers.
17 Kodwa baphinda futhi ukona kuye, ngokumvukela oPhezukonke enkangala.
Yet they still went on sinning against him, they defied the Most High in the desert.
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yabo ngokucela ukudla kwenkanuko yabo.
They willfully challenged God, demanding the food that they longed for.
19 Basebekhuluma bemelene loNkulunkulu bathi: UNkulunkulu angalungisa itafula enkangala yini?
“Is God able,” such was their challenge, “to spread in the desert a table?
20 Khangela, watshaya idwala, kwampompoza amanzi, lezifula zagabha; anganika lesinkwa yini? angalungisela abantu bakhe inyama na?
From the rock that he struck there gushed water, and torrents that overflowed; but can he also give bread, or provide his people with meat?”
21 Ngakho iNkosi yezwa yathukuthela; umlilo wasubaselwa uJakobe, njalo lolaka lwavukela uIsrayeli,
When the Lord heard this, he was furious, and fire was kindled on Jacob, anger flared up against Israel.
22 ngoba kabakholwanga kuNkulunkulu, kabathembanga esindisweni lwakhe.
For they put no trust in God, no confidence in his help.
23 Lanxa walaya amayezi ngaphezulu, wavula iminyango yamazulu,
So he summoned the clouds above; and, opening the doors of heaven,
24 wabanisela imana ukuthi badle, wabapha amabele amazulu.
he rained manna upon them for food, and grain of heaven he gave them.
25 Umuntu wadla isinkwa sabalamandla; wabathumela ukudla ukuze basuthe.
Everyone ate the bread of angels; he sent them food to the full.
26 Wenza umoya wempumalanga wavunguza emazulwini; langamandla akhe waqhuba umoya weningizimu.
He launched the east wind in the heavens, and guided the south by his power.
27 Wasenisela phezu kwabo inyama njengothuli, lenyoni ezilempiko njengetshebetshebe lolwandle;
He rained meat upon them like dust, winged bird like the sand of the sea.
28 wazenza zawela phakathi kwenkamba yabo, zagombolozela indawo zabo zokuhlala.
In the midst of their camp he dropped it, all around their tents.
29 Ngakho badla basutha kakhulu, ngoba wabalethela isiloyiso sabo.
They ate and were more than filled; he had brought them the thing they desired.
30 Kabehlukananga lenkanuko yabo; ukudla kusesemlonyeni wabo,
But the thing they desired became loathsome: while their food was still in their mouths,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwaselubavukela, wabulala kwabakhulupheleyo babo, watshaya abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli.
the wrath of God rose against them. He slew the stoutest among them, and laid low the young men of Israel.
32 Kulokhu konke bajinga besona, njalo kabakholwanga ngenxa yezimangaliso zakhe.
Yet for all this they sinned yet more, and refused to believe in his wonders.
33 Ngakho waziqeda izinsuku zabo ngeze, leminyaka yabo ovalweni.
So he ended their days in a breath, and their years in sudden dismay.
34 Lapho ebabulala, bamdinga, baphenduka, bamdingisisa uNkulunkulu.
When he slew them, then they sought after him, they turned and sought God with diligence.
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulidwala labo, loNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ungumhlengi wabo.
They remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their redeemer.
36 Kodwa bamyenga ngomlomo wabo, baqamba amanga kuye ngolimi lwabo.
But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
37 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo yayingaqondanga kuye, njalo bengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
Their heart was not steady with him, they were faithless to his covenant.
38 Kodwa yena elesihawu wathethelela ububi babo, kababhubhisanga; yebo, kanengi walunqanda ulaka lwakhe, kakuvusanga konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
But he is full of pity: he pardons sin and destroys not. Often he turns his anger away, without stirring his wrath at all.
39 Ngoba wakhumbula ukuthi bayinyama, umoya odlulayo, ongabuyiyo.
So he remembered that they were but flesh, breath that passes and does not return.
40 Kanengi kangakanani bemvukela ehlane, bemdabukisa enkangala.
But how often they rebelled in the desert, and caused him grief in the wilderness,
41 Yebo baphenduka bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamdabukisa oNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
tempting God again and again, provoking the Holy One of Israel.
42 Kabasikhumbulanga isandla sakhe, usuku abahlenga ngalo esitheni.
They did not remember his strength, nor the day he redeemed from the foe,
43 Ukuthi wamisa njani izibonakaliso zakhe eGibhithe, lezimangaliso zakhe emmangweni weZowani,
how he set his signs in Egypt, in the country of Zoan his wonders.
44 lokuthi waphendula imifula yabo yaba ligazi, lezifula zabo, ukuze banganathi.
He turned their canals into blood, their streams undrinkable.
45 Wathumela phakathi kwabo umtshitshi wezibawu, ezabadlayo, lamaxoxo ababhubhisayo.
He sent forth flies, which devoured them; frogs, too, which destroyed them.
46 Wasenika imihogoyi isivuno sabo, lomsebenzi wabo isikhonyane.
Their crops he gave to the caterpillar, and the fruits of their toil to the locust.
47 Wabulala ivini labo ngesiqhotho, lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore ngongqwaqwane.
He slew their vines with hail, and their sycamore trees with frost.
48 Wasenikela izifuyo zabo esiqhothweni, lemihlambi yabo kuyo imibane.
He delivered their cattle to the hail, and their flocks to bolts of fire.
49 Waphosela phezu kwabo ukuvutha kolaka lwakhe, ukuthukuthela, lokucunuka, lokuhlupheka, ngokuthuma izithunywa zobubi.
He let loose his hot anger among them, fury and wrath and distress, a band of destroying angels.
50 Walungisela ulaka lwakhe indlela, kanqandanga umphefumulo wabo ekufeni, kodwa wanikela impilo yabo kumatshayabhuqe wesifo.
He cleared a path for his anger, did not spare them from death, but gave them over to pestilence.
51 Wasetshaya wonke amazibulo eGibhithe, okokuqala kwamandla emathenteni kaHamu.
He struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, the first fruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
52 Wasebakhupha abantu bakhe njengezimvu, wabakhokhela enkangala njengomhlambi.
He led forth his people like sheep, he was guide to his flock in the desert.
53 Wasebakhokhela bephephile ukuze bangesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwasibekela izitha zabo.
Securely he led them, and free from fear, while their foes were drowned in the sea.
54 Wasebafikisa emkhawulweni wendawo yakhe engcwele, le intaba, isandla sakhe sokunene esayizuzayo.
To his holy realm he brought them, to the mountain his right hand had purchased.
55 Wasebaxotsha abezizwe phambi kwabo; wababela ilifa ngomzila, wahlalisa izizwe zakoIsrayeli emathenteni azo.
He drove out the nations before them, and allotted their land for possession, and their tents for Israel to live in.
56 Kanti bamlinga, bamvukela uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, kabazigcinanga izifakazelo zakhe.
Yet they tempted and angered the Most High God, they did not observe his decrees.
57 Kodwa babuyela emuva, benza ngokungathembeki njengaboyise, baphanjulwa njengedandili elikhohlisayo.
They drew back, false like their ancestors; they failed like a treacherous bow.
58 Ngoba bamthukuthelisa ngezindawo zabo eziphakemeyo, bavusa umona wakhe ngezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo.
Their shrines stirred him to anger, their idols moved him to jealousy.
59 UNkulunkulu esizwa wathukuthela, wamenyanya kakhulu uIsrayeli.
When God heard of this, he was furious, and he spurned Israel utterly.
60 Ngakho walitshiya ithabhanekele leShilo, ithente alimisa phakathi kwabantu.
He abandoned his home in Shiloh, the tent he had pitched among people.
61 Wasenikela amandla akhe ekuthunjweni, lenkazimulo yakhe esandleni sesitha.
He gave his strength up to captivity, his glory to the hands of the foe.
62 Wasenikela abantu bakhe enkembeni, waselithukuthelela ilifa lakhe.
He gave his people to the sword, he was furious with his own.
63 Umlilo waqeda amajaha abo, lezintombi zabo kazihlatshelelwanga.
Fire devoured their young men, and their maidens had no marriage-song.
64 Abapristi babo bawa ngenkemba, labafelokazi babo kabalilanga.
Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65 Khona iNkosi yavuka njengobelele, njengeqhawe eliklabalala ngenxa yewayini.
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a warrior flushed with wine;
66 Yazitshaya izitha zayo emuva, yazithela ihlazo phakade.
and he beat back his foes, putting them to perpetual scorn.
67 Yasilahla ithente likaJosefa, kayikhethanga isizwe sakoEfrayimi.
He disowned the tent of Joseph, he rejected the tribe of Ephraim;
68 Kodwa yakhetha isizwe sakoJuda, intaba yeZiyoni eyithandayo.
but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.
69 Yayakha indlu yayo engcwele njengezingqonga, njengomhlaba ewusekeleyo kuze kube nininini.
And he built like the heights his sanctuary, like the earth which he founded forever.
70 Yasikhetha uDavida inceku yayo, yamthatha ezibayeni zezimvu;
And he chose David his servant, taking him from the sheepfolds.
71 ekulandeleni izimvukazi ezenyisayo, yamletha ukwelusa uJakobe abantu bayo, loIsrayeli ilifa layo.
From the mother-ewes he brought him, to be shepherd to Jacob his people, and to Israel his inheritance.
72 Njalo wabelusa njengobuqotho benhliziyo yakhe, wabakhokhela ngobugabazi bezandla zakhe.
With upright heart did he shepherd them, and with skilful hands did he guide them.
