Amahubo 81

1 Hlabelani kakhulu kuNkulunkulu amandla ethu, lihlokome ngentokozo kuNkulunkulu kaJakobe.

For the music director. On the gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob.

2 Thathani ingoma, lilethe isigujana, ichacho elimnandi kanye logubhu lwezintambo.

Start the song! Play the tambourine, sweet-sounding lyre, and harp.

3 Vuthelani uphondo ekuthwaseni kwenyanga, esikhathini esimisiweyo, ngosuku lomkhosi wethu.

Blow the trumpet at the new moon, and at full moon, to begin our festivals,

4 Ngoba lokho kuyisimiso kuIsrayeli, umthetho kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe.

for this is a rule for Israel, a regulation of the God of Jacob.

5 Wakumisa kwaba yibufakazi kuJosefa, ekuphumeni kwakhe emelene lelizwe leGibhithe; ngezwa ulimi engingalwaziyo.

God made this statute for Joseph when he opposed the land of Egypt. I heard a voice I didn't know, saying:

6 Ngasusa ihlombe lakhe emthwalweni; izandla zakhe zakhululwa ezimbizeni.

“I took the load from your shoulders; I freed your hands from carrying heavy baskets.

7 Wakhala usenhluphekweni, ngakukhulula; ngakuphendula ekusithekeni komdumo; ngakuhlola emanzini eMeriba. (Sela)

In your suffering you cried out to me, and I saved you. I answered you from the thundercloud. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. (Selah)

8 Zwana, sizwe sami, ngizafakaza kuwe, Israyeli, aluba ungangilalela.

My people, listen to my warnings! Israel, please listen to me!

9 Kakungabi khona phakathi kwakho unkulunkulu wezizweni, njalo ungakhonzi unkulunkulu wezizweni.

There must not be a strange god among you; you must never bow down to foreign gods and worship them.

10 Mina ngiyiNkosi, uNkulunkulu wakho, owakwenyusa usuka elizweni leGibhithe. Khamisa umlomo wakho ube banzi, njalo ngizawugcwalisa.

I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.

11 Kodwa abantu bami kabalilalelanga ilizwi lami; loIsrayeli kavumelananga lami.

But my people didn't listen to me. Israel didn't want anything to do with me.

12 Ngakho ngabanikela enkanini yenhliziyo yabo, ukuze bahambe kumacebo abo.

So I sent them away to follow their stubborn thinking, living as they chose.

13 Kungathi abantu bami bebengangilalela, uIsrayeli ahambe endleleni zami!

If only my people would listen to me; if only Israel would follow my ways!

14 Masinyane bengingazehlisela phansi izitha zabo, ngiphendulele isandla sami kwabamelene labo.

It wouldn't take me long to conquer their enemies, to strike down their foes.

15 Abayizondayo iNkosi bangatshotshobala phambi kwayo ngokuzenzisa, kodwa isikhathi sabo besizakuba phakade.

Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him, forever doomed.

16 Wayezabondla ngamanono engqoloyi; njalo bengizakusuthisa ngoluju oluvela edwaleni.

But I would feed you the best wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.”