Amahubo 81
1 Hlabelani kakhulu kuNkulunkulu amandla ethu, lihlokome ngentokozo kuNkulunkulu kaJakobe.
Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!
2 Thathani ingoma, lilethe isigujana, ichacho elimnandi kanye logubhu lwezintambo.
Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).
3 Vuthelani uphondo ekuthwaseni kwenyanga, esikhathini esimisiweyo, ngosuku lomkhosi wethu.
Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.
4 Ngoba lokho kuyisimiso kuIsrayeli, umthetho kaNkulunkulu kaJakobe.
[Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.
5 Wakumisa kwaba yibufakazi kuJosefa, ekuphumeni kwakhe emelene lelizwe leGibhithe; ngezwa ulimi engingalwaziyo.
He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,
6 Ngasusa ihlombe lakhe emthwalweni; izandla zakhe zakhululwa ezimbizeni.
“[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].
7 Wakhala usenhluphekweni, ngakukhulula; ngakuphendula ekusithekeni komdumo; ngakuhlola emanzini eMeriba. (Sela)
When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.
8 Zwana, sizwe sami, ngizafakaza kuwe, Israyeli, aluba ungangilalela.
[You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!
9 Kakungabi khona phakathi kwakho unkulunkulu wezizweni, njalo ungakhonzi unkulunkulu wezizweni.
You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!
10 Mina ngiyiNkosi, uNkulunkulu wakho, owakwenyusa usuka elizweni leGibhithe. Khamisa umlomo wakho ube banzi, njalo ngizawugcwalisa.
I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.
11 Kodwa abantu bami kabalilalelanga ilizwi lami; loIsrayeli kavumelananga lami.
But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.
12 Ngakho ngabanikela enkanini yenhliziyo yabo, ukuze bahambe kumacebo abo.
So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.
13 Kungathi abantu bami bebengangilalela, uIsrayeli ahambe endleleni zami!
I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.
14 Masinyane bengingazehlisela phansi izitha zabo, ngiphendulele isandla sami kwabamelene labo.
[If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].
15 Abayizondayo iNkosi bangatshotshobala phambi kwayo ngokuzenzisa, kodwa isikhathi sabo besizakuba phakade.
[Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.
16 Wayezabondla ngamanono engqoloyi; njalo bengizakusuthisa ngoluju oluvela edwaleni.
[But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”
