Amahubo 88
1 Nkosi Nkulunkulu wosindiso lwami, emini, ebusuku ngakhala phambi kwakho.
A song. A psalm of the descendants of Korah. For the music director. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A maskil by Heman the Ezrahite Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you day and night.
2 Umkhuleko wami kawuze phambi kwakho; beka indlebe yakho ekukhaleni kwami.
Please listen to my prayer; hear my words as I plead with you.
My life is full of troubles, and my death is approaching. (Sheol h7585)
4 Ngibalwa lalabo abehlela emgodini; nginjengomuntu ongelamandla.
I'm counted among the dying; a man with no strength.
5 Ngikhululwe phakathi kwabafileyo, nginjengababuleweyo abalele engcwabeni, ongasabakhumbuliyo; ngoba bequnyiwe basuswa esandleni sakho.
I am abandoned among the dead, lying like a corpse in the grave, forgotten and beyond your care.
6 Ungifakile emgodini ongaphansi kakhulu, emnyameni, ekujuleni.
You have placed me in a deep pit, in the depths of darkness.
7 Intukuthelo yakho iyangeleka, langawo wonke amagagasi akho ungihluphile. (Sela)
Your hostility crushes me; you are drowning me under your crashing waves. (Selah)
8 Ususele khatshana lami abejwayelene lami; wangenza ngibe yisinengiso kubo; ngivalelwe, ngingephume.
You have made my friends avoid me by making me look repulsive to them. I'm trapped, I can't go out.
9 Ilihlo lami liyaphela ngenxa yosizi. Ngikubizile lonke usuku, Nkosi, ngelulele izandla zami kuwe.
I've cried my eyes out begging you every day for your help, Lord, holding out my hands to you.
10 Abafileyo uyabenzela izimangaliso yini? Imimoya efileyo izavuka yini ikudumise? (Sela)
Do you do miracles among the dead? Do the dead stand up to praise you? (Selah)
11 Uthando lwakho luzalandiswa yini engcwabeni? Ukuthembeka kwakho encithakalweni yini?
Your faithful love—is it mentioned in the grave? Your trustworthiness—is it discussed in the place of destruction?
12 Izimangaliso zakho zizakwaziwa yini emnyameni? Lokulunga kwakho elizweni lokukhohlwa yini?
Are the wonderful things you do known in the darkness? Is your goodness known in the land of forgetfulness?
13 Kodwa mina, Nkosi, ngikhalile kuwe, lekuseni umkhuleko wami uzakuza phambi kwakho.
But I cry out to you for help; every morning I pray to you.
14 Nkosi, ulahlelani umphefumulo wami? Ubufihlelani ubuso bakho kimi?
Lord, why do you reject me? Why do you turn away from me?
15 Ngihluphekile ngingofayo kusukela ebutsheni, ngithwele ukwesabeka kwakho, ngikhathazekile.
I have been sick since I was young, often at death's door. I have had to bear the terrible things you've done to me. I'm in despair!
16 Ulaka lwakho olutshisayo ludlulile phezu kwami, okwesabekayo kwakho kungiqedile.
Your anger has overcome me; the terrible things you do have destroyed me.
17 Kungizingelezile njengamanzi usuku lonke, kungihanqile kanyekanye.
They surround me all the time like floodwaters, swallowing me up.
18 Ususele khatshana lami othandayo lomngane, abejwayelene lami basemnyameni.
You have made my family and friends avoid me. Darkness is my only friend.
