Amahubo 90
1 Nkosi, wena ubuyindawo yethu yokuhlala kusizukulwana lesizukulwana.
BOOK IV A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations.
2 Zingakazalwa intaba, kumbe uveze umhlaba lelizwe, ngitsho kusukela ephakadeni kuze kube sephakadeni wena unguNkulunkulu.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.
3 Uyambuyisela umuntu encithakalweni, uthi: Buyelani, bantwana babantu.
Thou turnest man to contrition; and sayest: 'Return, ye children of men.'
4 Ngoba iminyaka eyinkulungwane emehlweni akho injengelanga lezolo selidlulile, lanjengomlindo ebusuku.
For a thousand years in Thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.
5 Uyabakhukhula, banjengobuthongo, ekuseni banjengotshani obuhlumayo.
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
6 Ekuseni buyakhahlela, bukhule, ntambama buyasikwa, bubune.
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.
7 Ngoba siqedwa yikuthukuthela kwakho, langolaka lwakho sibhujiswe.
For we are consumed in Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we hurried away.
8 Ubekile iziphambeko zethu phambi kwakho, izono zethu ezifihlakeleyo ekukhanyeni kobuso bakho.
Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance.
9 Ngoba insuku zethu zonke ziyedlula elakeni lwakho; sichitha iminyaka yethu njengokubeka iphika.
For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath; we bring our years to an end as a tale that is told.
10 Insuku zeminyaka yethu, kuleminyaka engamatshumi ayisikhombisa kuzo; njalo uba ngenxa yamandla zingamatshumi ayisificaminwembili, kanti ukuzigqaja kwayo kuyinhlupheko losizi, ngoba aphangisa aqunywe, sibe sesiphapha sinyamalale.
The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years; yet is their pride but travail and vanity; for it is speedily gone, and we fly away.
11 Ngubani owaziyo amandla okuthukuthela kwakho? Lanjengokwesabeka kwakho lunjalo ulaka lwakho.
Who knoweth the power of Thine anger, and Thy wrath according to the fear that is due unto Thee?
12 Ngokunjalo sifundise ukubala insuku zethu, ukuze sizuze inhliziyo yenhlakanipho.
So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.
13 Phenduka, Nkosi! Koze kube nini? Hawukela izinceku zakho.
Return, O LORD; how long? And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.
14 Sisuthise ekuseni ngomusa wakho, ukuze sithabe sijabule insuku zethu zonke.
O satisfy us in the morning with Thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Sithokozise njengokwensuku owasihlupha ngazo, iminyaka esabona okubi kuyo.
Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us, according to the years wherein we have seen evil.
16 Umsebenzi wakho kawubonakale ezincekwini zakho, lenkazimulo yakho ebantwaneni bazo.
Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants, and Thy glory upon their children.
17 Ubuhle beNkosi, uNkulunkulu wethu, kabube phezu kwethu; uqinise umsebenzi wezandla zethu kithi, yebo, umsebenzi wezandla zethu uwuqinise.
And let the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; establish Thou also upon us the work of our hands; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it.
