Zaburi 18
1 Kwa mwimbishaji. Zaburi ya Daudi mtumishi wa Bwana aliyomwimbia Bwana wakati Bwana alipomwokoa mikononi mwa adui zake wote, na pia mkononi mwa Sauli. Alisema hivi: Nakupenda wewe, Ee Bwana, nguvu yangu.
To the music director. A psalm of David the servant of the Lord, who sang the words of this song to the Lord on the day when the Lord saved him from all his enemies, and from Saul. He sang: I love you, Lord. You are my strength.
2 Bwana ni mwamba wangu, ngome yangu na mwokozi wangu, Mungu wangu ni mwamba, ambaye kwake ninakimbilia. Yeye ni ngao yangu na pembe ya wokovu wangu, ngome yangu.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my Savior. He is my God, my rock who protects me. He shields me from harm, his power protects me, he keeps me safe.
3 Ninamwita Bwana anayestahili kusifiwa, nami ninaokolewa kutoka kwa adui zangu.
I call for help from the Lord who should be praised, and he saves me from those who hate me.
4 Kamba za mauti zilinizunguka, mafuriko ya maangamizi yalinilemea.
Ropes of death encircled me, surging waters of destruction flooded over me;
The grave wound its ropes around me; death set snares for me. (Sheol h7585)
6 Katika shida yangu nalimwita Bwana, nilimlilia Mungu wangu anisaidie. Kutoka hekaluni mwake alisikia sauti yangu, kilio changu kikafika mbele zake, masikioni mwake.
In my despair I called on the Lord—I cried out to my God for help. He heard my voice from his Temple—my cry for help reached his ears.
7 Dunia ilitetemeka na kutikisika, misingi ya milima ikatikisika, vilitetemeka kwa sababu alikuwa amekasirika.
The earth shook to and fro; the foundations of the mountains trembled, shaking because of his anger.
8 Moshi ukapanda kutoka puani mwake, moto uteketezao ukatoka kinywani mwake, makaa ya moto yawakayo yakatoka ndani mwake.
Smoke came out of his nostrils, and fire came from his mouth; burning coals blazed before him.
9 Akazipasua mbingu akashuka chini, mawingu meusi yalikuwa chini ya miguu yake.
He parted the heavens and came down, with dark clouds beneath his feet.
10 Alipanda juu ya kerubi akaruka, akapaa juu kwa mbawa za upepo.
Riding on an angel he flew, swooping on the wings of the wind.
11 Alifanya giza kuwa kitu chake cha kujifunika, hema lake kumzunguka, mawingu meusi ya mvua ya angani.
He hid himself in darkness, covering himself with black thunderclouds.
12 Kutokana na mwanga wa uwepo wake mawingu yalisogea, ikanyesha mvua ya mawe na umeme wa radi.
Hailstones and burning coals flew out from his brightness, passing through his thick clouds.
13 Bwana alinguruma kutoka mbinguni, sauti ya Aliye Juu Sana ilisikika.
The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High sounded among the hailstones and burning coals.
14 Aliipiga mishale yake na kutawanya adui, naam, umeme mwingi wa radi na kuwafukuza.
He fired his arrows, scattering his enemies; he routed them with his lightning bolts.
15 Mabonde ya bahari yalifunuliwa, na misingi ya dunia ikawa wazi kwa kukaripia kwako, Ee Bwana, kwa uvumi wa pumzi kutoka puani mwako.
You roared, Lord, and by the wind from the breath of your nostrils the valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth were uncovered.
16 Alinyoosha mkono kutoka juu na kunishika; alinitoa kutoka kilindi cha maji makuu.
He reached down his hand from above and grabbed hold of me. He pulled me out of the deep water.
17 Aliniokoa kutoka adui wangu mwenye nguvu nyingi, kutoka adui zangu waliokuwa na nguvu nyingi kuliko mimi.
He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and who were much stronger than me.
18 Walinikabili siku ya msiba wangu, lakini Bwana alikuwa msaada wangu.
They came at me at my worst possible moment, but the Lord supported me.
19 Alinileta nje mahali penye nafasi tele, akaniokoa kwa kuwa alipendezwa nami.
He set me free, he rescued me because he's my friend.
20 Bwana alinitendea sawasawa na uadilifu wangu; sawasawa na usafi wa mikono yangu amenilipa.
The Lord rewarded me because I do what's right; he repaid me because I am innocent.
21 Kwa maana nimezishika njia za Bwana; sijatenda ubaya nikamwacha Mungu wangu.
For I have followed the Lord's ways; I have not sinned by turning away from my God.
22 Sheria zake zote zi mbele yangu, wala sijayaacha maagizo yake.
I have kept all his laws in mind; I have not ignored his commandments.
23 Nimekuwa sina hatia mbele zake, nami nimejilinda nisitende dhambi.
I am blameless in his sight; I keep myself from sinning.
24 Bwana amenilipa sawasawa na uadilifu wangu; sawasawa na usafi wa mikono yangu machoni pake.
The Lord rewarded me for doing what's right. I am innocent in his sight.
25 Kwa yeye aliye mwaminifu, unajionyesha kuwa mwaminifu, kwa asiye na hatia, unajionyesha kutokuwa na hatia.
You show trust to those who trust; you show integrity to those with integrity,
26 Kwa aliye mtakatifu, unajionyesha kuwa mtakatifu, lakini kwa aliyepotoka, unajionyesha kuwa mkaidi.
You show yourself pure to those who are pure, but you show yourself smart to those who are crafty.
27 Wewe huwaokoa wanyenyekevu, lakini huwashusha wenye kiburi.
You save the humble, but you bring down the proud.
28 Wewe, Ee Bwana, unaifanya taa yangu iendelee kuwaka; Mungu wangu hulifanya giza langu kuwa mwanga.
You light my lamp! Lord, my God, you light up my darkness!
29 Kwa msaada wako naweza kushinda jeshi, nikiwa pamoja na Mungu wangu nitaweza kuruka ukuta.
With you, I can charge down a troop of soldiers; with you, my God, I can climb a fortress wall.
30 Kuhusu Mungu, njia yake ni kamilifu, neno la Bwana halina dosari. Yeye ni ngao kwa wote wanaokimbilia kwake.
God's way is absolutely right. What the Lord says is trustworthy. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
31 Kwa maana ni nani aliye Mungu zaidi ya Bwana? Ni nani aliye Mwamba isipokuwa Mungu wetu?
For who is God except the Lord? Who is the rock, except our God?
32 Mungu ndiye anivikaye nguvu na kufanya njia yangu kuwa kamilifu.
God makes me strong and keeps me safe.
33 Huifanya miguu yangu kama miguu ya kulungu, huniwezesha kusimama mahali palipo juu.
He makes me surefooted like the deer, able to walk the heights in safety.
34 Huifundisha mikono yangu kupigana vita; mikono yangu inaweza kupinda upinde wa shaba.
He teaches me how to fight in battle; he gives me the strength to draw a bronze bow.
35 Hunipa ngao yako ya ushindi, nao mkono wako wa kuume hunitegemeza, unajishusha chini ili kuniinua.
You protect me with the shield of your salvation; you support me with your powerful right hand; your help has made me great.
36 Huyapanua mapito yangu, ili miguu yangu isiteleze.
You gave me space in which to walk, and prevented my feet from slipping.
37 Niliwafuatia adui zangu na nikawapata, sikurudi nyuma mpaka walipoangamizwa.
I chased my enemies, and caught up with them. I did not turn around until I had destroyed them.
38 Niliwaseta hata hawakuweza kuinuka tena; walianguka chini ya miguu yangu.
I struck them down—they couldn't get up. They fell at my feet.
39 Ulinivika nguvu kwa ajili ya kupigana vita; uliwafanya adui zangu wasujudu miguuni pangu.
You made me strong for battle; you made those who rose up against me kneel down before me.
40 Uliwafanya adui zangu wageuke na kukimbia, nami nikawaangamiza adui zangu.
You made my enemies run away; I destroyed all my enemies.
41 Walipiga yowe, lakini hapakuwepo na yeyote wa kuwaokoa; walimlilia Bwana, lakini hakuwajibu.
They cried out for help, but no one came to rescue them. They even called out to the Lord, but he did not answer them.
42 Niliwaponda kama mavumbi yanayopeperushwa na upepo; niliwamwaga nje kama tope barabarani.
I ground them into dust, like dust in the wind. I threw them out like mud in the street.
43 Umeniokoa kutokana na mashambulizi ya watu; umenifanya kuwa kiongozi wa mataifa, watu ambao sikuwajua wananitumikia.
You rescued me from rebellious people; you made me ruler over nations—people I didn't know now serve me.
44 Mara wanisikiapo hunitii, wageni hunyenyekea mbele yangu.
As soon as they hear of me, they obey; foreigners cringe before me.
45 Wote wanalegea, wanatoka katika ngome zao wakitetemeka.
They lose heart, and come trembling in surrender from their strongholds.
46 Bwana yu hai! Sifa ni kwa Mwamba wangu! Atukuzwe Mungu Mwokozi wangu!
The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock! May the God who saves me be praised!
47 Yeye ndiye Mungu anilipiziaye kisasi, awatiishaye mataifa chini yangu,
God avenges me, he subdues peoples under me,
48 aniokoaye na adui zangu. Uliniinua juu ya adui zangu; uliniokoa toka kwa watu wajeuri.
he rescues me from those who hate me. You keep me safe from those who rebel against me, you save me from violent men.
49 Kwa hiyo nitakusifu katikati ya mataifa, Ee Bwana; nitaliimbia sifa jina lako.
That's why I will praise you among the nations, Lord; I will sing praises about who you are.
50 Humpa mfalme wake ushindi mkuu, huonyesha fadhili zake kwa mpakwa mafuta wake, kwa Daudi na wazao wake milele.
You have saved the king so often, showing your trustworthy love to David, your anointed, and to his descendants forever.
