Psalms 78
1 [A Psalm] of instruction for Asaph. Give heed, O my people, to my law: incline your ear to the words of my mouth.
Lalelani, bantu bami, umthetho wami, libeke indlebe yenu emazwini omlomo wami.
2 I will open my mouth in parables: I will utter dark sayings [which have been] from the beginning.
Ngizavula umlomo wami ngomfanekiso, ngikhuphe izimfihlakalo zendulo,
3 All which we have heard and known, and our fathers have declared to us.
esizizwileyo lesizaziyo, obaba abasitshela zona.
4 They were not hid from their children to a second generations; [the fathers] declaring the praises of the Lord, and his mighty acts, and his wonders which he wrought.
Kasiyikuzifihlela abantwana babo, kusizukulwana esilandelayo, silandisa izindumiso zeNkosi, lamandla ayo, lezimangaliso ezenzileyo.
5 And he raised up a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, to make it known to their children:
Ngoba wamisa ubufakazi koJakobe, wabeka umlayo koIsrayeli, awulaya obaba, ukuze bawazise abantwana babo,
6 that another generation might know, even the sons which should be born; and they should arise and declare them to their children.
ukuze isizukulwana esilandelayo sazi, abantwana abazazalwa, basukume batshele abantwana babo,
7 That they might set their hope on God, and not forget the works of God, but diligently seek his commandments.
ukuze babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, bangayikhohlwa imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bagcine imithetho yakhe;
8 That they should not be as their fathers, a perverse and provoking generation; a generation which set not its heart aright, and its spirit was not steadfast with God.
njalo bangabi njengaboyise, isizukulwana esilenkani lesivukelayo, isizukulwana esingaqondisanga inhliziyo yaso, lesimoya waso ungathembekanga kuNkulunkulu.
9 The children of Ephraim, bending and shooting [with] the bow, turned [back] in the day of battle.
Abantwana bakoEfrayimi, behlomile betshoka ngamadandili, babuyela emuva mhla wempi.
10 They kept not the covenant of God, and would not walk in his law.
Kabasilondolozanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuhamba emlayweni wakhe.
11 And they forgot his benefits, and his miracles which he [had] shewed them;
Bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe lezimangaliso zakhe ayebatshengisa zona.
12 the miracles which he wrought before their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the plain of Tanes.
Phambi kwaboyise wenza isimangaliso elizweni leGibhithe, egangeni leZowani.
13 He clave the sea, and led them through: he made the waters to stand as [in] a bottle.
Waqhekeza ulwandle, wabachaphisa, wenza amanzi ema njengenqumbi.
14 And he guided them with a cloud by day, and all the night with a light of fire.
Wabakhokhela ngeyezi emini, lebusuku bonke ngokukhanya komlilo.
15 he clave a rock in the wilderness, and made them drink as in a great deep.
Waqhekeza amadwala enkangala, wabanathisa kungathi kuvela ezinzikini ezinkulu.
16 And he brought water out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down as rivers.
Waseveza izifula edwaleni, wenza amanzi ehla njengemifula.
17 And they sinned yet more against him; they provoked the Most High in the wilderness.
Kodwa baphinda futhi ukona kuye, ngokumvukela oPhezukonke enkangala.
18 And they tempted God in their hearts, in asking meat for [the desire of] their souls.
Bamlinga uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yabo ngokucela ukudla kwenkanuko yabo.
19 They spoke also against God, and said, Will God be able to prepare a table in the wilderness?
Basebekhuluma bemelene loNkulunkulu bathi: UNkulunkulu angalungisa itafula enkangala yini?
20 Forasmuch as he smote the rock, and the waters flowed, and the torrents ran abundantly; will he be able also to give bread, or prepare a table for his people?
Khangela, watshaya idwala, kwampompoza amanzi, lezifula zagabha; anganika lesinkwa yini? angalungisela abantu bakhe inyama na?
21 Therefore the Lord heard, and was provoked: and fire was kindled in Jacob, and wrath went up against Israel.
Ngakho iNkosi yezwa yathukuthela; umlilo wasubaselwa uJakobe, njalo lolaka lwavukela uIsrayeli,
22 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.
ngoba kabakholwanga kuNkulunkulu, kabathembanga esindisweni lwakhe.
23 Yet he commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven,
Lanxa walaya amayezi ngaphezulu, wavula iminyango yamazulu,
24 and rained upon them manna to eat, and gave them the bread of heaven.
wabanisela imana ukuthi badle, wabapha amabele amazulu.
25 Man ate angels' bread; he sent them provision to the full.
Umuntu wadla isinkwa sabalamandla; wabathumela ukudla ukuze basuthe.
26 He removed the south wind from heaven; and by his might he brought in the south-west wind.
Wenza umoya wempumalanga wavunguza emazulwini; langamandla akhe waqhuba umoya weningizimu.
27 And he rained upon them flesh like dust, and feathered birds like the sand of the seas.
Wasenisela phezu kwabo inyama njengothuli, lenyoni ezilempiko njengetshebetshebe lolwandle;
28 And they fell into the midst of their camp, round about their tents.
wazenza zawela phakathi kwenkamba yabo, zagombolozela indawo zabo zokuhlala.
29 So they ate, and were completely filled; and he gave them their desire.
Ngakho badla basutha kakhulu, ngoba wabalethela isiloyiso sabo.
30 They were not disappointed of their desire: [but] when their food was yet in their mouth,
Kabehlukananga lenkanuko yabo; ukudla kusesemlonyeni wabo,
31 then the indignation of God rose up against them, and slew the fattest of them, and overthrew the choice men of Israel.
ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwaselubavukela, wabulala kwabakhulupheleyo babo, watshaya abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli.
32 In the midst of all this they sinned yet more, and believed not his miracles.
Kulokhu konke bajinga besona, njalo kabakholwanga ngenxa yezimangaliso zakhe.
33 And their days were consumed in vanity, and their years with anxiety.
Ngakho waziqeda izinsuku zabo ngeze, leminyaka yabo ovalweni.
34 When he slew them, they sought him: and they returned and called betimes upon God.
Lapho ebabulala, bamdinga, baphenduka, bamdingisisa uNkulunkulu.
35 And they remembered that God was their helper, and the most high God was their redeemer.
Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulidwala labo, loNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ungumhlengi wabo.
36 Yet they loved him [only] with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Kodwa bamyenga ngomlomo wabo, baqamba amanga kuye ngolimi lwabo.
37 For their heart [was] not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.
Ngoba inhliziyo yabo yayingaqondanga kuye, njalo bengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
38 But he is compassionate, and will forgive their sins, and will not destroy [them]: yea, he will frequently turn away his wrath, and will not kindle all his anger.
Kodwa yena elesihawu wathethelela ububi babo, kababhubhisanga; yebo, kanengi walunqanda ulaka lwakhe, kakuvusanga konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
39 And he remembered that they are flesh; a wind that passes away, and returns not.
Ngoba wakhumbula ukuthi bayinyama, umoya odlulayo, ongabuyiyo.
40 How often did they provoke him in the wilderness, [and] anger him in a dry land!
Kanengi kangakanani bemvukela ehlane, bemdabukisa enkangala.
41 Yea, they turned back, and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Yebo baphenduka bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamdabukisa oNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
42 They remembered not his hand, the day in which he delivered them from the hand of the oppressor.
Kabasikhumbulanga isandla sakhe, usuku abahlenga ngalo esitheni.
43 How he had wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanes:
Ukuthi wamisa njani izibonakaliso zakhe eGibhithe, lezimangaliso zakhe emmangweni weZowani,
44 and had changed their rivers into blood; and their streams, that they should not drink.
lokuthi waphendula imifula yabo yaba ligazi, lezifula zabo, ukuze banganathi.
45 He sent against them the dog-fly, and it devoured them; and the frog, and it spoiled them.
Wathumela phakathi kwabo umtshitshi wezibawu, ezabadlayo, lamaxoxo ababhubhisayo.
46 And he gave their fruit to the canker worm, and their labours to the locust.
Wasenika imihogoyi isivuno sabo, lomsebenzi wabo isikhonyane.
47 He killed their vines with hail, and their sycamores with frost.
Wabulala ivini labo ngesiqhotho, lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore ngongqwaqwane.
48 And he gave up their cattle to hail, and their substance to the fire.
Wasenikela izifuyo zabo esiqhothweni, lemihlambi yabo kuyo imibane.
49 He sent out against them the fury of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and affliction, a message by evil angels.
Waphosela phezu kwabo ukuvutha kolaka lwakhe, ukuthukuthela, lokucunuka, lokuhlupheka, ngokuthuma izithunywa zobubi.
50 He made a way for his wrath; he spared not their souls from death, but consigned their cattle to death;
Walungisela ulaka lwakhe indlela, kanqandanga umphefumulo wabo ekufeni, kodwa wanikela impilo yabo kumatshayabhuqe wesifo.
51 and smote every first-born in the land of Egypt; the first-fruits of their labours in the tents of Cham.
Wasetshaya wonke amazibulo eGibhithe, okokuqala kwamandla emathenteni kaHamu.
52 And he removed his people like sheep; he led them as a flock in the wilderness.
Wasebakhupha abantu bakhe njengezimvu, wabakhokhela enkangala njengomhlambi.
53 And he guided them with hope, and they feared not: but the sea covered their enemies.
Wasebakhokhela bephephile ukuze bangesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwasibekela izitha zabo.
54 And he brought them in to the mountain of his sanctuary, this mountain which his right hand had purchased.
Wasebafikisa emkhawulweni wendawo yakhe engcwele, le intaba, isandla sakhe sokunene esayizuzayo.
55 And he cast out the nations from before them, and made them to inherit by a line of inheritance, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Wasebaxotsha abezizwe phambi kwabo; wababela ilifa ngomzila, wahlalisa izizwe zakoIsrayeli emathenteni azo.
56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies.
Kanti bamlinga, bamvukela uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, kabazigcinanga izifakazelo zakhe.
57 And they turned back, and broke covenant, even as also their fathers: they became like a crooked bow.
Kodwa babuyela emuva, benza ngokungathembeki njengaboyise, baphanjulwa njengedandili elikhohlisayo.
58 And they provoked him with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
Ngoba bamthukuthelisa ngezindawo zabo eziphakemeyo, bavusa umona wakhe ngezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo.
59 God heard and lightly regarded [them], and greatly despised Israel.
UNkulunkulu esizwa wathukuthela, wamenyanya kakhulu uIsrayeli.
60 And he rejected the tabernacle of Selom, his tent where he dwelt among men.
Ngakho walitshiya ithabhanekele leShilo, ithente alimisa phakathi kwabantu.
61 And he gave their strength into captivity, and their beauty into the enemy's hand.
Wasenikela amandla akhe ekuthunjweni, lenkazimulo yakhe esandleni sesitha.
62 And he gave his people to the sword; and disdained his inheritance.
Wasenikela abantu bakhe enkembeni, waselithukuthelela ilifa lakhe.
63 Fire devoured their young men; and their virgins mourned not.
Umlilo waqeda amajaha abo, lezintombi zabo kazihlatshelelwanga.
64 Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows shall not be wept for.
Abapristi babo bawa ngenkemba, labafelokazi babo kabalilanga.
65 So the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, [and] as a mighty man who has been heated with wine.
Khona iNkosi yavuka njengobelele, njengeqhawe eliklabalala ngenxa yewayini.
66 And he smote his enemies in the hinder parts: he brought on them a perpetual reproach.
Yazitshaya izitha zayo emuva, yazithela ihlazo phakade.
67 And he rejected the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim;
Yasilahla ithente likaJosefa, kayikhethanga isizwe sakoEfrayimi.
68 but chose the tribe of Juda, the mount Sion which he loved.
Kodwa yakhetha isizwe sakoJuda, intaba yeZiyoni eyithandayo.
69 And he built his sanctuary as [the place] of unicorns; he founded it for ever on the earth.
Yayakha indlu yayo engcwele njengezingqonga, njengomhlaba ewusekeleyo kuze kube nininini.
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him up from the flocks of sheep.
Yasikhetha uDavida inceku yayo, yamthatha ezibayeni zezimvu;
71 He took him from following the ewes great with young, to be the shepherd of Jacob his servant, and Israel his inheritance.
ekulandeleni izimvukazi ezenyisayo, yamletha ukwelusa uJakobe abantu bayo, loIsrayeli ilifa layo.
72 So he tended them in the innocency of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
Njalo wabelusa njengobuqotho benhliziyo yakhe, wabakhokhela ngobugabazi bezandla zakhe.
