Amahubo 49

1 Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. ElamaDodana kaKhora. Ihubo. Zwanini lokhu lina bantu lonke; lalelani, lonke elihlala kulo umhlaba,

For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. Hear this, you peoples all; attend, all you who live in the world

2 abantukazana lezikhulu, abanothileyo labayanga ngokufanayo:

people of low degree and high, the rich and the poor together.

3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma amazwi okuhlakanipha; amazwi aphuma enhliziyweni yami azanika ukuzwisisa.

My mouth shall utter wisdom, the thoughts of a seeing heart.

4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga; ngechacho ngizaliqhaqha ilibho:

I incline my ear to a proverb, on the lyre I will open my riddle.

5 Ngingesabelani na nxa kufika insuku ezimbi, lapho abakhohlisi ababi bengihanqa,

Why should I be afraid in the days of misfortune, when circled by wicked and cunning foes,

6 labo abathembe inotho yabo abazitshaya isifuba ngenotho yabo enengi?

who put their trust in their wealth, and boast of their boundless riches?

7 Kakho umuntu ongahlenga impilo yomunye kumbe amkhuphele inhlawulo kuNkulunkulu,

For assuredly no one can ransom themselves, or give to God the price of their life,

8 ngoba ukuhlenga impilo yomuntu kuyadula, akulambhadalo engakwenelisa,

for the ransom of a life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 ukuze aphile kokuphela angaboni ukubola.

to keep them alive for ever and ever, so as never to see the pit at all.

10 Phela bonke bayabona ukuthi izihlakaniphi ziyafa; ngokunjalo iziwula labasangeneyo bayabhubha batshiye inotho yabo kwabanye.

But see it they will. Even wise people die, the fool and the brutish perish alike, and abandon their wealth to others.

11 Amangcwaba abo ayizindlu zabo zanininini, yimizi yabo okwezizukulwane ezingapheliyo, lokuba nje basebeqambe iziqinti ngamabizo abo.

The grave is their everlasting home, the place they shall live in for ever and ever, though after their own names they called whole lands.

12 Kodwa umuntu, lokuba elenotho, kaphili kokuphela; unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

Despite their wealth, they perish like dumb animals.

13 Lesi yisiphetho salabo abazithembayo bona, labalandeli babo, abavumelana labakutshoyo.

This is the fate of the confident fool, and the end of those who are pleased with their portion. (Selah)

14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzazitika kubo. Abaqotho bazabusa phezu kwabo ekuseni; izidumbu zabo zizabola engcwabeni, kude lemizi yabo efana leyamakhosi. (Sheol h7585)

Like sheep they descend to Sheol with Death for their shepherd; down they go straight to the grave, and their form wastes away in their home below. (Sheol h7585)

15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzayihlenga eyami impilo engcwabeni; ngempela uzangithatha angise kuye. (Sheol h7585)

But God will assuredly ransom my life from the hand of Sheol; for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Ungasuki udangale kakhulu ngokubona omunye enotha; nxa indlu yakhe igcwala ngobunkentshenkentshe;

So be not afraid when someone grows rich, when the wealth of their house increases.

17 phela kazukuhamba lalutho mhla esifa, ubukhazikhazi lobo kayikwehla labo.

Not a shred of it all can they take when they die, wealth cannot follow them down.

18 Loba wayesithi esaphila azibone engobusisiweyo abantu bayakukhonza nxa uphumelela,

Though they count themselves happy, when they are alive, and win praise from many for faring so well,

19 uzakuyahlangana lesizukulwane sabokhokho bakhe, abangasayikuphinde bakubone ukukhanya kwempilo.

they must join their ancestors, who see the light nevermore.

20 Umuntu olenotho kodwa engaqedisisi unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

The wealthy are without understanding, they perish like dumb animals.