Amahubo 129

1 Kanengi bangihluphile kusukela ebutsheni bami, katsho-ke uIsrayeli,

A Song of Ascents. Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say:

2 kanengi bangihluphile kusukela ebutsheni bami, kanti kabangehlulanga.

many times they have afflicted me from my youth up, yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 Abalimi balima emhlana wami, bayenza yaba mide imifolo yabo.

The ploughers ploughed on my back. They made their furrows long.

4 INkosi ilungile, iqumile intambo zababi.

The LORD is righteous. He has cut apart the cords of the wicked.

5 Kabayangeke babuyiselwe emuva bonke abazonda iZiyoni.

Let them be disappointed and turned backward, all those who hate Zion.

6 Kababe njengotshani ephahleni, obubuna bungakakhuli,

Let them be as the grass on the housetops, which withers before it grows up,

7 ovunayo angagcwalisi ngabo isandla sakhe, lalowo obopha izithungo isifuba sakhe.

with which the reaper doesn’t fill his hand, nor he who binds sheaves, his bosom.

8 Labadlulayo bangatsho ukuthi: Isibusiso seNkosi kasibe phezu kwenu; siyalibusisa ebizweni leNkosi.

Neither do those who go by say, “The blessing of the LORD be on you. We bless you in the LORD’s name.”