Amahubo 44
1 Nkulunkulu, sizwile ngendlebe zethu, obaba basitshelile, umsebenzi owawenza ensukwini zabo, ensukwini zendulo.
For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.
2 Wena ngesandla sakho wazixotsha izizwe elifeni, wabahlanyela bona; wazihlupha izizwe, kodwa wabasabalalisa bona.
You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.
3 Ngoba kabadlanga ilifa lelizwe ngenkemba yabo, lengalo yabo kayibasindisanga, kodwa isandla sakho sokunene, lengalo yakho, lokukhanya kobuso bakho, ngoba wawubathanda.
For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favourable to them.
4 Wena uyiNkosi yami, Nkulunkulu; laya ukukhululwa kukaJakobe.
God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob!
5 Ngawe sizadudula izitha zethu; ngebizo lakho sizabanyathelela phansi abasivukelayo.
Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.
6 Ngoba kangithembeli kulo idandili lami, lenkemba yami kayiyikungisindisa.
For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me.
7 Kodwa usisindisile ezitheni zethu, wayangisa abasizondayo.
But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.
8 KuNkulunkulu siyazincoma usuku lonke; lebizo lakho sizalidumisa kuze kube nininini. (Sela)
In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)
9 Kodwa ulahlile wasiyangisa, njalo kawuphumi lamabutho ethu.
But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonour, and don’t go out with our armies.
10 Usenze ukuthi sibuyele emuva sisuka esitheni; labasizondayo baziphangela.
You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.
11 Usinikele njengezimvu zokudliwa, wasichithachitha phakathi kwezizwe.
You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us amongst the nations.
12 Uthengisile abantu bakho ngokungelanotho, awuzuzanga lutho ngentengo yabo.
You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.
13 Usenze saba lihlazo kwabakhelene lathi, inhlekisa lendumazo kwabasiphahlileyo.
You make us a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
14 Usenze saba yisiga phakathi kwezizwe, ukunikinwa kwekhanda phakathi kwabantu.
You make us a byword amongst the nations, a shaking of the head amongst the peoples.
15 Usuku lonke ukudunyazwa kwami kuphambi kwami, lehlazo lobuso bami lingigubuzele,
All day long my dishonour is before me, and shame covers my face,
16 ngenxa yelizwi lomgconi lomhlambazi, ngenxa yesitha lomphindiseli.
at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
17 Konke lokhu kusehlele, kube kanti kasikukhohlwanga, kasenzanga ngenkohliso esivumelwaneni sakho.
All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.
18 Inhliziyo yethu kayibuyelanga emuva, lezinyathelo zethu kaziphambukanga emkhondweni wakho,
Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,
19 lanxa usichobozile endaweni yamaganyana, usembese ngethunzi lokufa.
though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
20 Uba besilikhohliwe ibizo likaNkulunkulu wethu, loba selulela izandla zethu kunkulunkulu wezizweni,
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,
21 uNkulunkulu ubengayikukuhlola lokhu yini? Ngoba uyayazi imfihlo yenhliziyo.
won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
22 Yebo, ngenxa yakho siyabulawa usuku lonke, kuthiwa sinjengezimvu zokuhlatshwa.
Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
23 Phaphama, ulaleleni, Nkosi? Vuka, ungalahli kokuphela.
Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever.
24 Ufihlelani ubuso bakho, ukhohlwe ukuhlupheka kwethu locindezelo lwethu?
Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
25 Ngoba umphefumulo wethu ukhothamele othulini, isisu sethu sinamathela emhlabathini.
For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.
26 Sukumela usizo lwethu, usihlenge ngenxa yomusa wakho.
Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.
