Amahubo 49

1 Zwanini lokhu lonke bantu. Bekani indlebe lonke bakhileyo bomhlaba,

[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,

2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.

both low and high, rich and poor together.

3 Umlomo wami uzakhuluma izinhlakanipho, lokuzindla kwenhliziyo yami kuzakuba yikuqedisisa.

My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.

4 Ngizabeka indlebe yami kuso isaga, ngizavula ilibho lami ngechacho.

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

5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.

Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?

6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,

They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.

7 umuntu kasoze ahlenge lokuhlenga umfowabo, kasoze amnike uNkulunkulu inhlawulo yakhe,

Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.

8 (ngoba uhlengo lomphefumulo wabo luligugu, futhi luyaphela laphakade)

For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,

9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.

that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.

10 Ngoba ubona ukuthi abahlakaniphileyo bayafa, lokuthi isithutha kanye lesiphukuphuku bayabhubha, batshiyele inotho yabo abanye.

For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.

11 Umcabango wabo wangaphakathi uyikuthi izindlu zabo zizakuba ngezaphakade, izindawo zabo zokuhlala zibe ngezezizukulwana, babize amazwe ngamabizo abo.

Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.

12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.

But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.

13 Le indlela yabo iyibuthutha babo; kube kanti ababalandelayo bathokoza ngomlomo wabo. (Sela)

This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)

14 Njengezimvu bamiselwe ingcwaba, ukufa kuzabelusa; labaqotho bazababusa ekuseni, isimo sabo ngesokuqedwa lingcwaba ukuze bangabi lendawo yokuhlala. (Sheol h7585)

They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol h7585)

15 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uzahlenga umphefumulo wami emandleni engcwaba, ngoba uzangemukela. (Sela) (Sheol h7585)

But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

16 Ungesabi nxa umuntu enotha, nxa udumo lwendlu yakhe lusanda;

Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.

17 ngoba ekufeni kwakhe kayikuthatha lutho, udumo lwakhe kaluyikwehla lumlandele.

For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.

18 Lanxa empilweni yakhe wabusisa umphefumulo wakhe, njalo bakudumisa nxa uzenzela okuhle,

Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—

19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.

he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.

20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.