Amahubo 49

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

To the Overseer. — By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Hear this, all ye peoples, Give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world.

2 bonke abantukazana labaphakemeyo, abanothileyo labayanga, ndawonye.

Both low and high, together rich and needy.

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

My mouth speaketh wise things, And the meditations of my heart [are] things of understanding.

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

I incline to a simile mine ear, I open with a harp my riddle:

5 Ngizakwesabelani ensukwini zobubi, nxa ububi babagwenxi bami buzangihanqa.

Why do I fear in days of evil? The iniquity of my supplanters doth compass me.

6 Abathemba ingcebo yabo, abazincoma ngobunengi benotho yabo,

Those trusting on their wealth, And in the multitude of their riches, Do shew themselves foolish.

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

A brother doth no one at all ransom, He doth not give to God his atonement.

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

And precious [is] the redemption of their soul, And it hath ceased — to the age.

9 ukuze ahlale ephila phakade, angaboni ukubola.

And still he liveth for ever, He seeth not the pit.

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

For he seeth wise men die, Together the foolish and brutish perish, And have left to others their wealth.

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

Their heart [is]: Their houses [are] to the age, Their tabernacles to all generations. They proclaimed their names over the lands.

12 Kodwa umuntu elodumo kayikuma, uyafanana lenyamazana ezibhubhayo.

And man in honour doth not remain, He hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off.

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

This their way [is] folly for them, And their posterity with their sayings are pleased. (Selah)

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

As sheep for Sheol they have set themselves, Death doth afflict them, And the upright rule over them in the morning, And their form [is] for consumption. Sheol [is] a dwelling for him. (Sheol h7585)

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

Only, God doth ransom my soul from the hand of Sheol, For He doth receive me. (Selah) (Sheol h7585)

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

Fear not, when one maketh wealth, When the honour of his house is abundant,

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

For at his death he receiveth nothing, His honour goeth not down after him.

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

For his soul in his life he blesseth, (And they praise thee when thou dost well for thyself.)

19 uzakuya esizukulwaneni saboyise, kabayikubona ukukhanya kuze kube phakade.

It cometh to the generation of his fathers, For ever they see not the light.

20 Umuntu olodumo, engaqedisisi, unjengezinyamazana ezibhubhayo.

Man in honour, who understandest not, Hath been like the beasts, they have been cut off!