Amahubo 50
1 USomandla, uNkulunkulu, iNkosi, ukhulumile, ubiza umhlaba kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekutshoneni kwalo.
A psalm of Asaph. The Lord God has spoken: He summons the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2 EseZiyoni, ukuphelela kobuhle, uNkulunkulu ukhanyile.
From Zion, perfection of beauty, God’s glory shines forth.
3 UNkulunkulu wethu uzakuza, kayikuthula; umlilo phambi kwakhe uzaqothula, enhlangothini zonke zakhe kuzakuba lesiphepho esikhulu.
Our God comes, he cannot keep silence, devouring fire is before him, and furious tempest around him.
4 Uzabiza amazulu ephezulu, lomhlaba, ukwahlulela abantu bakhe.
He summons the heavens above and the earth to judge his people.
5 Buthelani kimi abangcwele bami, abenza isivumelwano lami ngomhlatshelo.
Gather to him his saints by covenant-sacrifice bound to him;
6 Lamazulu azatshumayela ukulunga kwakhe, ngoba uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ungumahluleli. (Sela)
that the heavens may declare his justice, for a God of justice is he. (Selah)
7 Zwanini bantu bami, ngizakhuluma; Israyeli, ngizafakaza ngimelene lawe. NginguNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho.
‘Hear, O my people, and I will speak, and protest to you, O Israel: I am the Lord, your God.
8 Kangikusoli ngenxa yemihlatshelo yakho; leminikelo yakho yokutshiswa ihlala iphambi kwami.
Not for your sacrifices will I reprove you your burnt-offerings are ever before me
9 Kangiyikuthatha ijongosi elivela emzini wakho, lezimpongo ezivela ezibayeni zakho.
Not a bullock will I take from your house, nor male goats out of your folds;
10 Ngoba ngeyami yonke inyamazana yehlathi, izinkomo ezisentabeni eziyizinkulungwane.
for all beasts of the forest are mine, and the kine on a thousand hills.
11 Ngiyazazi izinyoni zonke zezintaba, lezilo zommango zikimi.
I know all the birds of the air, all that moves on the fields is mine.
12 Uba bengilambile, bengingayikukutshela, ngoba umhlaba ngowami lokugcwala kwawo.
Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fulness are mine.
13 Ngizayidla yini inyama yezinkunzi, kumbe nginathe igazi lezimpongo?
Am I such as to eat bulls’ flesh, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Nikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokubonga, ukhokhe izithembiso zakho koPhezukonke.
Offer to God a thank-offering, pay the Most High your vows.
15 Ungibize osukwini lokuhlupheka, ngizakukhulula, ubusungidumisa.
Summon me in the day of distress, I will rescue you, so will you honour me.’
16 Kodwa komubi uNkulunkulu uthi: Ulani lokuthi utshumayele izimiso zami, kumbe uthathe isivumelwano sami emlonyeni wakho?
But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to talk of my statutes, or take my covenant into your mouth
17 Ngoba wena uzonda ukuqondiswa, ulahla amazwi ami emva kwakho.
while you yourself hate correction, and cast my words behind you?
18 Uba ubona isela, uthokozelana lalo, lesabelo sakho sisezifebeni.
When you see a thief, you run with them; with adulterers you keep company.
19 Umlomo wakho uyawunikela ebubini, lolimi lwakho luqambe inkohliso.
You let your mouth loose for evil, your tongue contrives deceit.
20 Uhlala ukhulume umelene lomfowenu, uhlebe indodana kanyoko.
You shamefully speak of your kin, and slander your own mother’s son.
21 Lezizinto uzenzile, ngathula; wacabanga ukuthi nginjengawe kanye. Ngizakukhuza, ngikuhlele phambi kwamehlo akho.
And because I kept silence at this, you did take me for one like yourself. But I will convict you and show you plainly.
22 Kuqapheleni-ke lokhu, lina elikhohlwa uNkulunkulu, hlezi ngilidabule, kungabi khona okukhululayo.
‘Now you who forget God, mark this, lest I rend you, past hope of deliverance.
23 Onikela umnikelo wokubonga uyangidumisa; lolungisa indlela yakhe ngizambonisa usindiso lukaNkulunkulu.
Those who bring a thank-offering honour me; but to those: who follows my way, I will show the salvation of God.’
