Amahubo 50
1 USomandla, uNkulunkulu, iNkosi, ukhulumile, ubiza umhlaba kusukela ekuphumeni kwelanga kuze kube sekutshoneni kwalo.
A Psalm by Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks, and calls the earth from sunrise to sunset.
2 EseZiyoni, ukuphelela kobuhle, uNkulunkulu ukhanyile.
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines out.
3 UNkulunkulu wethu uzakuza, kayikuthula; umlilo phambi kwakhe uzaqothula, enhlangothini zonke zakhe kuzakuba lesiphepho esikhulu.
Our God comes, and does not keep silent. A fire devours before him. It is very stormy around him.
4 Uzabiza amazulu ephezulu, lomhlaba, ukwahlulela abantu bakhe.
He calls to the heavens above, to the earth, that he may judge his people:
5 Buthelani kimi abangcwele bami, abenza isivumelwano lami ngomhlatshelo.
“Gather my holy ones together to me, those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
6 Lamazulu azatshumayela ukulunga kwakhe, ngoba uNkulunkulu ngokwakhe ungumahluleli. (Sela)
The heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. (Selah)
7 Zwanini bantu bami, ngizakhuluma; Israyeli, ngizafakaza ngimelene lawe. NginguNkulunkulu, uNkulunkulu wakho.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak. Israel, I will testify against you. I am God, your God.
8 Kangikusoli ngenxa yemihlatshelo yakho; leminikelo yakho yokutshiswa ihlala iphambi kwami.
I don’t rebuke you for your sacrifices. Your burnt offerings are continually before me.
9 Kangiyikuthatha ijongosi elivela emzini wakho, lezimpongo ezivela ezibayeni zakho.
I have no need for a bull from your stall, nor male goats from your pens.
10 Ngoba ngeyami yonke inyamazana yehlathi, izinkomo ezisentabeni eziyizinkulungwane.
For every animal of the forest is mine, and the livestock on a thousand hills.
11 Ngiyazazi izinyoni zonke zezintaba, lezilo zommango zikimi.
I know all the birds of the mountains. The wild animals of the field are mine.
12 Uba bengilambile, bengingayikukutshela, ngoba umhlaba ngowami lokugcwala kwawo.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it.
13 Ngizayidla yini inyama yezinkunzi, kumbe nginathe igazi lezimpongo?
Will I eat the meat of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
14 Nikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo wokubonga, ukhokhe izithembiso zakho koPhezukonke.
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High.
15 Ungibize osukwini lokuhlupheka, ngizakukhulula, ubusungidumisa.
Call on me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you will 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 do you have to declare my statutes, that you have taken my covenant on your lips,
17 Ngoba wena uzonda ukuqondiswa, ulahla amazwi ami emva kwakho.
since you hate instruction, and throw my words behind you?
18 Uba ubona isela, uthokozelana lalo, lesabelo sakho sisezifebeni.
When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have participated with adulterers.
19 Umlomo wakho uyawunikela ebubini, lolimi lwakho luqambe inkohliso.
“You give your mouth to evil. Your tongue frames deceit.
20 Uhlala ukhulume umelene lomfowenu, uhlebe indodana kanyoko.
You sit and speak against your brother. You slander your own mother’s son.
21 Lezizinto uzenzile, ngathula; wacabanga ukuthi nginjengawe kanye. Ngizakukhuza, ngikuhlele phambi kwamehlo akho.
You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes.
22 Kuqapheleni-ke lokhu, lina elikhohlwa uNkulunkulu, hlezi ngilidabule, kungabi khona okukhululayo.
“Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver.
23 Onikela umnikelo wokubonga uyangidumisa; lolungisa indlela yakhe ngizambonisa usindiso lukaNkulunkulu.
Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
