Amahubo 78
1 Lalelani, bantu bami, umthetho wami, libeke indlebe yenu emazwini omlomo wami.
An Instructive Psalm. Asaph’s. Give ear, O my people, to mine instruction, Bend your ear to the sayings of my mouth;
2 Ngizavula umlomo wami ngomfanekiso, ngikhuphe izimfihlakalo zendulo,
I will open, in a parable, my mouth, I will pour forth enigmas out of antiquity; —
3 esizizwileyo lesizaziyo, obaba abasitshela zona.
Which we have heard, and come to know, And, our fathers, have recounted to us;
4 Kasiyikuzifihlela abantwana babo, kusizukulwana esilandelayo, silandisa izindumiso zeNkosi, lamandla ayo, lezimangaliso ezenzileyo.
We will not withhold [them] from their children, To a later generation, recounting the praises of Yahweh, Even his might and his wonders which he wrought;
5 Ngoba wamisa ubufakazi koJakobe, wabeka umlayo koIsrayeli, awulaya obaba, ukuze bawazise abantwana babo,
When he set up a testimony in Jacob, And, a law, appointed in Israel, —Which he commanded our fathers, That they might make them known to their children;
6 ukuze isizukulwana esilandelayo sazi, abantwana abazazalwa, basukume batshele abantwana babo,
To the end, A later generation, might come to know, Children who should be born, Who should arise, and recount [them] to their children;
7 ukuze babeke ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu, bangayikhohlwa imisebenzi kaNkulunkulu, kodwa bagcine imithetho yakhe;
That they might set, in Elohim, their confidence, —And not forget the doings of El, But, his commandments, might observe;
8 njalo bangabi njengaboyise, isizukulwana esilenkani lesivukelayo, isizukulwana esingaqondisanga inhliziyo yaso, lesimoya waso ungathembekanga kuNkulunkulu.
And not become, like their fathers, a generation stubborn and rebellious, —A generation that fixed not their heart, Neither was their spirit, faithful with GOD.
9 Abantwana bakoEfrayimi, behlomile betshoka ngamadandili, babuyela emuva mhla wempi.
The sons of Ephraim—armed bowmen, Turned in the day of battle;
10 Kabasilondolozanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuhamba emlayweni wakhe.
They kept not the covenant of God, And, in his law, refused to walk;
11 Bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe lezimangaliso zakhe ayebatshengisa zona.
And forgat His doings, And his wonders which he had showed them:
12 Phambi kwaboyise wenza isimangaliso elizweni leGibhithe, egangeni leZowani.
In presence of their fathers, wrought he, wondrously, —In the land of Egypt—the field of Zoan:
13 Waqhekeza ulwandle, wabachaphisa, wenza amanzi ema njengenqumbi.
He clave the sea, and caused them to pass through, And reared up the waters like a mound;
14 Wabakhokhela ngeyezi emini, lebusuku bonke ngokukhanya komlilo.
And led them, by a cloud, in the daytime, And all the night, by a light of fire;
15 Waqhekeza amadwala enkangala, wabanathisa kungathi kuvela ezinzikini ezinkulu.
He used to cleave rocks in the desert, And let them drink as out of mighty deeps;
16 Waseveza izifula edwaleni, wenza amanzi ehla njengemifula.
And he brought forth streams out of the cliff, And caused waters to flow down, like rivers.
17 Kodwa baphinda futhi ukona kuye, ngokumvukela oPhezukonke enkangala.
But again, once more sinned they against him, Resisting the Most High in a land of drought:
18 Bamlinga uNkulunkulu enhliziyweni yabo ngokucela ukudla kwenkanuko yabo.
They put GOD to the proof in their heart, By asking food to their mind:
19 Basebekhuluma bemelene loNkulunkulu bathi: UNkulunkulu angalungisa itafula enkangala yini?
Yea they spake against Elohim, —They said, Can GOD prepare a table in the desert?
20 Khangela, watshaya idwala, kwampompoza amanzi, lezifula zagabha; anganika lesinkwa yini? angalungisela abantu bakhe inyama na?
Lo! he hath smitten a rock, And waters, have gushed out, Yea, torrents, have rushed along, —Food also, can he give? Or provide flesh for his people?
21 Ngakho iNkosi yezwa yathukuthela; umlilo wasubaselwa uJakobe, njalo lolaka lwavukela uIsrayeli,
Therefore, Yahweh hearkened, and became wroth, —And, a fire, was kindled against Jacob, Moreover also, anger, mounted against Israel;
22 ngoba kabakholwanga kuNkulunkulu, kabathembanga esindisweni lwakhe.
Because, They believed not in God, Nor trusted in his salvation;
23 Lanxa walaya amayezi ngaphezulu, wavula iminyango yamazulu,
Though he had commanded the skies above, And, the doors of the heavens, had opened;
24 wabanisela imana ukuthi badle, wabapha amabele amazulu.
And had rained on them manna to eat, And, the corn of the heavens, had given to them:
25 Umuntu wadla isinkwa sabalamandla; wabathumela ukudla ukuze basuthe.
The food of the mighty, each one did eat, Nourishment, sent he them to the full;
26 Wenza umoya wempumalanga wavunguza emazulwini; langamandla akhe waqhuba umoya weningizimu.
He let loose an east wind in the heavens, Then guided he, in his might, a south wind;
27 Wasenisela phezu kwabo inyama njengothuli, lenyoni ezilempiko njengetshebetshebe lolwandle;
And rained upon them flesh as the dust, And, like the sand of the seas, birds of wing;
28 wazenza zawela phakathi kwenkamba yabo, zagombolozela indawo zabo zokuhlala.
And let them fall in the midst of their camp, —Round about their habitations.
29 Ngakho badla basutha kakhulu, ngoba wabalethela isiloyiso sabo.
So they did eat and were abundantly filled, When, what they longed for, he had brought them: —
30 Kabehlukananga lenkanuko yabo; ukudla kusesemlonyeni wabo,
They had not turned away from what they had longed for, Yet was their food in their mouth,
31 ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwaselubavukela, wabulala kwabakhulupheleyo babo, watshaya abakhethiweyo bakoIsrayeli.
When, the anger of God, mounted against them, And he slew of their vigorous youths, And, the choice young men of Israel, caused he to bow down in death.
32 Kulokhu konke bajinga besona, njalo kabakholwanga ngenxa yezimangaliso zakhe.
For all this, sinned they still, And believed not in his wonders;
33 Ngakho waziqeda izinsuku zabo ngeze, leminyaka yabo ovalweni.
So he ended, in a breath, their days, And their years, in a sudden terror!
34 Lapho ebabulala, bamdinga, baphenduka, bamdingisisa uNkulunkulu.
If he slew [of] them, then they sought him, Yea they turned, and did earnestly seek GOD;
35 Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu ulidwala labo, loNkulunkulu oPhezukonke ungumhlengi wabo.
And remembered that, Elohim, was their rock, Yea, EL Most High, their Redeemer:
36 Kodwa bamyenga ngomlomo wabo, baqamba amanga kuye ngolimi lwabo.
So they spake him fair with their mouth, And, with their tongue, did promise him falsely;
37 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo yayingaqondanga kuye, njalo bengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
But, their heart, was not fixed with him, Nor were they trusty in his covenant:
38 Kodwa yena elesihawu wathethelela ububi babo, kababhubhisanga; yebo, kanengi walunqanda ulaka lwakhe, kakuvusanga konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
Yet, he, full of compassion, would put a propitiatory-covering over iniquity, and not destroy, —Yea, many a time, turned he back his anger, And would not stir up all his wrath.
39 Ngoba wakhumbula ukuthi bayinyama, umoya odlulayo, ongabuyiyo.
So then he remembered, That, Flesh, they were, A Wind departing, that returneth not.
40 Kanengi kangakanani bemvukela ehlane, bemdabukisa enkangala.
How often they, Resisted him in the desert, Vexed him, in the waste:
41 Yebo baphenduka bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamdabukisa oNgcwele kaIsrayeli.
Yea they again put GOD to the test, And, to the Holy One of Israel, caused they sorrow:
42 Kabasikhumbulanga isandla sakhe, usuku abahlenga ngalo esitheni.
They remembered not his hand—The day, When he ransomed them from the adversary;
43 Ukuthi wamisa njani izibonakaliso zakhe eGibhithe, lezimangaliso zakhe emmangweni weZowani,
When he set, in Egypt, his signs, And his wonders, in the plain of Zoan;
44 lokuthi waphendula imifula yabo yaba ligazi, lezifula zabo, ukuze banganathi.
When he turned, into blood, their Nile-streams, And, their own rivers, could they not drink;
45 Wathumela phakathi kwabo umtshitshi wezibawu, ezabadlayo, lamaxoxo ababhubhisayo.
He sent among them, The gad-fly, and it devoured them, And the frog, and it despoiled them;
46 Wasenika imihogoyi isivuno sabo, lomsebenzi wabo isikhonyane.
When he gave to the corn-locust their produce, And their toil, to the swarming locust;
47 Wabulala ivini labo ngesiqhotho, lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore ngongqwaqwane.
He killed, with hail, their vine, And their sycomores, with frost:
48 Wasenikela izifuyo zabo esiqhothweni, lemihlambi yabo kuyo imibane.
When he gave up, to hail-storms, their beasts, And their cattle, to pestilent fevers;
49 Waphosela phezu kwabo ukuvutha kolaka lwakhe, ukuthukuthela, lokucunuka, lokuhlupheka, ngokuthuma izithunywa zobubi.
He sent among them the heat of his anger, Wrath and indignation and distress, —A mission of messengers of misfortune:
50 Walungisela ulaka lwakhe indlela, kanqandanga umphefumulo wabo ekufeni, kodwa wanikela impilo yabo kumatshayabhuqe wesifo.
He leveled a path for his anger, Withheld not, from death, their soul, But, their life—to the pestilence, he delivered:
51 Wasetshaya wonke amazibulo eGibhithe, okokuqala kwamandla emathenteni kaHamu.
So he smote, Every first-born in Egypt, The beginning of their strength, in the tents of Ham;
52 Wasebakhupha abantu bakhe njengezimvu, wabakhokhela enkangala njengomhlambi.
And he set forth, like sheep, his people, And guided them, like a flock in the desert;
53 Wasebakhokhela bephephile ukuze bangesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwasibekela izitha zabo.
Yea he led them securely, and they dreaded not, And, their enemies, the sea did cover.
54 Wasebafikisa emkhawulweni wendawo yakhe engcwele, le intaba, isandla sakhe sokunene esayizuzayo.
Then brought he them within his own holy bounds, The mountain-range, which his right hand made his own:
55 Wasebaxotsha abezizwe phambi kwabo; wababela ilifa ngomzila, wahlalisa izizwe zakoIsrayeli emathenteni azo.
So he drave out, before them, [whole] nations, And allotted them, by line, an inheritance, And caused to dwell, in their own homes, the tribes of Israel.
56 Kanti bamlinga, bamvukela uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke, kabazigcinanga izifakazelo zakhe.
But they tested and resisted God Most High, And, his testimonies, did not observe;
57 Kodwa babuyela emuva, benza ngokungathembeki njengaboyise, baphanjulwa njengedandili elikhohlisayo.
But drew back and dealt treacherously, like their fathers, They turned aside, like deceitful bowmen;
58 Ngoba bamthukuthelisa ngezindawo zabo eziphakemeyo, bavusa umona wakhe ngezithombe zabo ezibaziweyo.
And provoked him to anger with their high places, And, with their images, used to move him to jealousy.
59 UNkulunkulu esizwa wathukuthela, wamenyanya kakhulu uIsrayeli.
God heard and was wroth, And greatly abhorred Israel;
60 Ngakho walitshiya ithabhanekele leShilo, ithente alimisa phakathi kwabantu.
So he gave up the habitation of Shiloh, The tent he had set up among Men;
61 Wasenikela amandla akhe ekuthunjweni, lenkazimulo yakhe esandleni sesitha.
Yea he gave up, into captivity, his strength, And his beauty into the hand of an adversary;
62 Wasenikela abantu bakhe enkembeni, waselithukuthelela ilifa lakhe.
And delivered up, to the sword, his people, And, with his own inheritance, was he wroth;
63 Umlilo waqeda amajaha abo, lezintombi zabo kazihlatshelelwanga.
His young men, were devoured by fire, And, his virgins, were not praised in song;
64 Abapristi babo bawa ngenkemba, labafelokazi babo kabalilanga.
His priests, by the sword, did fall, And, his widows, were not able to bewail.
65 Khona iNkosi yavuka njengobelele, njengeqhawe eliklabalala ngenxa yewayini.
Then awoke, as one that had slept, Adonay, As a warrior exulting with wine!
66 Yazitshaya izitha zayo emuva, yazithela ihlazo phakade.
So he smote his adversaries in the rear, Reproach age-abiding, laid he upon them.
67 Yasilahla ithente likaJosefa, kayikhethanga isizwe sakoEfrayimi.
Howbeit he rejected the tent of Joseph, And, the tribe of Ephraim, did not choose:
68 Kodwa yakhetha isizwe sakoJuda, intaba yeZiyoni eyithandayo.
But made choice of the tribe of Judah, The mountain of Zion, which he loved;
69 Yayakha indlu yayo engcwele njengezingqonga, njengomhlaba ewusekeleyo kuze kube nininini.
And built, like the heights, his sanctuary, Like the earth, he founded it to times age-abiding.
70 Yasikhetha uDavida inceku yayo, yamthatha ezibayeni zezimvu;
And made choice of David his servant, And took him from among the folds of the sheep:
71 ekulandeleni izimvukazi ezenyisayo, yamletha ukwelusa uJakobe abantu bayo, loIsrayeli ilifa layo.
From after the sucking ewes, he brought him in, —To be shepherd to Jacob his people, And to Israel, his inheritance.
72 Njalo wabelusa njengobuqotho benhliziyo yakhe, wabakhokhela ngobugabazi bezandla zakhe.
So he did shepherd them, according to the singleness of his heart, And, with the discernment of his hands, used he to guide them.
