Amahubo 79
1 Nkulunkulu, abezizwe sebengenile elifeni lakho; balingcolisile ithempeli lakho elingcwele; iJerusalema bayenze yaba zinqumbi.
A Psalm by Asaph. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
2 Banikile izidumbu zezinceku zakho zaba yikudla kwenyoni zamazulu, inyama yabangcwele bakho kuzo izilo zomhlaba.
They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
3 Balichithile igazi labo njengamanzi inhlangothi zonke zeJerusalema; njalo kakubanga khona ongcwabayo.
They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.
4 Sesibe yinhlamba kubomakhelwane bethu, inhlekisa loklolodelo kwabasiphahlileyo.
We have become a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
5 Koze kube nini, Nkosi? Uzathukuthela phakade yini? Ubukhwele bakho buzavutha njengomlilo yini?
How long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Thulula ulaka lwakho phezu kwabezizwe abangakwaziyo, laphezu kwemibuso engabizi ibizo lakho.
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
7 Ngoba bamdlile uJakobe, lomuzi wakhe sebewenze unxiwa.
for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.
8 Ungakhumbuli umelene lathi izono zethu zendulo; isihawu sakho kasize masinyane phambi kwethu, ngoba sehliselwe phansi kakhulu.
Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.
9 Sisize, Nkulunkulu wosindiso lwethu, ngenxa yodumo lwebizo lakho; sikhulule, uhlawulele izono zethu, ngenxa yebizo lakho.
Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
10 Kungani abezizwe bezakuthi: Ungaphi uNkulunkulu wabo? Kawaziwe phakathi kwezizwe phambi kwamehlo ethu, impindiselo yegazi lenceku zakho elachithwayo.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known amongst the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
11 Ukububula kwezibotshwa kakuze phambi kwakho; njengobukhulu bengalo yakho ulondoloze abantwana bokufa.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
12 Uphindisele omakhelwane bethu kasikhombisa esifubeni sabo ukuthuka kwabo, abakuthuka ngakho, Nkosi.
Pay back to our neighbours seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
13 Khona thina abantu bakho, izimvu zedlelo lakho, sizakubonga kuze kube nininini, silandise udumo lwakho esizukulwaneni ngesizukulwana.
So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.
