Psalms 17
1 A prayer of David. Listen, O Lord, to my innocence; attend to my piercing cry. Give heed to my prayer out of lips unfeigned.
Umkhuleko kaDavida. Zwana, Oh Thixo, ukuncenga kwami okulungileyo; lalela ukukhala kwami. Zwana umkhuleko wami, kawusuki ezindebeni ezikhohlisayo.
2 Let my vindication come from you, your eyes see the truth.
Ukugezwa kwami ecaleni kakuvele kuwe; sengathi amehlo Akho angabona lokho okuqondileyo.
3 When you test my heart when you visit at night, and assay me like silver – you can find no evil. I am determined that my mouth should not lie.
Udungulule inhliziyo yami wangihlola ebusuku wangilinga, kawuyikufumana lutho olubi engiluhlelileyo; sengizimisele ukuthi umlomo wami ungenzi sono.
4 I gave earnest heed to the words of your lips.
Mayelana lezenzo zabantu, mina ngizazithiba ezindleleni zobudlwangudlwangu ngelizwi lezindebe zakho.
5 My steps have held fast to the paths of your precepts and in your tracks have my feet never stumbled.
Izinyathelo zami zalela ezindleleni zakho; inyawo zami kazizange zitshelele.
6 So I call you, O God, with assurance of answer; bend down your ear to me, hear what I say.
Ngikhala kuwe, Oh Nkulunkulu ngoba uzangiphendula; ngilalela uzwe umkhuleko wami.
7 Show your marvellous love, you who save from enemies those who take refuge at your right hand.
Tshengisa ukumangalisa kothando lwakho olukhulu, wena osindisa ngesandla sakho sokunene, labo ababalekela kuwe ezitheni zabo.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me in the shelter of your wings.
Ngilondoloza njengegugu lakho; ngifihla emthunzini wamaphiko akho
9 From wicked people who do me violence, from deadly foes who crowd around me.
kwababi abangihlaselayo, ezitheni zami ezimbi ezingihanqileyo.
10 They have closed their hearts to pity, the words of their mouths are haughty.
Bagcika inhliziyo zabo ezingelazwelo, lemilomo yabo ikhuluma iqholoza.
11 Now they dog us at every step, keenly watching, to hurl us to the ground,
Sebeze bangithola, manje sebengihanqile bangiqhuzulele amehlo bafuna ukungilahla phansi.
12 like a lion, longing to tear, like a young lion, lurking in secret.
Banjengesilwane silambele loba yini esingayidumela, njengesilwane esesabekayo siquthile sicatshile.
13 Arise, Lord, face them and fell them. By your sword set me free from the wicked,
Phakama, Oh Thixo, basukele, balahle phansi; ngilamulela kwababi ngenkemba yakho.
14 by your hand, O Lord, from those – whose portion of life is but of this world. But let your treasured ones have food in plenty may their children be full and their children satisfied.
Oh Thixo, ngisindisa ngesandla sakho ebantwini abanjalo, ebantwini bakulumhlaba omvuzo wabo ukuyonale impilo. Udedisa iphango lalabo obathandayo; amadodana abo akhomba ngophakathi; baqoqela abantwababo inotho.
15 In my innocence I will see your face, awake I am filled with a vision of you.
Mina-ke ngenxa yokulunga ngizabubona ubuso bakho; ngizakuthi ekuvukeni kwami nganeliswe yikubona isimo sakho.
