Psalms 35
1 David’s. Contend, O Yahweh, with them who contend with me, Make war upon them who make war upon me.
Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
2 Grasp buckler and shield, and arise in my help;
Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.
3 Then draw the spear, and close up against my pursuers, Say to my soul, Thy salvation, I am!
Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.
4 Let them be ashamed and confounded, who are seeking my life, —Let them turn back and be put to the blush, who are devising my hurt:
Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, with, the messenger of Yahweh, pressing them on:
Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
6 Let their way become dark and slippery, with, the messenger of Yahweh, pursuing them.
Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.
7 For, without cause, have they hid for me, in a ditch, their net, —Without cause, have they digged [a pit] for my life.
Ngoba kungelasizatho bangifihlele imbule labo emgodini, kungelasizatho bawugebhele umphefumulo wami.
8 There shall reach him a ruin he could not know, —Yea, his own net which he hath hidden, shall capture him, Into that ruin, shall he fall!
Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
9 But, my soul, shall exult in Yahweh, —shall be glad in his salvation.
Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
10 All my bones, shall say—O Yahweh, who is like unto thee? Rescuing the oppressed from one stronger than he, Yea the oppressed and the needy, from their spoiler.
Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
11 There rise up witnesses helping forward violence and wrong, What I know not, they demand of me:
Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
12 They repay me evil for good, Bereaving my soul.
Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
13 But, as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled, with fasting, my soul, though, my prayer, unto mine own bosom, might return:
Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.
14 Like as for a friend, like as for a brother of mine own, I walked to and fro, As though mourning for a mother, I gloomily bowed myself down.
Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
15 But, in mine overthrow, have they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together, —There gathered themselves together against me foolish men, and I knew it not, They have torn in pieces, and not been silent;
Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
16 Amidst profane praters of perversion, have they gnashed upon me with their teeth.
Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
17 My Lord! how long wilt thou look on? Bring back my soul out of their raging, from among lions, my solitary self.
Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
18 I will thank thee, in the midst of a great convocation, —In the midst of a mighty people, will I praise thee.
Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
19 Let not them who are falsely my foes rejoice over me, As for them who hate me without cause, let them not wink the eye!
Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
20 For, no salvation, will they utter, —But, against the quiet of the land, deceitful things, do they devise;
Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
21 Yea they have opened wide against me their mouth, They have said, Aha! Aha! our own eye, hath seen!
Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
22 Thou hast seen, O Yahweh, do not keep silence! O My Lord! be not far from me:
Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
23 Bestir thyself and wake up, to my vindication, O my God and My Lord!—to my plea:
Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
24 Vindicate me according to thy righteousness, O Yahweh, my God! And let them not rejoice over me:
Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
25 Let them not say in their heart, Aha! to our mind! Let them not say, We have swallowed him up!
Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.
26 Let them turn pale, and then at once blush, who are rejoicing at my misfortune, —Let them be clothed with shame and confusion, who are magnifying themselves against me.
Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
27 Let them shout in triumph and rejoice, who are desiring my justification; And let them say continually, Yahweh be magnified, Who hath taken pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.
28 Mine own tongue also, shall softly utter thy righteousness, —All the day long, —thy praise!
Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
