Psalms 81
1 Sing [songs] to praise God, who enables us to be strong [when we fight our enemies]; shout joyfully to God, whom we (descendants of Jacob/Israeli people) [worship]!
Kumqondisi wokuhlabela. Ngendlela yegithithi. Elika-Asafi Hlabelelani ngentokozo kuNkulunkulu ongamandla ethu; memezani kakhulu kuNkulunkulu kaJakhobe!
2 Start [playing] the music, and beat the tambourines, and play nice music on the harps and (lyres/other stringed instruments).
Qalisani ukuhlabela, tshayani isigubhu, khalisani ichacho elimnandi lomhubhe.
3 Blow the trumpets [during the festival to celebrate] each new moon and each time the moon is full and during our [other] festivals.
Khalisani uphondo lwenqama ekuThwaseni kweNyanga, lalapho inyanga isigcwele, ngelanga lomkhosi;
4 [Do that] because that is a law for [us] Israeli [people]; God commanded it for us descendants of Jacob.
lesi yisimemezelo sika-Israyeli, umthetho kaNkulunkulu kaJakhobe.
5 He commanded us Israeli [people to obey it] when he punished [the people of] Egypt. I heard someone [MTY] whose voice I did not recognize, saying,
Wakumisa njengesimiso kuJosefa lapho aphuma wavukela ilizwe leGibhithe, lapho ezwa khona ulimi esasingaluzwa. Ngezwa ilizwi engingalaziyo lisithi:
6 “[After the rulers of Egypt forced you Israelis to work as slaves], I took those [heavy] burdens off your backs, and I enabled you to lay down those [heavy] baskets [of bricks that you were carrying].
“Ngawethula umthwalo emahlombe abo; izandla zabo zakhululwa engcebethwini.
7 When you were [greatly] distressed, you called [out to me], and I rescued you; I answered you out of a thundercloud. [Later] I tested [whether you would trust me to give you] water [when you were in the desert] at Meribah.
Ekuhluphekeni kwenu lamemeza mina ngalikhulula. Ngaliphendula ngiphakathi komdumo weyezi; ngalilinga emanzini aseMeribha.
8 [You who are] my people, listen while I warn you! I wish that you Israeli [people] would pay attention to what I [say to you]!
Zwanini, awu bantu bami, mina ngizalixwayisa aluba lingangilalela, Oh Israyeli!
9 You must not have any idols of other gods among you; you must never bow to worship any of them!
Lingabi lonkulunkulu wezizweni phakathi kwenu; lingabokhothamela unkulunkulu ongaziwayo.
10 I am Yahweh, your God; It was [not any of those other gods] who brought you out of Egypt, I am the one who did it! [So] ask me what you want me to do for you [MTY], and I will do it.
NginguThixo uNkulunkulu wenu, owalikhuphayo eGibhithe. Vulani kakhulu umlomo wenu ngizawugcwalisa.
11 But my people would not listen to me [SYN]; they would not obey me.
Kodwa abantu bami kabangilalelanga; u-Israyeli wala ukungithobela.
12 So even though they were very stubborn, I allowed them to do whatever they wanted to do.
Ngakho ngasengibayekela ngezinhliziyo zabo zobuqholo ukuthi balandele lokho abakufunayo.
13 I wish that my people would listen to me, that the Israeli [people] would behave as I want them to do.
Aluba abantu bami bengangilalela, aluba u-Israyeli engalandela izindlela zami,
14 [If they did that], I would quickly defeat their enemies; I would strike/punish [all of] them [DOU].
masinyane nje ngingazibhuqa izitha zabo ngiphakamisele isandla sami ezitheni zabo!
15 [Then all] those who hate me would (cringe before/bow down to) me, and [then I] would punish them [MTY] forever.
Labo abamzondayo uThixo bangatshotshobala phambi kwakhe, kuthi isijeziso sabo sibe ngesaphakade.
16 [But] I would give you [Israelis] very good wheat/grain, and I would fill your stomachs with wild honey.”
Kodwa lina lingaphiwa ingqoloyi enhle kakhulu; ngilisuthise ngoluju oluphuma edwaleni.”
