Psalms 78
1 A contemplation by Asaph. Hear my teaching, my people. Turn your ears to the words of my mouth.
Ihubo ka-Asafu Zwanini imfundiso yami, bantu bami; lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable. I will utter dark sayings of old,
Ngizavula umlomo wami ngemifanekiso, ngizakutsho izinto ezifihlekileyo, izinto zekadeni,
3 which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.
esakuzwayo lesikwaziyo esakutshelwa ngokhokho bethu.
4 We will not hide them from their children, telling to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, his strength, and his wondrous deeds that he has done.
Kasizukuzifihlela abantwana babo; sizasitshela isizukulwane esizayo ngemisebenzi emangalisayo kaThixo, amandla akhe, lemimangaliso aseyenzile.
5 For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children;
Wamisela uJakhobe imithetho wabeka umlayo ko-Israyeli, walaya okhokho bethu ukuthi bawufundise abantwababo,
6 that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children,
ukuze aziwe yisizukulwane esilandelayo, kanye labantwana abazazalwa, kuthi labo batshele abantwababo.
7 that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,
Yikho-ke bazabeka ithemba labo kuNkulunkulu njalo abasoze bakhohlwa izenzo zakhe kodwa bagcine imilayo yakhe.
8 and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.
Kabayikuba njengabokhokho babo ababeyisizukulwana esilobuqholo lesihlamukayo, onhliziyo zabo zazingazinikelanga kuNkulunkulu omoya yabo yayingathembekanga kuye.
9 The children of Ephraim, being armed and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.
Amadoda ako-Efrayimi, loba ayehlomile ngemitshoko, afulathela mhla welanga lempi;
10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant, and refused to walk by his Torah.
kabasigcinanga isivumelwano sikaNkulunkulu, bala ukuphila ngomthetho wakhe.
11 They forgot his doings, his wondrous deeds that he had shown them.
Bakhohlwa lokho ayekwenzile, izimanga ayebatshengise zona.
12 He did marvellous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.
Wenza imimangaliso oyise bekhangele elizweni laseGibhithe, esigodini saseZowani.
13 He split the sea, and caused them to pass through. He made the waters stand as a heap.
Walwahlukanisa ulwandle wabahola bachapha; wenza amanzi ema aqina saka njengomduli.
14 In the daytime he also led them with a cloud, and all night with a light of fire.
Wabahola ngeyezi emini njalo ngokukhanya komlilo ubusuku bonke.
15 He split rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as out of the depths.
Wawaqhekeza amadwala enkangala wabapha amanzi amanengi njengolwandle;
16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers.
wantshazisa impophoma emadwaleni amawa wenza amanzi ageleza njengemifula.
17 Yet they still went on to sin against him, to rebel against the Most High in the desert.
Kodwa baqhubeka besona phambi kwakhe, bamhlamukela enkangala yena oPhezukonke.
18 They tempted God in their heart by asking food according to their desire.
Bamlinga uNkulunkulu ngabomo ngokucela ukudla ababekutshisekela.
19 Yes, they spoke against God. They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
Bamchothoza uNkulunkulu besithi, “Kambe uNkulunkulu angendlala itafula lokudlela enkangala na?
20 Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can he give bread also? Will he provide meat for his people?”
Wathi lapho etshaya idwala, amanzi antshantshaza, kwageleza amanzi amanengi. Kodwa angasipha njalo lokudla na? Angabalethela inyama abantu bakhe na?”
21 Therefore the LORD heard, and was angry. A fire was kindled against Jacob, anger also went up against Israel,
UThixo wathi ebezwa wathukuthela kakhulu; umlilo wakhe wavuthela kuJakhobe, ulaka lwakhe lwaqina ku-Israyeli,
22 because they didn’t believe in God, and didn’t trust in his salvation [yeshuat].
ngoba kabamkholwanga uNkulunkulu njalo kabawathembanga amandla okuhlenga kwakhe.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
Loba kunjalo walaya umkhathi ngaphezulu wavula iminyango yamazulu;
24 He rained down manna on them to eat, and gave them food from the sky.
wanisa imana ukuthi badle abantu, wabapha amabele asezulwini.
25 Man ate the bread of angels. He sent them food to the full.
Abantu badla isinkwa sezingilosi; wabathumela konke ukudla ababengakudla.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the sky. By his power he guided the south wind.
Wawukhulula umoya wempumalanga uvela emazulwini, wawukhulula umoya weningizimu ngamandla akhe.
27 He also rained meat on them as the dust, winged birds as the sand of the seas.
Wanisela inyama kubo njengothuli, izinyoni eziphaphayo zaba njengetshebetshebe ogwini lolwandle.
28 He let them fall in the middle of their camp, around their habitations.
Wazenza zehlela phakathi kwezihonqo zabo, indawana yonke emathenteni abo.
29 So they ate, and were well filled. He gave them their own desire.
Bazitika baze bakhangela, ngoba wayebaphe ababekade bekukhalela.
30 They didn’t turn from their cravings. Their food was yet in their mouths,
Kodwa bengakakutshiyi lokho kudla ababekukhalela belokhu besakunambitha emilonyeni yabo,
31 when the anger of God went up against them, killed some of their strongest, and struck down the young men of Israel.
ulaka lukaNkulunkulu lwavutha kubo; wabulala zona iziqwabalanda zabo, wawahemula amajaha ako-Israyeli.
32 For all this they still sinned, and didn’t believe in his wondrous works.
Phezu kwakho konke lokhu baqhubeka besona; phezu kwezimanga zakhe, kabazange bakholwe.
33 Therefore he consumed their days in vanity, and their years in terror.
Ngakho wenza insuku zabo zaphelela ezeni njalo leminyaka yabo yagcwala ukwesaba.
34 When he killed them, then they enquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
Kwakusithi uNkulunkulu angababulala, bamdinge; baphendukele kuye njalo ngokutshiseka.
35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God, their redeemer.
Bakhumbula ukuthi uNkulunkulu wayelidwala labo, ukuthi uNkulunkulu oPhezukonke wayenguMhlengi wabo.
36 But they flattered him with their mouth, and lied to him with their tongue.
Kodwa-ke kwakuyikumyenga ngemilomo yabo, beqamba amanga kuye ngendimi zabo;
37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
inhliziyo zabo zazingabambelelanga kuye, babengathembekanga esivumelwaneni sakhe.
38 But he, being merciful, forgave iniquity, and didn’t destroy them. Yes, many times he turned his anger away, and didn’t stir up all his wrath.
Kodwa wayelesihawu; wazithethelela izono zabo kaze ababhubhisa. Isikhathi ngesikhathi waluthoba ulaka lwakhe akaze akuqubula konke ukuthukuthela kwakhe.
39 He remembered that they were but flesh, a wind that passes away, and doesn’t come again.
Wakhumbula ukuthi babeyinyama nje intshongolo eyedlulayo nje ingabe isabuya.
40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness, and grieved him in the desert!
Kodwa ukuthi bamhlamukela kanengi njani enkangala, bamdabukisa egwaduleni!
41 They turned again and tempted God, and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
Baphindaphinda ukulinga uNkulunkulu; bamthukuthelisa oNgcwele ka-Israyeli.
42 They didn’t remember his hand, nor the day when he redeemed them from the adversary;
Kabawakhumbulanga amandla akhe usuku abakhulula ngalo kumncindezeli,
43 how he set his signs in Egypt, his wonders in the field of Zoan,
usuku lapho aveza khona izibonakaliso zakhe ezimangalisayo eGibhithe, izimanga zakhe esigodini saseZowani.
44 he turned their rivers into blood, and their streams, so that they could not drink.
Waguqula imifula yabo yaba ligazi; behluleka ukunatha ezifuleni zabo.
45 He sent amongst them swarms of flies, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.
Wathumela imihlambi yezibawu zabantinya, lamaxoxo ababhuqayo.
46 He also gave their increase to the caterpillar, and their labour to the locust.
Amabele abo wawathela izintethe, izithelo zabo isikhongwane.
47 He destroyed their vines with hail, their sycamore fig trees with frost.
Wathintitha amavini abo ngesiqhotho lemikhiwa yabo yesikhamore wayitshazisa ngongqwaqwane.
48 He also gave over their livestock to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
Inkomo zabo wazithela ngesiqhotho, izifuyo zabo zadliwa yizikhatha zombane.
49 He threw on them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, indignation, and trouble, and a band of angels of evil.
Wabathululela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo, intukuthelo yakhe, ukucunuka lenzondo ixuku lezingilosi ezibhubhisayo.
50 He made a path for his anger. He didn’t spare their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence,
Wayilungisa indlela yolaka lwakhe; kabaphephisanga ekufeni kodwa wabanikela emikhuhlaneni.
51 and struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tents of Ham.
Wawabulala wonke amazibulo aseGibhithe, izithelo zabo zokuqala zokuba ngamadoda emathenteni kaHamu.
52 But he led out his own people like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
Kodwa wabakhupha abantu bakhe njengomhlambi wezimvu; wabahola njengezimvu bedabula inkangala.
53 He led them safely, so that they weren’t afraid, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
Wabakhokhela ngonanzelelo, ngakho babengesabi; kodwa ulwandle lwazigubuzela izitha zabo.
54 He brought them to the border of his sanctuary, to this mountain, which his right hand had taken.
Kanjalo wabaletha emngceleni welizwe lakhe elingcwele, elizweni lamaqaqa ayelithethe ngesandla sakhe sokunene.
55 He also drove out the nations before them, allotted them for an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
Wazixotsha izizwe phambi kwabo wabahlukanisela ilizwe lazo laba yilifa; wahlalisa izizwana zako-Israyeli emizini yazo.
56 Yet they tempted and rebelled against the Most High God, and didn’t keep his testimonies,
Kodwa bamlinga uNkulunkulu, bamhlamukela oPhezukonke; kabayigcinanga imilayo yakhe.
57 but turned back, and dealt treacherously like their fathers. They were twisted like a deceitful bow.
Njengabokhokho babo babengathembekanga bengakholwa, ungeke wathemba njengedandili elenziwe kubi.
58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their engraved images.
Bamvusa ulaka ngezindawo zabo eziphezulu; baqubula ubukhwele bakhe ngezithombe zabo.
59 When God heard this, he was angry, and greatly abhorred Israel,
Wathi uNkulunkulu ngokukuzwa lokho, wathukuthela kakhulu; wamlahla qobo lokumlahla u-Israyeli.
60 so that he abandoned the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed amongst men,
Walidela ithabanikeli lakhe eShilo, ithente ayelakhile phakathi kwabantu.
61 and delivered his strength into captivity, his glory into the adversary’s hand.
Umphongolo wakhe wamandla wawusa ekuthunjweni, inkazimulo yakhe ezandleni zesitha.
62 He also gave his people over to the sword, and was angry with his inheritance.
Abantu bakhe wabanikela ukudliwa yinkemba; wayethukuthele kakhulu ngelifa lakhe.
63 Fire devoured their young men. Their virgins had no wedding song.
Umlilo waziqeda izinsizwa zabo, izintombi zabo zaswela izingoma zomtshado;
64 Their priests fell by the sword, and their widows couldn’t weep.
abaphristi babo babulawa ngenkemba, abafelokazi babo behluleka ukulila.
65 Then the Lord awakened as one out of sleep, like a mighty man who shouts by reason of wine.
INkosi yasivuka njengokade esebuthongweni, njengomuntu ephaphama ekudakweni yiwayini.
66 He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
Wazitshaya zahlehla izitha zakhe; waziyangisa okungapheliyo.
67 Moreover he rejected the tent of Joseph, and didn’t choose the tribe of Ephraim,
Khonapho-ke wawakhalala amathente kaJosefa, akaze asikhetha isizwana sika-Efrayimi;
68 But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which he loved.
kodwa wakhetha isizwana sikaJuda, iNtaba iZiyoni ayeyithanda.
69 He built his sanctuary like the heights, like the earth which he has established forever.
Wakha indlu yakhe engcwele njengeziqongo, njengomhlaba awumisela ingunaphakade.
70 He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds;
Wakhetha uDavida inceku yakhe wamthatha ezilugwini zezimvu;
71 from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance.
wamsusa ekweluseni izimvu wamletha ukuba ngumelusi wabantu bakhe uJakhobe, baka-Israyeli ilifa lakhe.
72 So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
Njalo uDavida wabelusa ngobuqotho benhliziyo; wabakhokhela ngesandla sobungcitshi.
