Amahubo 73
1 Qotho uNkulunkulu ulungile kuIsrayeli, kulabo abahlambulukileyo enhliziyweni.
A Psalm for Asaph. How good is God to Israel, to the upright in heart!
2 Kodwa mina inyawo zami zaphose zasuka, izinyathelo zami zaphose zatshelela.
But my feet were almost overthrown; my goings very nearly slipped.
3 Ngoba ngaba lomhawu ngabazikhukhumezayo, ngibona ukuphumelela kwababi.
For I was jealous of the transgressors, beholding the tranquility of sinners.
4 Ngoba kakulazibopho ekufeni kwabo, kodwa amandla abo aqinile.
For there is no sign of reluctance in their death: and [they have] firmness under their affliction.
5 Kabakho enhluphekweni njengabanye abantu, njalo kabahlutshwa njengabanye abantu.
They are not in the troubles of [other] men; and they shall not be scourged with [other] men.
6 Ngakho-ke ukuzigqaja kuyabazungeza njengeketane, udlame luyabasibekela njengesembatho.
Therefore pride has possessed them; they have clothed themselves with their injustice and ungodliness.
7 Amehlo abo aqumbile ngamafutha; iminakano yenhliziyo iyaphuphuma.
Their injustice shall go forth as out of fatness: they have fulfilled their intention.
8 Bayakloloda, bakhulume ngobubi ngocindezelo; bakhuluma besekuphakameni.
They have taken counsel and spoken in wickedness: they have uttered unrighteousness loftily.
9 Bamisa umlomo wabo umelene lamazulu, lolimi lwabo luhamba emhlabeni.
They have set their mouth against heaven, and their tongue has gone through upon the earth.
10 Ngakho abantu bakhe bayaphendukela lapha, lamanzi enkezo egcweleyo akhanyelwa bona.
Therefore shall my people return hither: and full days shall be found with them.
11 Njalo bathi: UNkulunkulu wazi njani? Kukhona ulwazi yini koPhezukonke?
And they said, How does God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?
12 Khangela, laba ngabangelaNkulunkulu, kanti bayaphumelela elizweni, bandisa inotho.
Behold, these [are] the sinners, and they that prosper always: they have possessed wealth.
13 Isibili ngihlambulule inhliziyo yami ngeze, ngageza izandla zami ngokungelacala.
And I said, Verily in vain have I justified my heart, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 Ngoba ngihlutshiwe usuku lonke, lesijeziso sami sisekuseni yonke.
For I was plagued all the day, and my reproof [was] every morning.
15 Uba bengingathi: Ngizakhuluma ngokunje, khangela, ngabe ngisikhohlisile isizukulwana sabantwana bakho.
If I said, I will speak thus; behold, I [should] have broken covenant with the generation of your children.
16 Lapho nganakana ukwazi lokhu, kwakubuhlungu emehlweni ami,
And I undertook to understand this, [but] it is too hard for me,
17 ngaze ngangena ezindlini ezingcwele zikaNkulunkulu; ngasengikuqedisisa ukuphela kwabo.
until I go into the sanctuary of God; [and so] understand the latter end.
18 Isibili ubamisa endaweni ezitshelelayo, ubawisela ekubhujisweni.
Surely you have appointed [judgments] to them because of their crafty dealings: you have cast them down when they were lifted up.
19 Yeka ukuchitheka kwabo njengokucwayiza kwelihlo! Baphela baqedwe ngokwesabisayo.
How have they become desolate! suddenly they have failed: they have perished because of their iniquity.
20 Njengephupho ekuphaphameni, Nkosi, nxa uvuka uzadelela umfanekiso wabo.
As the dream of one awakening, O Lord, in your city you will despise their image.
21 Ngakho inhliziyo yami yaba buhlungu, ngahlatshwa ezinsweni zami.
For my heart has rejoiced, and my reins have been gladdened.
22 Njalo ngaba yisiphukuphuku esingaziyo, ngaba njengenyamazana kuwe.
But I [was] vile and knew not: I became brutish before you.
23 Kodwa mina ngihlezi ngilawe; ubambe isandla sami sokunene.
Yet I am continually with you: you have holden my right hand.
24 Uzangikhokhela ngeseluleko sakho, lemva kwalokho ungemukele enkazimulweni.
You have guided me by your counsel, and you have taken me to yourself with glory.
25 Ngilobani emazulwini ngaphandle kwakho? Njalo kakukho engikufisayo emhlabeni ngaphandle kwakho.
For what have I in heaven [but you]? and what have I desired upon the earth beside you?
26 Inyama yami lenhliziyo yami kuyaphela; uNkulunkulu ulidwala lenhliziyo yami lesabelo sami kuze kube nininini.
My heart and my flesh have failed: [but] God [is the strength] of my heart, and God is my portion for ever.
27 Ngoba khangela, abakhatshana lawe bazabhubha; ubachithile bonke abaphingayo ngokusuka kuwe.
For, behold, they that remove themselves far from you shall perish: you have destroyed every one that goes a whoring from you.
28 Kodwa mina kungilungele ukusondela kuNkulunkulu; ngibeke isiphephelo sami eNkosini uJehova, ukutshumayela zonke izenzo zakho.
But it is good for me to cleave close to God, to put my trust in the Lord; that I may proclaim all your praises in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
