Amahubo 35
1 Phikisana, Nkosi, labaphikisana lami, ulwe labalwa lami.
By David. Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
2 Xhakalaza ihawu lesihlangu esikhulu, usukumele usizo lwami.
Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
3 Hwatsha lomkhonto, uvimbe indlela umelane labangizingelayo; tshono emphefumulweni wami ukuthi: Ngilusindiso lwakho.
Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, “I am your salvation.”
4 Kabayangeke babe lehlazo labo abadinga umphefumulo wami. Kabahlehliselwe emuva babe lenhloni labo abaceba ububi ngami.
Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonour. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
5 Kababe njengamakhoba phambi komoya, lengilosi yeNkosi kayibadudule.
Let them be as chaff before the wind, the LORD’s angel driving them on.
6 Indlela yabo kayibe mnyama itshelele, lengilosi yeNkosi ibaxotshe.
Let their way be dark and slippery, the LORD’s angel pursuing them.
7 Ngoba kungelasizatho bangifihlele imbule labo emgodini, kungelasizatho bawugebhele umphefumulo wami.
For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
8 Ukubhujiswa kakumjume, lembule lakhe alifihlileyo kalimbambe yena, awele kulo, ekubhujisweni.
Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
9 Kodwa umphefumulo wami uzathokoza eNkosini, ujabule esindisweni lwayo.
My soul shall be joyful in the LORD. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
10 Wonke amathambo ami azakuthi: Nkosi, ngubani onjengawe, okhulula umyanga kulowo olamandla kulaye, yebo, umyanga loswelayo komphangayo?
All my bones shall say, “LORD, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?”
11 Abafakazi bamanga basukuma, bangibuza engingakwaziyo.
Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don’t know about.
12 Bangibuyisela okubi endaweni yokuhle, umphefumulo wami ulahlekelwa.
They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
13 Kanti mina, ekuguleni kwabo isembatho sami sasilisaka, ngathobisa umphefumulo wami ngokuzila ukudla, lomkhuleko wami wabuyela esifubeni sami.
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
14 Ngahamba ngokungathi ungumngane ngokungathi ungumfowethu; ngikhotheme kwezimnyama njengolilela unina.
I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
15 Kodwa ekukhubekeni kwami bathokoza, babuthana ndawonye, abalahliweyo babuthana ndawonye bemelene lami, njalo ngangingakwazi; badabula kabemanga.
But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn’t know it. They tore at me, and didn’t cease.
16 Kanye lababi abaklolodayo edilini, bangigedlela amazinyo abo.
Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 Nkosi, uzabukela kuze kube nini? Buyisa umphefumulo wami ekubhubhiseni kwabo, wona wodwa owami emabhongweni ezilwane.
Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
18 Ngizakubonga ebandleni elikhulu, ngikudumise phakathi kwabantu abanengi.
I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you amongst many people.
19 Bangajabuli ngami abayizitha zami ngamanga, kabangangificeli ilihlo labo abangizonda ngeze.
Don’t let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
20 Ngoba kabakhulumi ukuthula, kodwa baceba amazwi enkohliso bemelene labachumileyo emhlabeni.
For they don’t speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
21 Kanti bangikhamisela kakhulu umlomo wabo bathi: Aha, aha, ilihlo lethu likubonile!
Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, “Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!”
22 Nkosi, usukubonile; ungathuli. Nkosi, ungabi khatshana lami.
You have seen it, LORD. Don’t keep silent. Lord, don’t be far from me.
23 Zivuse, uvukele ilungelo lami, udaba lwami, Nkulunkulu wami leNkosi yami.
Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
24 Ngahlulela, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wami, ngokulunga kwakho; kabangathokozi ngami.
Vindicate me, LORD my God, according to your righteousness. Don’t let them gloat over me.
25 Kabangatsho enhliziyweni yabo ukuthi: Hiya, yisifiso sethu! Bangatsho ukuthi: Simginyile.
Don’t let them say in their heart, “Aha! That’s the way we want it!” Don’t let them say, “We have swallowed him up!”
26 Kabayangeke babe lenhloni ndawonye abajabula ngosizi lwami; bembathiswe ngenhloni lehlazo labo abazikhukhumeza ngami.
Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonour who magnify themselves against me.
27 Kabamemeze ngenjabulo bathabe abaloyisa ukulunga kwami, yebo kabatsho njalonjaloukuthi: Kayikhuliswe iNkosi ethokoza ngokuhlala kuhle kwenceku yayo.
Let those who favour my righteous cause shout for joy and be glad. Yes, let them say continually, “May the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!”
28 Lolimi lwami luzakhuluma ukulunga kwakho, usuku lonke indumiso yakho.
My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.
