(A psalm by David for the music leader.)
A Prayer for the Lord's Help
1 I praise you, God!
Don't keep silent.
2 Destructive and deceitful lies
are told about me,
3 and hateful things are said
for no reason.
4 I had pity and prayed
for my enemies,
but their words to me
were harsh and cruel.
5 For being friendly and kind,
they paid me back
with meanness and hatred.
6 My enemies said,
“Find some worthless fools
to accuse him of a crime.
7 Try him and find him guilty!
Consider his prayers a lie.
8 Cut his life short
and let someone else
have his job.
9 Make orphans of his children
and a widow of his wife;
10 make his children beg for food
and live in the slums.
11 “Let the people he owes
take everything he owns.
Give it all to strangers.
12 Don't let anyone be kind to him
or have pity on the children
he leaves behind.
13 Bring an end to his family,
and from now on let him be
a forgotten man.
14 “Don't let the Lord forgive
the sins of his parents
and his ancestors.
15 Don't let the Lord forget
the sins of his family,
or let anyone remember
his family ever lived.
16 He was so cruel to the poor,
homeless, and discouraged
that they died young.
17 “He cursed others.
Now place a curse on him!
He never wished others well.
Wish only trouble for him!
18 He cursed others more often
than he dressed himself.
Let his curses strike him deep,
just as water and olive oil
soak through to our bones.
19 Let his curses surround him,
just like the belt and clothes
he wears each day.”
20 Those are the cruel things
my enemies wish for me.
Let it all happen to them!
21 Be true to your name, Lord God!
Show your great kindness
and rescue me.
22 I am poor and helpless,
and I have lost all hope.
23 I am fading away
like an evening shadow;
I am tossed aside
like a crawling insect.
24 I have gone without eating,
until my knees are weak,
and my body is bony.
25 When my enemies see me,
they say cruel things
and shake their heads.
26 Please help me, Lord God!
Come and save me
because of your love.
27 Let others know that you alone
have saved me.
28 I don't care if they curse me,
as long as you bless me.
You will make my enemies fail
when they attack,
and you will make me glad
to be your servant.
29 You will cover them with shame,
just as their bodies
are covered with clothes.
30 I will sing your praises
and thank you, Lord,
when your people meet.
31 You help everyone in need,
and you save them from death.
Ntembezelo we kukunda ne kubgwilizila
1 Imwi, Ndzimu wandinokudza, musinyalale koga!
2 Ngobe milomo mibibi ne ye bupitipiti inondikuwelela,
banoleba nge kwangu manyepkhwa.
3 Banondipomba nge matama e lubengo
kakale bendigwisa ndisina nlandu.
4 Banoshandula ludo gwangu nge kundibenga,
nenguba kwakajalo ndobatembezelela.
5 Ndizo bakandibokela ndulamo nge mbipo,
bakandibengela ludo gwangu.
6 Banoti, “Mumbigile nthu mbiimbi mbeli kukwe,
nthu unontilika nlandu ngaame ku luji gugwe.
7 Ha esumikilisiwa, ngaawang'we nlandu,
ntembezelo uwe ngautogwe se tjibi.
8 Mazhuba awe ngaabe mashomanana,
dzene mmwe angatola mamo awe.
9 Dzene bana babe bangabe siyang'wa
nenge nkadzi uwe kabe tjilikadzi.
10 Dzene bana babe bangadzungayila beyenda bekumbila,
dzene bangatakhwa mu matongo abanogala.
11 Dzene baanokolota bangantapila kose kwaanako,
dzene bathu basingazibgwe bangantolela zwizwalo zwe dukuta lile.
12 Dzene kungasheta unonhwilangoni,
nenguba ali iye ungahwilangoni siyang'wa dzidze.
13 Dzene lutshinga gugwe gungalobesiwa,
dzene zina lile lingafidziwa mu tjizekugwana tje bubili.
14 Dzene matjinyo a tate babe angakumbugwa mbeli kwa Yahwe,
ne tjibi tja mmeyabe tjikasibukushiwe,
15 ngazwidwilile zwili mbeli kwa Yahwe,
ne kukumbugwa kukwe kulashiwe mu shango.
16 Ngobe aazotongo kumbula kulakidza ngoni,
koga wakadziyidza bashayi ne basheti
ne be mimoyo yakapaluka kuswikila befa.
17 Wakabe eda kulonga bhiso, bhiso ngalibe munlibo.
Azobe eda kukombolegwa, makombolelo ngaabe kutjena naye.
18 Wakazwiambadza bhiso se tjiambalo tjitje,
dzene lingang'wila mu mbili uwe se vula,
se mafuta mu mafupa awe.
19 Ngalinge tjiambalo tjaanozwipomba nditjo,
se mwandabula waanozwisunga ndiwo zhuba ne zhuba.”
20 Dzene ikoko kungabe mbayilo we banonditilika nlandu muna Yahwe,
wa ibabo banoleba mbipo nge butjilo gwangu.
21 Koga imwi, Yahwe She wangu,
mundimile ngekwe zina lenyu,
ngobe ludo gwenyu gusingazunguzike gwakalulwama,
mundisunungule.
22 Ngobe ndi nshayi kakale ndi nsheti,
ne moyo wangu wakabhayika mukati kwangu.
23 Ndopinda se ntutshi we madekwana,
ndoshashamugwa se phashu.
24 Zwidwi zwangu zolengezha ngozwinyima zojiwa,
anditjina nyama pa mbili.
25 Ndatjibe sapa muna ibabo banonditilika nlandu,
ha bendibona, banodzungudza misholo.
26 Mundibhatshe imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu wangu!
Munditjidze kuyendidzana nge ludo gwenyu gusingazunguzike.
27 Thamani kuti bazibe kuti igogu luboko gwenyu,
imwi Yahwe, makuthama.
28 Bangabalonga bhiso, koga imwi mowokombolela.
Dzene bagwisi bangu bangabhatisiwa shoni,
nlanda wenyu ngaashathe.
29 Bagwisi bangu ngabalengudzike,
shoni ngadzibakombole bange basakaambala.
30 Nge nlomo wangu ndowoyisa mboko hwulu kuna Yahwe,
ndowokudza Yahwe pakati kwe mbunga we bathu.
31 Ngobe banoma ku luboko gwe luji gwe basheti,
kuti babatjidze muna ibabo bangabalashila mu lufu.