(A psalm by David.)
A Prayer for the Lord's Protection
1 I pray to you, Lord!
Please listen when I pray
and hurry to help me.
2 Think of my prayer
as sweet-smelling incense,
and think of my lifted hands
as an evening sacrifice.
3 Help me to guard my words
whenever I say something.
4 Don't let me want to do evil
or waste my time doing wrong
with wicked people.
Don't let me even taste
the good things they offer.
5 Let your faithful people
correct and punish me.
My prayers condemn the deeds
of those who do wrong,
so don't let me be friends
with any of them.
6 Everyone will admit
that I was right
when their rulers are thrown
down a rocky cliff,
7 and their bones lie scattered
like crushed rocks
on top of a grave.
8 You are my Lord and God,
and I look to you for safety.
Don't let me be harmed.
9 Protect me from the traps
of those violent people,
10 and make them fall
into their own traps
while you help me escape.
Ntembezelo we madekwana
1 Ndodana imwi Yahwe, tjimbidzani muzhe kundili,
teedzani hwi langu ha ndimudana.
2 Ntembezelo wangu ngaunge motsha unonuhwa zwinozipa mbeli kwenyu
ne kumilidza maboko angu kunge tjibhayilo tje madekwana.
3 Mubige nlisi pa nlomo wangu, imwi Yahwe,
galani makalisa zhuka kwe nlomo wangu.
4 Musitongoshandulila moyo wangu ku bubi kene guli gupi,
kwandinganginikana ne mishingo mibi,
ndashanganyila ne bashingi be zwibi
musindiletje aja mizipo yabo.
5 Imani nlulwami andilobe,
n'galimoyo andikumbuludze.
Mafuta e babi ngaasizhodziwe mu nsholo wangu,
ngobe ntembezelo wangu unogwa misi yose ne mishingo yabo mibi.
6 Ha batjilongwa mu maboko a ibabo banowobasumikilisa,
ndiko kwabanowoziba kuti matama a Yahwe malebeswa.
7 Se bgwe linokwamugwa likapkhwanyikila pasi,
ndiko mafupa abo sekwa kwaanowoandamisiwa pa nlomo we gomba le lufu.
8 Koga mesho angu akalinga kumuli, imwi Yahwe, She wangu,
ndoshaka dizhilo mu muli, musindiletjedze ndifa.
9 Mundibakilile mu gwanga gwabakandilukila,
ne mu bhuzha le bashingi be bubi.
10 Babi ngabawile mu makwanga abo,
imi ndipudzumuke!