(A prayer by David.)
The Prayer of an Innocent Person
1 I am innocent, Lord!
Won't you listen as I pray
and beg for help?
I am honest!
Please hear my prayer.
2 Only you can say
that I am innocent,
because only your eyes
can see the truth.
3 You know my heart,
and even during the night
you have tested me
and found me innocent.
I have made up my mind
never to tell a lie.
4 I don't do like others.
I obey your teachings
and am not cruel.
5 I have followed you,
without ever stumbling.
6 I pray to you, God,
because you will help me.
Listen and answer my prayer!
7 Show your wonderful love.
Your mighty arm protects those
who run to you for safety
from their enemies.
8 Protect me as you would
your very own eyes;
hide me in the shadow
of your wings.
9 Don't let my brutal enemies
attack from all sides
and kill me.
10 They refuse to show mercy,
and they keep bragging.
11 They have caught up with me!
My enemies are everywhere,
eagerly hoping to smear me
in the dirt.
12 They are like hungry lions
hunting for food,
or like young lions
hiding in ambush.
13 Do something, Lord!
Attack and defeat them.
Take your sword and save me
from those evil people.
14 Use your powerful arm
and rescue me
from the hands of mere humans
whose world won't last.
You provide food
for those you love.
Their children have plenty,
and their grandchildren
will have more than enough.
15 I am innocent, Lord,
and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want
is to see you as you are.
Ntembezelo we nthu usina nlandu
1 Ihwani kukumbila kwakatambunuka Yahwe,
teedzani tjililo tjangu, hwililani ntembezelo
unodwa mu nlomo usina bupitipiti.
2 Kusheta nlandu kwangu ngakulakidziwe ndimwi,
mesho enyu ngaabone tjakalulwama.
3 Ha mungashola moyo wangu,
ha mungandikumba busiku,
ha mungandilika,
mowowana kusina bubi mundili,
nlomo wangu awutotjuluka nlayo.
4 Ngekwe mishingo ye bathu,
nge dama lenyu ndakaleya zila dze bakukutu.
5 Makumbo angu anolambila mu zila yenyu,
andithu atongopambuka muili.
6 Ndodana imwi Ndzimu ngoti imwi mowondidabila,
munditeedze, muhwe matama angu.
7 Lakidzani ludo gwenyu gunotjenamisa,
Imwi ntjidzi wa ibabo banoshaka dizhilo,
betizha zwita zwabo.
8 Munditjengete se shanga ye zhisho;
mundisumbike mu ntutshi we mapapilo enyu,
9 mundisumbikile babi banondigwisa,
zwita zwangu zwisingatje kubulaya zwandipoteleka.
10 Banokukutadza mimoyo yabo kuti basibe ne ngoni;
Milomo yabo inolebeleka nge kuzwikudza.
11 Banondilonda, bakandipoteleka sangwenu;
banoshaka sekwa bangandiligila pasi.
12 Banonga shumba inoshaka kuzandabula tjainobhata,
se shumbana ilelile mu ishakana.
13 Milikani Yahwe, igwani ne zwita zwangu muzwikunde.
Mundiangule nge thumo mu babi.
14 Yahwe mundiangule mu bathu be shango ino,
mbhailo wabo i shango ino.
Mubalobe nge shamu yamakababiganyidzila,
bana babo bawane inopinda tjilizanyo,
basiyile bana babo.
15 Koga imi nge kwangu, ndowobona tjiso tjenyu mu ndulamo;
Ndowoti ndimuka ndowoshathila kuti muyapo.