(A psalm by Asaph.)
What Pleases God
1 From east to west,
the powerful Lord God
has been calling together
everyone on earth.
2 God shines brightly from Zion,
the most beautiful city.
3 Our God approaches,
but not silently;
a flaming fire comes first,
and a storm surrounds him.
4 God comes to judge his people.
He shouts to the heavens
and to the earth,
5 “Call my followers together!
They offered me a sacrifice,
and we made an agreement.”
6 The heavens announce,
“God is the judge,
and he is always honest.”
7 My people, I am God!
Israel, I am your God.
Listen to my charges
against you.
8 Although you offer sacrifices
and always bring gifts,
9 I won't accept your offerings
of bulls and goats.
10 Every animal in the forest
belongs to me,
and so do the cattle
on a thousand hills.
11 I know all the birds
in the mountains,
and every wild creature
is in my care.
12 If I were hungry,
I wouldn't tell you,
because I own the world
and everything in it.
13 I don't eat the meat of bulls
or drink the blood of goats.
14 I am God Most High!
The only sacrifice I want
is for you to be thankful
and to keep your word.
15 Pray to me in time of trouble.
I will rescue you,
and you will honor me.
16 But to the wicked I say:
“You don't have the right
to mention my laws or claim
to keep our agreement!
17 You refused correction
and rejected my commands.
18 You made friends
with every crook you met,
and you liked people who break
their wedding vows.
19 You talked only about violence
and told nothing but lies;
20 you sat around gossiping,
ruining the reputation
of your own relatives.”
21 When you did all this,
I didn't say a word,
and you thought,
“God is just like us!”
But now I will accuse you.
22 You have ignored me!
So pay close attention
or I will tear you apart,
and no one can help you.
23 The sacrifice that honors me
is a thankful heart.
Obey me, and I, your God,
will show my power to save.
Tjibhayilo tjinoamutjilika
1 Ibo nkulukulu, Ndzimu Yahwe,
banolebeleka kakale banodana shango
kudwa mu kubhuda kwe zhuba kunoti kungina kwalo.
2 Kudwa mu Ziyoni, igo bubuya nge kwago,
Ndzimu unopenyelela.
3 Ndzimu wedu unozha kakale awutonyalala koga
wakatungamidza moto unonyeledza,
ne vula inona nge dutu yakabapoteleka.
4 Unodana kudzimu, kadana mu shango kuti
ndizo usumikilise bathu bawo;
5 “Mundikubunganyile bagalimoyo, ibabo bakathama
tjidumano nami nge kudusa tjibhayilo!”
6 Kudzimu koleba ngekwe bululwami gwawo,
ngobe Ndzimu ngekwawo nsumikilisi.
7 “Hwililani, bathu bangu, ngono ndowolebeleka,
iwe Iziraela ndowotendeka ngekwe bubi gugo.
Ndimi Ndzimu, Ndzimu uwo.
8 Anditokutjemelela zwibhayilo zwizo;
zwibhayilo zwizo zwakapisiwa zwipa mesho
angu tjibaka nge tjibaka.
9 Anditowoamutjila nkono unodwa ku nzi uwo
kene dzili mbudzi mu danga lilo.
10 Ngobe phuka imwe ne imwe ye shango nge yangu
na idzo ng'ombe dzimu matombo ali tjiwulu.
11 Ndoziba nyuni dzose mu shango,
ne tjimwe ne tjimwe tjinoyenda mu shango nge tjangu.
12 “Ha ndabe ndina zhala, ndabe ndisingawomubudza,
ngobe shango na kose kumu ili nge kwangu.
13 Apa ndoja nyama ye mikono kene,
na iwo malopa e mbudzi apa ndoang'wa kene?
14 Ipa Ndzimu tjipo tje kuboka,
ulipe tuna kuko kuna iye Upezhugwi zhugwi.
15 Undidane mu nsi wekudziyidzika;
ndowokutjidza, ngono unowondikudza.”
16 Koga ku babi Ndzimu ukati,
“Unotola ngayi kuleba ndaulo dzangu
kene kuli kuleba ngekwe tjidumano tjangu nge nlomo uwo?”
17 Unobenga tjemegwa,
kakale unoposela matama angu kutjena nawe.
18 Ha ubona mbava unozwihwananya nayo,
kakale unogala ntutshi ne phombgwe.
19 “Unoletjedza nlomo uwo ukalaugwa nge bubi,
ne lulimi gugo goleba bupitipiti.
20 Unogala pasi ukaleba kusakalulwama ngekwe
wakanyi kuko.
Unobulaya mwana wa mmeyabo.
21 Zwithu izwezwi wakazwithama ngono ndagala ndilinyelele;
wakabe ukumbula kuti ndimmwebo unofanana nawe.
Koga ngwenu ndokutjemela ndakasimisila
kakale ndikutilika nlandu.
22 “Zibani woku, imwi munokangang'wa Ndzimu,
kusijalo ndowomupalula na pakati,
ngono akuna unowomutjidza.
23 Ibabo banozhisa zwibhayilo zwe kuboka banondikudza;
kuna ibabo banoyenda mu zila ye malebeswa,
ndowobalakidza jidzo le Ndzimu.”