(For the music leader. To the tune “Don't Destroy.” A special psalm by David when Saul had David's house watched so that he could kill him.)
A Prayer for Protection
1 Save me, God! Protect me
from enemy attacks!
2 Keep me safe from brutal people
who want to kill me.
3 Merciless enemies, Lord,
are hiding and plotting,
hoping to kill me.
I have not hurt them
in any way at all.
4 But they are ready to attack.
Do something! Help me!
Look at what's happening.
5 Lord God All-Powerful,
you are the God of Israel.
Punish the other nations
and don't pity those terrible
and rebellious people.
6 My enemies return at evening,
growling like dogs
roaming the city.
7 They curse, and their words
cut like swords,
as they say to themselves,
“No one can hear us!”
8 You, Lord, laugh at them
and sneer at the nations.
9 You are my mighty fortress,
and I depend on you.
10 You love me and will let me
see my enemies defeated.
11 Don't kill them,
or everyone may forget!
Just use your mighty power
to make them tremble
and fall.
You are a shield
for your people.
12 My enemies are liars!
So let them be trapped
by their boastful lies.
13 Get angry and destroy them.
Leave them in ruin.
Then all the nations will know
that you rule in Israel.
14 Those liars return at evening,
growling like dogs
roaming the city.
15 They search for scraps of food,
and they snarl
until they are stuffed.
16 But I will sing about
your strength, my God,
and I will celebrate
because of your love.
You are my fortress,
my place of protection
in times of trouble.
17 I will sing your praises!
You are my mighty fortress,
and you love me.
Ntembezelo wekutjidza balulwami mu zwita
1 Mundiangule mu zwita zwangu, Ndzimu;
mundivikile muna ibabo banondigwisa.
2 Mundiangule muna ibabo banoshinga bubi;
munditjidze muzwing'wamalopa.
3 Nangwenu bakandilalila beshaka pedza butjilo gwangu.
Ibabo bakasima banondigwisa,
ngono kusina mmwe nlandu
kene tjibi tjabanondigwisila Yahwe,
4 akuna itjo tjandakatjinya, koga banolabuka
bezwilulwamisila kundihwisa zogwadza.
Milikani, mundibhatshe kakale mubone tjinoshingikala!
5 Yahwe Ndzimu we mibunga, Ndzimu we Iziraela.
Mukani mulobe zwitjaba zose;
mushaye wamasiya wa ibabo bematjenjedu
banotjenjelela kuthama bubi.
6 Madekwana mamwe ne mamwe banobuya, bebukula
se mbgwa kakale beyendayenda mu nzi nkulu.
7 Habajee, banobomba nge milomo yabo,
ne matama anopitsha mu milomo yabo,
banoalakana beti, “Ndiani unowotihwa?”
8 Koga mobaseka, Yahwe
moseka tjaba dzose bulengwe.
9 Imwi simba langu, ndowogala ndilipejo namwi;
ngobe imwi, Ndzimu, ndimwi luswingo gwakandibakilila.
10 Ndzimu wangu unowondishanganidza mu ludo gwawo gusingazunguzike;
Ndzimu wangu unowothama kuti ndikunde zwita zwangu.
11 Musibabulaye, pamwe bathu bakanyi kwangu bangadwa bekangang'wa;
thamani kuti badzungayile nge simba lenyu,
mubadelusile pasi, imwi She, tjivikili tjedu.
12 Muthamila tjibi tje milomo yabo ne matama anodwa mu milomo yabo.
Ngababhatshigwe nge mazwikudzu abo.
Muthamila bhiso ne manyepkhwa abanoleba.
13 Mubalobese nge bushongola gwenyu,
mubalobese kuswikila bepelela.
Kuti bathu bazibe kuti Ndzimu unobusa tjaba ya Jakubo
kunoti ku phelelo dze shango.
14 Madekwana mamwe ne mamwe banobuya,
bebukula se mbgwa
kakale beyendayenda mu nzi nkulu.
15 Banotendeleka beshaka zojiwa,
kakale bebomba ha basingawane tjinobagutsha.
16 Koga ndowomba ngekwe simba lenyu;
ndowombila pezhugwi ngekwe ludo gwenyu
gusingazunguzike kuli mangwanana.
Ngobe makabe luswingo gwakandibakilila
nenge dizhilo langu mu nsi we kudziyidzika.
17 Imwi simba langu, ndowomumbila njimbo dzinomukudza,
ngobe imwi, Ndzimu, mu luswingo gwakandipoteleka,
mu iwo Ndzimu unondilakidza ludo gusingazunguzike.