(A song and a psalm by the clan of Korah for the music leader. To the tune “Mahalath Leannoth.” A special psalm by Heman the Ezrahite.)
A Prayer When You Can't Find the Way
1 You keep me safe, Lord God.
So when I pray at night,
2 please listen carefully
to each of my concerns.
3 I am deeply troubled
and close to death;
4 I am as good as dead
and completely helpless.
5 I am no better off
than those in the grave,
those you have forgotten
and no longer help.
6 You have put me in the deepest
and darkest grave;
7 your anger rolls over me
like ocean waves.
8 You have made my friends turn
in horror from me.
I am a prisoner
who cannot escape,
9 and I am almost blind
because of my sorrow.
Each day I lift my hands
in prayer to you, Lord.
10 Do you work miracles
for the dead?
Do they stand up
and praise you?
11 Are your love and loyalty
announced in the world
of the dead?
12 Do they know of your miracles
or your saving power
in the dark world below
where all is forgotten?
13 Each morning I pray
to you, Lord.
14 Why do you reject me?
Why do you turn from me?
15 Ever since I was a child,
I have been sick
and close to death.
You have terrified me
and made me helpless.
16 Your anger is like a flood!
And I am shattered
by your furious attacks
17 that strike each day
and from every side.
18 My friends and neighbors
have turned against me
because of you,
and now darkness
is my only companion.
Kukumbila bhatsho
1 Imwi Yahwe, Ndzimu we jidzo langu,
ndolila ndili mbeli kwenyu siku ne sikati.
2 Ndokumbila kuti ntembezelo wangu uzhe mbeli kwenyu,
hwililani tjililo tjangu.
3 Ngobe meya yangu izhele kudziyidzika,
ne butjilo gwangu gosedzela ku gomba le lufu.
4 Ndobaligwa muna ibabo banoyenda ku gomba le lufu.
Ndonga nlume usina simba,
5 ndonga ibabo bakalashigwa bapakati kwe bafi,
ndonga bakabulawa balele mu zwikumbu,
ndonga ibabo basingatjaalakane,
ngobe bakathubugwa mu kuwana bhatsho yenyu.
6 Makandibiga pasi pasi kwe gomba,
mukatikati kwakati zwititi.
7 Bushongola gwenyu gondilemela,
kakale gondivuna mitshibha.
8 Makathama kuti bakwinya bangu bandiambuke
makandithama abe tjithu tjinobatjisa.
Ndakabhatshigwa kuti ndizo ndisitongo pudzumuka.
9 Mesho angu apofupadziwa nge buyendasi.
Zhuba nge zhuba ndomudana, imwi Yahwe,
ndosuka maboko anngu mbeli kwenyu.
10 Apa moshingila bafi matjenamiso kene?
Apa mitutshi inomilika kumukudza kene?
11 Apa ludo gwenyu gusingazunguzike
golebgwa mu bugalo gwe bafi kene?
Kene kugalikabgwe kwenyu
kolebgwa mu gomba le golomodzo kene?
12 Apa makaabadzo enyu anozibgwa mu zhalima,
kene mishingo yenyu ye ndulamo inolebgwa
ngekwayo mu shango ye kukanganika kene?
13 Koga imi, imwi Yahwe, ndolilila kumuli,
mangwanana ntembezelo wangu
ndowoyisa mbeli kwenyu.
14 Imwi Yahwe, apa ini mundilashila kutjena kene?
Ini mundisumbikila buso gwenyu kene?
15 Tjinga kudwa mu butjetjana gwangu
ndili mu busungwa kakale ndili pejo nge lufu,
ndakadziyidziwa nge kutjisa kwenyu
ngono ndatjizwitoboka.
16 Bushongola gwenyu gondikulila,
kutjisa kwenyu kondikolomola.
17 Zhuba lose zwakandipoteleka
se nsundila zwakandifukidza.
18 Makathama kuti bazwalani bangu bandiambuke,
zhalima ndilo nzwalani wangu nkulu.