BOOK THREE
(Psalms 73–89)
The Justice of God
1 God is indeed good to Israel,
to those who have pure hearts.
2 But I had nearly lost confidence;
my faith was almost gone
3 because I was jealous of the proud
when I saw that things go well for the wicked.
4 They do not suffer pain;
they are strong and healthy.
5 They do not suffer as other people do;
they do not have the troubles that others have.
6 And so they wear pride like a necklace
and violence like a robe;
7 their hearts pour out evil,
and their minds are busy with wicked schemes.
8 They laugh at other people and speak of evil things;
they are proud and make plans to oppress others.
9 They speak evil of God in heaven
and give arrogant orders to everyone on earth,
10 so that even God's people turn to them
and eagerly believe whatever they say.
11 They say, “God will not know;
the Most High will not find out.”
12 That is what the wicked are like.
They have plenty and are always getting more.
13 Is it for nothing, then, that I have kept myself pure
and have not committed sin?
14 O God, you have made me suffer all day long;
every morning you have punished me.
15 If I had said such things,
I would not be acting as one of your people.
16 I tried to think this problem through,
but it was too difficult for me
17 until I went into your Temple.
Then I understood what will happen to the wicked.
18 You will put them in slippery places
and make them fall to destruction!
19 They are instantly destroyed;
they go down to a horrible end.
20 They are like a dream that goes away in the morning;
when you rouse yourself, O Lord, they disappear.
21 When my thoughts were bitter
and my feelings were hurt,
22 I was as stupid as an animal;
I did not understand you.
23 Yet I always stay close to you,
and you hold me by the hand.
24 You guide me with your instruction
and at the end you will receive me with honor.
25 What else do I have in heaven but you?
Since I have you, what else could I want on earth?
26 My mind and my body may grow weak,
but God is my strength;
he is all I ever need.
27 Those who abandon you will certainly perish;
you will destroy those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, how wonderful to be near God,
to find protection with the Sovereign Lord
and to proclaim all that he has done!
LUKWALO GWE BUTATU
Kutambunuka kwe Ndzimu
1 Malebeswa Ndzimu wakalulwamila Iziraela,
ibabo bana mimoyo mitjena.
2 Koga imi nge kwangu ndoyenda ndikweba makumbo;
ndakanyala nkumbulo.
3 Ndakabe ndina ndandala ngekwe banozwikudza,
pandakabe ndabona bhudilila kwe babi.
4 Ngobe basina mang'oni,
mibili yabo yakazwilizanila kakale ikwidzima.
5 Abateli mu tshiyilo se bamwe bathu,
abana magwadzi se bamwe bathu,
6 Bakasenga mazwikudzo abo se bakaambala i timbi.
Phipiti yakabaambala se hazu.
7 Mimoyo yabo inotebukana nge mbipo,
mikumbulo yabo ye bubi ainatjilizanyo.
8 Banogongobola kakale belebeleka nge lubengo
banozwiloba zwifuba ngekwe tshambilidzo.
9 Banonyanyayidza mazhuzhugwi,
ndimi dzabo dzikalaula shango.
10 Ndizo bathu banoshanduka bakabakudza,
bebuya beshaya nlandu mubali.
11 Ndizo banoti, “Ndzimu ungaziba tjini?
Apa kuna luzibo muna Upezhugwi zhugwi kene?”
12 Ndiko sekwa babi bali iko
bagele bakati khenyenye, banowatsha fumwa dzabo.
13 Ndakatjenapadzila moyo wangu suli
ndakangulila maboko angu suli ndilakidza ndisina nlandu.
14 Zhuba lose ndakahwisiwa zogwadza,
kakale ndolobgwa shamu mangwanana mamwe ne mamwe.
15 Ha ndakabe ndati, “Ndowolebeleka yetji.”
Ndakabe ndowobe ndashayila bana benyu lebeswa.
16 Koga ndakati ndigwisa hwisisa kose ikoku,
awana ili masimbamalashe,
17 kudzina ndangina mu bugalo gwe Ndzimu
gwakayengemala, ndizo ahwisisa bhelelo labo.
18 Nge malebeswa mobagadza mu magalo anosodzoloka,
mubaligila mu golomodzo.
19 Banokolomogwa tjinyolotjo seni,
bekubigwa kutjena nge lutjo!
20 Mowoti mumuka imwi Yahwe banonga mawoloto
anokanganika ha nthu emuka mu hwope.
Mukumuka kwenyu mowobanyeledza bakakanganika.
21 Kwakati meya yangu yahwa zogwadza kwazo,
pandakabe ndabhayika mu moyo,
22 ndakabe ndili tjilengwe kakale ndisina luzibo,
ndakabe ndinga tjibandana mbeli kwenyu.
23 Nenguba kwakajalo ndinamwi misi yose,
makandibhata nge luboko gwangu gwe luji.
24 Makandilakidza zila nge gumbuludzo lenyu,
gwe bupelo mowondiamutjila nge kunditeta.
25 Apa ndiani wandinaye kuzhe kwenyu kene?
Mu shango akuna tjandinoyemula kuzhe kwenyu.
26 Nyama yangu ne moyo wangu zwinga kong'wa,
koga Ndzimu ndiwo simba le moyo wangu
ne gobe langu nge kusingapele.
27 Ndolebesa, ibabo bakule namwi banowoloba,
molobesa bose ibabo basingagalebgwe mu muli.
28 Koga imi nge kwangu, kwakanaka kugala pejo ne Ndzimu.
Ndakathama She Yahwe dizhilo langu,
kuti ndizo ndilebe ngekwe mishingo yabo.