A Psalm of Asaph.
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so , O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
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.