The Prayer of an Innocent Person
1 Listen, O Lord, to my plea for justice;
pay attention to my cry for help!
Listen to my honest prayer.
2 You will judge in my favor,
because you know what is right.
3 You know my heart.
You have come to me at night;
you have examined me completely
and found no evil desire in me.
I speak no evil, 4 as others do;
I have obeyed your command
and have not followed paths of violence.
5 I have always walked in your way
and have never strayed from it.
6 I pray to you, O God, because you answer me;
so turn to me and listen to my words.
7 Reveal your wonderful love and save me;
at your side I am safe from my enemies.
8 Protect me as you would your very eyes;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
9 from the attacks of the wicked.
Deadly enemies surround me;
10 they have no pity and speak proudly.
11 They are around me now, wherever I turn,
watching for a chance to pull me down.
12 They are like lions, waiting for me,
wanting to tear me to pieces.
13 Come, Lord! Oppose my enemies and defeat them!
Save me from the wicked by your sword;
14 save me from those who in this life have all they want.
Punish them with the sufferings you have stored up for them;
may there be enough for their children
and some left over for their children's children!
15 But I will see you, because I have done no wrong;
and when I awake, your presence will fill me with joy.
Ongumbiro yomuhinandjo
Ongumbiro ya David.
1 Muhona, puratena komeriyarikaṋeno
wandje wousemba;
zuva ondjuriro yandje!
Puratena kongumbiro yandje,
ndji me kumbu nouatjiri.
2 Ove mo ndji pangura osemba,
tjinga au tjiwa ouatjiri auhe.
3 Ove u tjiwa omutima wandje.
Ove weya ku ami mouṱuku;
wa konḓonona omutima wandje,
no ha munu ouvi mu ami.
4 Ami hi hungire ouvi otja ovandu varwe tji ve tjita.
Mba kara nonḓuviro komarakiza woye,
nu hi kongorerere kozondjira zoutwe.
5 Aruhe mba ryanga mondjira yoye,
nu hi yepere mu yo.
6 Ami me kumbu kove, Ndjambi,
orondu ove u ndji zuvira;
peta okutwi kwoye u puratene komambo wandje.
7 Raisa orusuvero rwoye oruhimise, u ndji yame;
ove u ndjipa ondjamo
nondjitjevere kovanavita na ami.
8 Ndji ṱakamisa otja onḓoromwina meho roye;
ndji undika momuzire wovivava vyoye
9 kovanauvi mbe ndji rwisa.
Ovanavita ovazepe novindandi mbe ndji kovera;
10 owo kave nondjenda, nu ve rihiva.
11 Ngamwa akuhe ku me i owo ve ndji kovera,
amave kondjo okundjinata.
12 Owo ve ri otja ozongeyama,
nḓa rarere okundjinyondorora.
13 Indjo, Muhona! Pirukira ovanavita
na ami nu u ve havere!
Ndji yama kovanauvi nengaruvyo roye;
14 ndji yama kovandu mbe noviṋa
avihe mbi ve zera kombanda yehi.
Ve vera nomihihamo ove mbi we ve pwikira;
ngape kare mbya yenene kovanatje vawo
nu pe hupe tjiva kovanatje vovanatje vawo!
15 Nungwari ami me munu omurungu woye,
tjinga ambi ha tjitire ouvi;
nu tji mba penduka,
me kovisiwa i ombunikiro yoye.
