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!
EMBO ORITJATATU ROMAPSALME
Ndjambi u pangura osemba
Epsalme ra Asaf.
1 Tjiri, Ndjambi eye omuwa
kotjiwaṋa tja Israel,
ku imba mbe nomitima omikohoke.
2 Nungwari ami mba hara okupandjarisa
omeriyamekero wandje ku Muhona,
nongamburiro yandje ya ri pokuzenga.
3 Orondu ami mba ṱeruru
novanauvi overitongamise,
tji mba muna kutja owo ve nouṋingandu.
4 Owo kave nomihihamo
nu ovaveruke motutu.
5 Ongondjero, ndji kara novandu ovakwao,
kave na yo,
nu kave munu omauzeu otja ovakwao.
6 Owo va zara ourangaranga mozosengo zawo
otja oundjendje
noutwe wawo we ve kutjira otja
ombanda yawo omanise.
7 Omitima vyawo vye ura nourunde tjinene,
ovyo vi ripura nozondjito zouvi.
8 Owo ve nyekerera ovandu varwe,
nu ve hungira oviṋa vyourunde;
ve ritongamisa nu ve tanda
okuṋiṋikiza ovakwao.
9 Owo ve hungira ouhahu
ku Ndjambi ngu ri meyuru,
nu ve rakiza omambo wourangaranga
kovandu mbe ri kombanda yehi.
10 Otjiwaṋa tja Ndjambi opu tja za
okutanaukira ku wo natji kambura
oupupu mu avihe mbi mave hungire.
11 Owo ve tja nai: “Ndjambi ke na tji ma tjiwa!
Ingwi wOkombandambanda ma tjiwa
vi imbi mbi tjitwa kombanda yehi?”
12 Tjiri, ovanauvi va sana ngo,
owo vena ovingi nu aruhe ve tumbira ko.
13 A ri omungandjo, hapo,
ami tji mbe ritjinda oukohoke,
na tji mba raisa okuhinandjo kwandje.
14 Ndjambi, ove eyuva arihe u ndji hihamisa,
nu ove u ndji vyura omuhuka auhe.
15 Andakuzu ami mba hungirire
oviṋa otja imbi mbi va hungira,
etje tjita ovineya ku imba mbe riyameka kove.
16 Ami otji mba kondja okuripura
nokutjiwa oviṋa mbi,
nungwari ovyo vya ri ovizeu tjinene ku ami,
17 nga tji mba hita mondjuwo yoye.
Otji mba tjiwa oviṋa,
mbi mavi tjitwa kovanauvi.
18 Ove mo ve twa poṋa popaheze,
nu mo ve wisire momanyoneno.
19 Owo, tjiri, va vandekwa tjimanga,
nave munu omaandero omayaukise.
20 Owo ve ri otja oruroto;
omundu tja penduka,
orwo tjandje rwa zengi.
21 Omutima wandje tji wa tetara,
nami tji mbe ripura pevari,
22 otji mba rira eyova ne ha tjiwa otjiṋa;
mba ri otja otjipuka tjokuti.
23 Nungwari ami me panḓere pove;
Ove we ndji kambura pokuoko kwokunene.
24 Mo ndji hongorere nomaronga woye,
nu kombunda mo ndji
yakura mondjingonekero yoye.
25 Otjikwaye tjarwe tji mbi natjo meyuru,
pendje naove erike?
Tji mbi na ove,
hi na tji me hepa kombanda yehi.
26 Orutu nomuinyo wandje nandi vya ngundipara,
Ndjambi eye omasa wandje;
eye onguri avihe mbi me hepa.
27 Imba mbe humburuka kokure na ove,
tjiri, mave manuka;
mo yandeke imba avehe mbe hi
nouṱakame move.
28 Nu ku ami okokuwa okukara popezu na Ndjambi;
omaundiro wandje ye ri mu
Muhona Ndjambi.
Ami me serekarere oviungura vyoye avihe.
