Pakati kwenu.
1 Samuel 7th chap. 3rd verse.
10Halahoyi! Ke ma Afrika
Nalo ke ivumba 45
Linuka
Okwenyoka yomlambo.
11Iziko le nyembezi
Liziko lo manyano
Kona baze babuye 50
Nabasezintabeni.
12Kukusiwa kwezikalo
Zabasebenzi ezinkosini
Kuba bengena ndawo
Yokuhlambana induma. 55
13Ke lento izinkosi
Ifuna u Manyano
Kuba zingonyama ezijonga
Ngeliso elibomvu.
14God won’t deign 60
to grant us help
unless we strive
to help ourselves.
15So dance, son of Thwebu,
we’re waiting 65
to hear your words
in the clear light of day.
16Speak out!
Set wastrels trembling
so our chiefs 70
lick the cream.
17The vale of tears—
Agree with me, men!—
shields your heads
when skies are rumbling. 75
18Yes, we agree!
It’s the vale of unity.
Let’s sway together
in rhythmic dance.
19It’s a travellers’ haven— 80
Agree with me, women!—
a shelter for girls
who’ve left their men.
20Ho, Mrs M. Maxeke,
tall, bitter tree, 85
Deborah’s sister,
give us advice
on harvesting crops.
21Glean in the wake of the reapers,
Mrs. M. Maxeke, 90
so every witch
drops down dead.
22The vale of tears
is the vale of unity:
united we’ll wear 95
the raiments of heaven.
14U Tixo udinge 60
Ukuba wosinceda
Kodwa kungengapandle
Kweyetu imigudu,
15Kaudude ke! Nto ka Twebu
Sibonele 65
Indlebe zetu
Zingemki nezikova.
16Kautshile! Ondilele
Badidizele
Kuze inkosi zetu 70
Zifuman’isipehlo.
17Iziko le nyembezi
Vumani! Madoda
Inqayi nozifihla kona
Xa liduduma. 75
18Siyavuma! Ewe
Liziko lo manyano
Mazapuke ke imbambo
Nga macal’omabini.
19Likaya labahambi 80
Vumani! Bafazi
Nelokunqandela intombi
Eziyek’amadoda.
20Kaulirol’iqinga
Siwavun’amazimba 85
Hoha! Mrs M. Maxeke
Mti omde orara wakulo
Deborah
21Bhikica emva kwabavumi
Mrs. M. Maxeke 90
Ze nengcwaba lamagqwira
Libe ndaweninye.
22Iziko le nyembezi
Liziko lo manyano
Kona ukuze sizibone 95
Nezivato ze Zulu.
23Well said, son of Thwebu,
hobbling on your knees
like a slow-spreading town:
close the gap between us and our chiefs! 100
24Let them stand in the courtyards
before Maxeke, B.A.,
Find-at-the-Door-
What-you-Shot-from-Inside.
25It’s a vale to assemble 105
all grades of marksmen.
Agree with me, chiefs!
Look round as you fight.
26And so we await
the voice of our chiefs: 110
just look at the beasts
goring each other.
27On, son of Thwebu!
If you hope to succeed
you might have to dance 115
without beads round your neck.
28Hoha! Wait a minute!
We stumbled in starting
to reclaim a land
already lost. 120
29It’s the vale of sages,
returning Ntsikana,
great python uncoiling
to head on high.
30Awu, these are the words 125
of the scabby eland;
mushrooms flourish
in the flakes it sheds.
Awu! Hia!
23Kulondawo! Nto ka Twebu
Zisondeze inkosi
Nto egaqa ihamba
Ixelis’idolopu. 100
24Maziti gqi enkundleni
Koka Maxeke B.A.
Nto edubula isendlini
Bacholinto emnyango.
25Liziko lokunqandela 105
Zonke izihuluhulu
Vumani ke zinkosi
Nilwe nikangelana.
26Sekulindelwe kupela
Ilizwi le nkosi 110
Nandzo izilo
Ziza zisukelana
27Pambili! Nto ka Twebu!
Woti ukuze ulunge
Uke uxentse 115
Ungenantsimb’emqaleni.
28Hoha!