Job 17

1 My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.

Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.

2 Surely there are mockers with me, and my eye dwells upon their provocation.

Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?

3 Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself. Who is there that will strike hands with me?

Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?

4 For thou have hid their heart from understanding. Therefore thou shall not exalt them.

Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.

5 He who denounces his friends for a prey, even the eyes of his sons shall fail.

Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.

6 But he has made me a byword of the people, and they spit in my face.

Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.

7 My eye also is dim because of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.

8 Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir himself up against the profane.

Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.

9 Yet the righteous shall hold on his way. And he who has clean hands shall grow stronger and stronger.

Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.

10 But as for you all, come on now again, and I shall not find a wise man among you.

Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.

11 My days are past. My purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.

Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.

12 They change the night into day. The light, they say, is near to the darkness.

Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.

13 If I look for Sheol as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness, (Sheol h7585)

Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol h7585)

14 if I have said to corruption, Thou are my father, to the worm, My mother, and my sister,

Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.

15 where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?

Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?

16 It shall go down to the bars of Sheol when once there is rest in the dust. (Sheol h7585)

Kuzakwehlela kumijabo yengcwaba, lapho sizaphumula khona ndawonye enhlabathini. (Sheol h7585)