Job 14
1 “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
2 Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
3 Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
5 Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
6 look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
7 For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
8 If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
9 at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
10 But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
11 As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
12 so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
13 If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)
Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
14 When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
15 You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
16 For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
17 My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
18 But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
19 as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
20 You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
21 If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
22 He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
