Job 17
1 “My spirit is broken; my days are extinguished; the grave awaits me.
“Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
2 Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.
Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
3 Give me, I pray, the pledge You demand. Who else will be my guarantor?
Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
4 You have closed their minds to understanding; therefore You will not exalt them.
Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
5 If a man denounces his friends for a price, the eyes of his children will fail.
Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
6 He has made me a byword among the people, a man in whose face they spit.
UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
7 My eyes have grown dim with grief, and my whole body is but a shadow.
Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
8 The upright are appalled at this, and the innocent are stirred against the godless.
Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
9 Yet a righteous one holds to his way, and the one with clean hands grows stronger.
Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
10 But come back and try again, all of you. For I will not find a wise man among you.
Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
11 My days have passed; my plans are broken off— even the desires of my heart.
Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 They have turned night into day, making light seem near in the face of darkness.
Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
14 and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’
nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
15 where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?
pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
