Job 17
1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine.
“Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
2 Are there not mockers around me? and doth [not] mine eye abide in their provocation?
Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
3 Lay down now [a pledge], be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?
Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
4 For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt [them].
Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
5 He that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.
Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
6 And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face.
UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
7 And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow.
Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
8 Upright men [shall be] astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly;
Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
9 But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.
Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
10 But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you.
Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart.
Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 They change the night into day; the light [they imagine] near in presence of the darkness.
Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
14 I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister!
nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
15 And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?
pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
