Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
“Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
2 Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.
Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
3 Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; who else is there that will strike hands with me?
Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
4 For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
5 He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become one in whose face they spit.
UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
7 Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, and all my members are as a shadow.
Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
8 Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.
Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
9 Yet the righteous holdeth on his way, and he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.
Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; and I shall not find a 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, even the thoughts of my heart.
Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness.
Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
13 If I look for the nether-world as my house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
14 If I have said to corruption: 'Thou art my father', to the worm: 'Thou art my mother, and my sister';
nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
15 Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
