Job 17
1 My spirit is consumed, and my days are over; the grave is ready for me.
“Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
2 Surely there are mockers with me; my eye must always see their provocation.
Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
3 Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help me?
Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
4 For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.
Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
5 He who denounces his friends for a reward, the eyes of his children will fail.
Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
6 But he has made me a byword of the people; they spit in my face.
UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
7 My eye is also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.
Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
8 Upright men will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.
Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
9 The righteous man will keep to his way; he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
10 But as for you all, come on now; I will not find a wise man among you.
Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
11 My days are past; my plans are shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.
Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.
Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
13 If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
14 and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'
nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
