< Job 7 >

1 “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
“Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
2 As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
3 so I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
4 When I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
7 Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
8 The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
Njengeyezi elinyamalalayo liphele, kanjalo lowo ongena engcwabeni kaphenduki. (Sheol h7585)
10 He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
11 “Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
12 Am I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe ngiyisilo semanzini okungaze lihlale lingilindile?
13 When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
15 so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
16 I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
17 What is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
18 that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
20 If I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
21 Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”

< Job 7 >