Job 17
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
2 Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
3 “Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
5 He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
6 “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
8 Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
10 But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
11 My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol h7585)
14 if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
