< Job 14 >

1 Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
“Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
2 As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.
Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
3 Also — on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.
Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
4 Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
5 If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;
Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
6 Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.
Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
7 For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
8 If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,
Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
9 From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.
kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
10 And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?
Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
11 Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.
Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
12 And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.
ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
13 O that in Sheol Thou wouldest conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me. (Sheol h7585)
Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
14 If a man dieth — doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.
Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
15 Thou dost call, and I — I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.
Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
16 But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
17 Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.
Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
18 And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
19 Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.
njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
20 Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.
Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
21 Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
22 Only — his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'
Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”

< Job 14 >