UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man, born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
He comes forth like a flower, and is crushed, and he flees, as if a shadow, and never remains in the same state.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
And do you consider it fitting to look down with your eyes on someone in this way and to lead him into judgment with you?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who can make him clean who is conceived of unclean seed? Are you not the only one who can?
5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with you; you have determined his limits, which cannot be surpassed.
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Withdraw a little from him, so that he may rest, until his awaited day arrives, like that of the hired hand.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
A tree has hope: if it has been cut, it turns green again, and its branches spring forth.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust,
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
at the scent of water, it will sprout and bring forth leaves, as when it had first been planted.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
Truly, when a man dies, and has been left unprotected, and has decayed, I ask you where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
It is as if the waters had receded from the sea and an emptied river had dried up;
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
just so, when a man is fallen asleep, he will not rise again, until the heavens are worn away; he will not awaken, nor rise from his sleep.
13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
Who will grant this to me, that you will protect me in the underworld, and hide me until your fury passes by, and establish a time for me, in which you will remember me? (Sheol h7585)
14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
Do you suppose that a dead man will live again? On each of the days in which I now battle, I wait until my transformation occurs.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
You will call me and I will answer you; to the work of your hands, you will extend your right hand.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins.
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
You have sealed up my offenses, as if in a purse, but you have cured my iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
A falling mountain flows away, and a stone is transferred from its place.
19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
You have strengthened him for a little while, so that he may cross over into eternity. You will change his face and send him forth.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
Whether his sons have been noble or ignoble, he will not understand.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
And in this way his body, while he yet lives, will have grief, and his soul will mourn over himself.
