UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man, born of woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; and he fleeth as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
Yet dost thou open thine eyes upon such a one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who can bring a clean [man] out of the unclean? Not one!
5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
If his days are determined, if the number of his months is with thee, [and] thou hast appointed his bounds which he must not pass,
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Look away from him; and let him rest, till he accomplish, as a hireling, his day.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
For there is hope for a tree: if it be cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender branch will not cease;
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stock die in the ground,
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a young plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
But a man dieth, and is prostrate; yea, man expireth, and where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
The waters recede from the lake, and the river wasteth and drieth up:
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
So man lieth down, and riseth not again; till the heavens be no more, they do not awake, nor are raised out of their sleep.
13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret until thine anger be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me, — (Sheol h7585)
14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
(If a man die, shall he live [again]?) all the days of my time of toil would I wait, till my change should come:
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
Thou wouldest call, and I would answer thee; thou wouldest have a desire after the work of thy hands.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou heapest up mine iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
And indeed a mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
The waters wear the stones, the floods thereof wash away the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth away; thou changest his countenance, and dismissest him.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, and he perceiveth it not.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
But his flesh hath pain for himself alone, and his soul mourneth for himself.
