UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man born of a woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
Who cometh forth like a flower, and is destroyed, and fleeth as a shadow, and never continueth in the same state.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
And dost thou think it meet to open thy eyes upon such an one, and to bring him into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who can make him clean that is conceived of unclean seed? is it not thou who only art?
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 thee: thou hast appointed his bounds which cannot be passed.
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Depart a little from him, that he may rest, until his wished for day come, as that of the hireling.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
A tree hath hope: if it be cut, it groweth green again, and the boughs thereof sprout.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
If its root be old in the earth, and its stock be dead in the dust:
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
At the scent of water, it shall spring, and bring forth leaves, as when it was first planted.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
But man when he shall be dead, and stripped and consumed, I pray you where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
As if the waters should depart out of the sea, and an emptied river should be dried up:
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
So man when he is fallen asleep shall not rise again; till the heavens be broken, he shall not awake, nor rise up out of his sleep.
13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
Who will grant me this, that thou mayst protect me in hell, and hide me till thy wrath pass, and appoint me a. time when thou wilt remember me? (Sheol h7585)
14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
Shall man that is dead, thinkest thou, live again? all the days in which I am now in warfare, I expect until my change come.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
Thou shalt call me, and I will answer thee: to the work of thy hands thou shalt reach out thy right hand.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
Thou indeed hast numbered my steps, but spare my sins.
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
Thou hast sealed up my offences as it were in a bag, but hast cured my iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
A mountain falling cometh to nought, and a rock is removed out of its place.
19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
Waters wear away the stones, and with inundation the ground by little and little is washed away: so in like manner thou shalt destroy man.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
Thou hast strengthened him for a little while, that he may pass away for ever: thou shalt change his face, and shalt send him away.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
Whether his children come to honour or dishonour, he shall not understand.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
But yet his flesh, while he shall live, shall have pain, and his soul shall mourn over him.
