UJobe 14

1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.

For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.

2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.

Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and can’t continue.

3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?

Hast you not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before you?

4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!

For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;

5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.

if even his life should be [but] one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: you have appointed [him] for a time, and he shall by no means exceed [it].

6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.

Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.

7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.

For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, [that] it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.

8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,

For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;

9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.

it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.

10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.

But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.

11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,

For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.

12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.

And man that has lain down [in death] shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.

13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)

For oh that you had kept me in the grave, and had hidden me until your wrath should cease, and you should set me a time in which you would remember me! (Sheol h7585)

14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.

For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?

15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.

Then shall you call, and I will listen to you: but do not you reject the work of your hands.

16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.

But you have numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape you?

17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.

An you have sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.

18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,

And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.

19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.

The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and you destroy the hope of man.

20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.

You drive him to an end, and he is gone: you set your face against him, and send him away;

21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.

and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.

22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”

But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.