UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man born of a woman is short of days, and sated with harrowing trouble.
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
Like a flower he cometh forth, and is cut down: and he fleeth like a shadow, and remaineth not.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
And yet on such a one dost thou open thy eyes, and me thou bringest into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who can make a clean thing out of an unclean? not one [thing].
5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
Seeing that his days are determined, the number of his months are [fixed] with thee, that thou hast set his bounds which he cannot pass:
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Turn thyself from him that he may recover from his pain, and be able to enjoy like a hired laborer his day.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
For there is hope for the tree: if it be cut down, it may still sprout again, while its young shoot will not cease.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
If even its root become old in the earth, and its stock die in the dust:
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
Yet through the scent of water will it flourish [again], and produce boughs as though It were newly planted.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
But man dieth, and lieth powerless: yea, the son of earth departeth—and where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
The waters run off from the sea, and the river faileth and drieth up:
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
So doth man lie down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they will not awake, and will not be roused out of their sleep.
13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
Oh who would grant that thou mightest hide me in the nether world, that thou mightest conceal me, until thy wrath be appeased, that thou mightest set for me a fixed time, and remember me then! (Sheol h7585)
14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
Or, when a man dieth, will he live again? all the days of my time of service would I then wait, till [the hour of] my release were come.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
Do thou call, and I will truly answer thee: have a desire for the work of thy hands.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
Yet now thou numberest my steps: and thou waitest not with [the punishment of] my sin.
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
Sealed up in a bag is my transgression, and thou yet addest to my iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
But truly a falling mountain will crumble, and [even] a rock is moved out of its place.
19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
The water weareth out stones; thou sweepest away their fragments [like] the dust of the earth: and so thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
Thou assailest him with might without ceasing, till he passeth away: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him off.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
His children acquire honor, but he knoweth it not: and they are esteemed little, but he perceiveth nothing of them.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
But his body. on him, feeleth pain, and his soul will mourn for him.
