UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man that is born of a 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: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with thee, and thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof 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 plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
[As] the waters fail from the sea, and the river decayeth 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: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be roused 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 thy wrath 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 warfare would I wait, till my release should come.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
Thou shouldest call, and I would answer thee: thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
But 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 fastenest up mine iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
And surely the 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 overflowings 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; thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
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, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
But his flesh upon him hath pain, and his soul within him mourneth.
