UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgement with you?
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 you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, 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 is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will 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 you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would 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 dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. 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 torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
His sons come to honour, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”
