UJobe 14
1 “Umuntu ozelwe ngumfazi ulensuku ezilutshwane njalo ezigcwele inhlupho.
Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
2 Uyaqhakaza njengeluba aphinde abune; njengesithunzi esithi tshazi, akemi.
As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.
3 Onjalo ungala ulokhu umkhangele na? Ungamisa phambi kwakho umthonisise na?
Also — on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo na? Kakho!
Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Insuku zomuntu zimisiwe; uzibekile izinyanga zokuphila kwakhe wabeka lemikhawulo angeke ayeqe.
If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;
6 Ngakho-ke myekele ungazihluphi ngaye, aze aqede lesosikhathi sakhe njengomuntu oqhatshiweyo.
Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.
7 Kungaba lethemba ngesihlahla; singaganyulwa siyahluma njalo, amahlumela aso kawayikwehluleka ukukhula.
For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
8 Impande zaso zingaguga phansi emhlabathini lesiphunzi saso sife emhlabathini,
If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,
9 kodwa singezwa amanzi siyahluma sikhuphe ingatsha njengesihlahla esitsha.
From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi; uphefumula okokucina angabe esabakhona.
And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?
11 Njengamanzi esitsha olwandle lanjengomfula ucitsha amanzi wome qha,
Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.
12 ngokunjalo umuntu ulala phansi angabe esavuka; kuze kutshabalale amazulu abantu kabayikuvuka kumbe baphatshanyiswe ebuthongweni babo.
And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.
13 Kube uyangifihla ethuneni ungithukuze ulaka lwakho luze ludlule! Kube ungibekela isikhathi ube usungikhumbula! (Sheol h7585)
O that in Sheol Thou wouldest conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me. (Sheol h7585)
14 Umuntu angafa uphinde aphile na? Zonke insuku zokutshikatshika kwami ngizalindela isikhathi sokuyekelwa kwami.
If a man dieth — doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.
15 Uzabiza lami ngizasabela; uzasifisa lesosidalwa esenziwa yizandla zakho.
Thou dost call, and I — I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.
16 Ngeqiniso lapho uzabala izinyathelo zami kodwa kawuyikulandelela izono zami.
But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
17 Iziphambeko zami zizananyekwa emgodleni; uzasigubuzela isono sami.
Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18 Kodwa njengentaba ikhumuzeka ize ibhidlike, lanjengedwala ligudluka endaweni yalo,
And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
19 njengamanzi awagubhayo amatshe lezikhukhula zikhukhula umhlabathi, kanjalo uyalibhidliza ithemba lomuntu.
Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.
20 Umehlula kanye angaphindi abekhona, adlule; uyabuguqula ubuso bakho umxotshe.
Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.
21 Nxa amadodana akhe ezuza udumo, kawakwazi; nxa izizukulwane zakhe zisehliswa, kazikuboni.
Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
22 Bezwa kuphela ubuhlungu bemizimba yabo bazikhalele bona.”
Only — his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.'
