UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are mine.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Are there not mockers around me? and doth [not] mine eye abide in their provocation?
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
Lay down now [a pledge], be thou surety for me with thyself: who is he that striketh hands with me?
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
For thou hast hidden their heart from understanding; therefore thou wilt not exalt [them].
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
He that betrayeth friends for a prey — even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
And he hath made me a proverb of the peoples; and I am become one to be spit on in the face.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
And mine eye is dim by reason of grief, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
Upright men [shall be] astonished at this, and the innocent shall be stirred up against the ungodly;
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
But the righteous shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall increase in strength.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
But as for you all, pray come on again; and I shall not find one wise man among you.
11 Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, the cherished thoughts of my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
They change the night into day; the light [they imagine] near in presence of the darkness.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If I wait, Sheol is my house; I spread my bed in the darkness: (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
I cry to the grave, Thou art my father! to the worm, My mother, and my sister!
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
And where is then my hope? yea, my hope, who shall see it?
