UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
My spirit shall be wasted, my days shall be shortened, and only the grave remaineth for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
I have not sinned, and my eye abideth in bitterness.
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
Deliver me O Lord, and set me beside thee, and let any man’s hand fight against me.
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
Thou hast set their heart far from understanding, therefore they shall not be exalted.
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
He promiseth a prey to his companions, and the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
He hath made me as it were a byword of the people, and I am an example before them.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
My eye is dim through indignation, and my limbs are brought as it were to nothing.
8 Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
The just shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall be raised up against the hypocrite.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
And the just man shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
Wherefore be you all converted, and come, and I shall not find among you any wise man.
11 Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days have passed away, my thoughts are dissipated, tormenting my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
They have turned night into day, and after darkness I hope for light again.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If I wait hell is my house, and I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
If I have said to rottenness: Thou art my father; to worms, my mother and my sister.
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
Where is now then my expectation, and who considereth my patience?
