UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Are there not mockers with me? and does not my eye continue in their provocation?
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore shall you not exalt them.
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
He that speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
He has made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, 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 stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
But as for you all, do you return, and come now: for I cannot 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, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
I have said to corruption, You are my father: to the worm, You are my mother, and my sister.
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
