UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
11 Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
