UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is [ready] for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with thyself; who is there that will strike hands with me?
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt [them].
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
He that denounceth his friends for a prey, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become an open abhorring.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
Mine 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 astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the godless.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
Yet shall the righteous hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
But return ye, all of you, and come now: and I shall not find a 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 droughts of my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
They change the night into a day: the fight, [say they], is near unto the darkness.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If I look for Sheol as mine house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
If I have said to corruption, Thou art my father; to the worm, [Thou art] my mother, and my sister;
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
Where then is my hope? and as for my hope, who shall see it?
