UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
“My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have no strength left; my grave is waiting for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Those who are around me are making fun of me; I [SYN] watch them while they (taunt/make fun of) me.”
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
“God, [it is as though I am in prison; ] please pay the money in order that I may be released, because there is certainly no one else who will help me.
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
You have prevented my friends from understanding [what is true about me]; do not allow them to triumph over me, [saying that I have done things that are wrong].
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
[Our ancestors often said, ‘It often happens that] when someone betrays his friends in order to get some of their property, it is that person’s children who will be punished for it;’ [so I desire/hope that will be true of these friends of mine who are lying about me].
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
“But now people use that saying of our ancestors when they talk about me; they spit in my face [to insult me].
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
(My sight has become dim/I cannot see well) because I am extremely sad, and my arms and legs are [very thin, with the result that they almost do not cast] [MET] a shadow.
8 Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
Those who [say that they] are good/righteous are shocked [when they see what has happened to me], and people who [say that they] (are innocent/have not done anything that is wrong) say that I am wicked/godless and should be punished.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
Those who [claim that they] are righteous will continue to do what [they think] is right, and those [who say] they have not sinned will continue to become stronger.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
“But even if all of those people came [and stood in front of me], I would not find anyone among them who is wise.
11 Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My (life/time to live) is almost ended; I have not been able to do the things that I confidently expected to do; [I have not been able to accomplish] anything that I [SYN] desired.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
My friends do not know when it is night and when it is day; when it is night, they claim that it is daylight; when it is becoming dark, they claim it is becoming light.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If my home will be the place where dead people are, where will I sleep in the darkness? (Sheol h7585)
14 nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
I may say to the grave, ‘You will be [like] a father to me,’ and say to the maggots [that will eat my body], ‘You will be [like] a mother or younger sisters to me [because you will be where I will always be].’
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
But if I say those things, (will there be anything good that I can confidently expect to happen to me?/there will be nothing good that I can confidently expect to happen to me.) [RHQ] (Is there anyone who knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave?/No one knows anything good that I can expect when I am in the grave.) [RHQ]
After I descend to the place where the dead are, (will I be able to confidently expect anything good there?/I certainly will not be able to confidently expect anything good there.) [RHQ] [It will be as though] [RHQ] I and the things I hope for will descend with me into the dust [where the dead are].” (Sheol h7585)
