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 doth 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 thee; who [is] he [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 speaketh flattery to [his] friends, 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 by-word of the people; and in former time 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 shade.
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 hath 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 ye 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, Thou [art] my father: to the worm, [Thou art] 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 will see it?
