UJobe 17
1 “Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
2 Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
5 Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
7 Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
8 Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
9 Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
11 Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
12 Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
13 Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
If I look for Sheol as my 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, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
15 pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
