UJobe 3
1 Ngemva kwalokho uJobe wavula umlomo wakhe waliqalekisa ilanga azalwa ngalo.
After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 Wathi:
And Job commenced, and said,
3 “Sengathi ilanga lokuzalwa kwami lingatshabalala, lalobobusuku okwathiwa, ‘Kuzelwe umfana!’
Oh that the day whereon I was born might perish, and the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived.
4 Lolosuku sengathi lungaphenduka ubumnyama; sengathi uNkulunkulu ophezulu angangalunanzi; lokukhanya kucime ngalo.
May that day be [covered with] darkness; may not God from above inquire for it, and may no light beam upon it.
5 Sengathi ubumnyama lethunzi elikhulu kungaluginya njalo; sengathi iyezi lingalusibekela; sengathi umnyama ungalugubuzela.
Oh that darkness and the shadow of death might defile it; may a cloud rest upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 Lobobusuku, sengathi ubumnyama bungabuthi jwamu; sengathi bungayekelwa ukubalwa kanye lezinsuku zomnyaka futhi bungangeniswa lakuyiphi inyanga.
Yon night — let darkness seize upon it; let it not be united to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the [periods lighted by the] moon.
7 Sengathi lobobusuku bungaba yinyumba; sengathi kungeze kwezwakala umsindo wentokozo ngalo.
Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.
8 Sengathi labo abaqalekisa insuku bangaluqalekisa lolosuku, labo abazimisele ukuhlokoza uLeviyathani.
Let those denounce it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning cry.
9 Sengathi izinkanyezi zalo zokusa zingafiphala; lulindele imini kube yize lungayiboni imisebe yokuqala yokusa,
Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it hope for light, and there be none; and let it not behold the eyelids of the morning-dawn;
10 ngoba kaluyivalanga iminyango yesibeletho ngisiza ukufihla uhlupho emehlweni ami.
Because God closed not against me the doors of the womb, and thus concealed trouble from my eyes.
11 Kungani ngingafanga ngizalwa, ngahle ngacitsha ngisaphuma esiswini na?
Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
12 Kungani kwaba lamadolo okungemukela lamabele okungimunyisa na?
Wherefore were knees ready to receive me? and for what purpose were breasts there that I might suck?
13 Ngoba manje ngabe ngilele ekuthuleni; ngabe ngisebuthongweni ekuphumuleni
For now should I be lying still and be quiet; I should sleep: then would I be at rest,
14 kanye lamakhosi lababusi bomhlaba, ababezakhele izindawo okwamanje sezingamanxiwa,
With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build up ruined places for themselves;
15 kanye lamakhosana ayelegolide, egcwalise izindlu zawo ngesiliva.
Or with princes possessing gold, who fill their houses with silver;
16 Kumbe kungani ngingathukuzwanga emhlabathini njengomphunzo na, njengosane oluvele lungazange lubone ukukhanya kosuku?
Or as an untimely birth, hidden [from view] I should not exist; as infants that never have seen the light;
17 Khonale ababi kabasaxokozeli, njalo khonale abakhatheleyo basekuphumuleni.
There [where] the wicked cease from troubling; and where the exhausted weary are at rest;
18 Abathunjiweyo labo bazuza ukukhululeka; kabasakuzwa ukuhaladwa ngumtshayeli wabathunjiweyo.
[Where] the prisoners repose together, [and] they hear no more the taskmaster's voice.
19 Abantukazana lezikhulu bakhonale, lesigqili siyakhululwa enkosini yaso.
The small with the great is there, and the servant free from his master.
20 Kungani ukukhanya kuphiwa labo abasosizini na, lokuphila kulabo abalobuhlungu emphefumulweni,
Wherefore giveth He now light to the labor-laden, and life unto the bitter in soul?
21 kulabo abakhalela ukufa okungafikiyo, abakuthungathayo ukwedlula ingcebo efihliweyo,
Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
22 abaphuphuma ngenjabulo bathokoza nxa sebefika engcwabeni?
Who would rejoice even to exulting, who would be glad could they but find a grave?
23 Kungani impilo iphiwa umuntu ondlela yakhe ifihliwe, uNkulunkulu amhonqolozeleyo na?
[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God hath placed a fence?
24 Ngoba ukububula sokuphenduke ukudla kwami kwansukuzonke; ukugomela kwami kuthululeka njengamanzi.
For before my food cometh my groaning, and like the water are poured forth my loud complaints.
25 Ebengikwesaba sekungehlele, obekungitshayisa ngovalo sekwenzakele kimi.
Because what I greatly dreaded is come upon me, and what I apprehended is come unto me.
26 Kangilakho ukuchelesa, kangilakho ukuthula; kangilakuphumula, kodwa ukuhlupheka kuphela.”
I have had no safety, and no quiet, and no rest; and [now] harrowing trouble is come.
