UJobe 30
1 “Kodwa manje bayangiklolodela, amadoda angabantwana kimi, oyise engangingabehlisa ngibelusise izimvu zami.
But now, those younger in years scorn me, whose fathers I would not have seen fit to place with the dogs of my flock,
2 Amandla ezandla zabo ayengangisiza ngani mina, ngoba amadlabuzane abo ayesephelile;
the strength of whose hands was nothing to me, and they were considered unworthy of life itself.
3 sebejujukile ngokuswela langendlala, bazula elizweni elomileyo emangweni eyinkangala engelalutho ebusuku.
They were barren from poverty and hunger; they gnawed in solitude, layered with misfortune and misery.
4 Enkotheni khonale bakha imibhida emunyu, ukudla kwabo kuzimpande zezihlahla.
And they chewed grass and the bark from trees, and the root of junipers was their food.
5 Baxotshwa ebantwini bakibo, bathethiswa kungathi babengamasela.
They took these things from the steep valleys, and when they discovered one of these things, they rushed to the others with a cry.
6 Kwasekumele bahlale ezihotsheni zezifula ezomileyo, ezimbalwini emadwaleni lemilindini emhlabathini.
They lived in the parched desert and in caves underground or above the rocks.
7 Bakhonya phakathi kwezihlahla baququbala ezixukwini.
They rejoiced among these kinds of things, and they considered it delightful to be under thorns.
8 Base bengabantu abaphansi abangaselabizo, sebexotshiwe elizweni.
These are the sons of foolish and base men, not even paying any attention to the land.
9 Kodwa manje amadodana abo asengihaya ngengoma; sengiyisiga kubo.
Now I become their song, and I have been made into their proverb.
10 Bayangenyanya njalo bamela khatshana lami; kabathikazi ukungikhafulela ebusweni.
They loathe me, and so they flee far from me, and they are not reluctant to spit in my face.
11 Khathesi njengoba uNkulunkulu eselithukulule idandili lami wangitshaya ngezinhlupheko, sebeklamasa kabasazithinti.
For he has opened his quiver and has afflicted me, and he has placed a bridle in my mouth.
12 Kwesokunene kwami ixuku liyangihlasela; bathiya inyawo zami ngemijibila bakhe imibundu yokungivimbezela.
Immediately, upon rising, my calamities rise up to the right. They have overturned my feet and have pressed me down along their way like waves.
13 Badiliza indlela yami; bayaphumelela ukungibhidliza besithi ‘Akekho ozamsiza.’
They have diverted my journeys; they have waited to ambush me, and they have prevailed, and there was no one who might bring help.
14 Bahlasela ingathi bafohlela esikhaleni esivulekileyo; beza bethululeka phezu kwezinqwaba zamanxiwa.
They have rushed upon me, as when a wall is broken or a gate opened, and they have been pulled down into my miseries.
15 Ukwesaba okukhulu kungiphethe; isithunzi sami sobuntu singathi siphethwe ngumoya, ukuvikeleka kwami kunyamalala njengeyezi.
I have been reduced to nothing. You have taken away my desire like a wind, and my health has passed by like a cloud.
16 Manje impilo yami isincipha; insuku zokuhlupheka zingibambe nko.
But now my soul withers within myself, and the days of affliction take hold of me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami; lokuqaqamba kobuhlungu bami kakupheli.
At night, my bone is pierced with sorrows, and those who feed on me, do not sleep.
18 Ngamandla akhe amakhulu uNkulunkulu unjengelembu kimi; uyangikhama ngamabheqe entanyeni yami.
By the sheer number of them my clothing is worn away, and they have closed in on me like the collar of my coat.
19 Ungivoxela edakeni, ngicina sengiluthuli lomlotha.
I have been treated like dirt, and I have been turned into embers and ashes.
20 Ngikhala kuwe, Oh Nkulunkulu, kodwa kawuphenduli; ngiyasukuma, kodwa uyangikhangela kuphela.
I cry to you, and you do not heed me. I stand up, and you do not look back at me.
21 Ungisukela ngesihluku; ungihlasela ngamandla esandla sakho.
You have changed me into hardness, and, with the hardness of your hand, you oppose me.
22 Uyangihlwitha ngiphetshulwe ngumoya; ngiphoseke le lale phakathi kwesiphepho.
You have lifted me up, and, placing me as if on the wind, you have thrown me down powerfully.
23 Ngiyazi ukuthi uzangilalisa phansi ekufeni, endaweni emiselwe konke okuphilayo.
I know that you will hand me over to death, where a home has been established for all the living.
24 Ngempela kakho ombeka isandla umuntu oswelayo nxa ekhalela ukusizwa esebunzimeni.
Truly, then, you do not extend your hand in order to consume them, and if they fall down, you will save them.
25 Kangibakhalelanga yini labo abahluphekileyo? Umoya wami kawubazwelanga usizi abayanga na?
Once, I wept over him who was afflicted, and my soul had compassion on the poor.
26 Kodwa ngathi ngilindele ubuhle, kweza ububi; ngathi ngilindele ukukhanya kweza ubumnyama.
I expected good things, but evil things have come to me. I stood ready for light, yet darkness burst forth.
27 Ukudunguluka ngaphakathi kwami kakukhawuli; insuku zokuhlupheka zingijamele.
My insides have seethed, without any rest, for the days of affliction have prevented it.
28 Ngihamba nje ngimnyama kubi, kungesikutshiswa lilanga; ngiyasukuma enkundleni ngicele uncedo.
I went forth mourning, without anger, and rising up, I cried out in confusion.
29 Sengingumfowabo wamakhanka, umkhula wezikhova.
I was the brother of snakes, and the companion of ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami siba mnyama, siyaxathuka; umzimba wami uyatshisa ngomkhuhlane.
My skin has become blackened over me, and my bones have dried up because of the heat.
31 Ichacho lami selilungiselwe isililo, lomqangala wami ulindele umkhosi wokukhala.”
My harp has been turned into mourning, and my pipes have been turned into a voice of weeping.
