UJobe 30
1 “Kodwa manje bayangiklolodela, amadoda angabantwana kimi, oyise engangingabehlisa ngibelusise izimvu zami.
But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nothing; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
2 Amandla ezandla zabo ayengangisiza ngani mina, ngoba amadlabuzane abo ayesephelile;
Yes, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
3 sebejujukile ngokuswela langendlala, bazula elizweni elomileyo emangweni eyinkangala engelalutho ebusuku.
[One is] childless in lack and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
4 Enkotheni khonale bakha imibhida emunyu, ukudla kwabo kuzimpande zezihlahla.
Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonorable and of no repute, in lack of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
5 Baxotshwa ebantwini bakibo, bathethiswa kungathi babengamasela.
Thieves have risen up against me,
6 Kwasekumele bahlale ezihotsheni zezifula ezomileyo, ezimbalwini emadwaleni lemilindini emhlabathini.
whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
7 Bakhonya phakathi kwezihlahla baququbala ezixukwini.
They will cry out among the rustling [bushes].
8 Base bengabantu abaphansi abangaselabizo, sebexotshiwe elizweni.
[They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
9 Kodwa manje amadodana abo asengihaya ngengoma; sengiyisiga kubo.
But now I am their music, and they have me for a byword.
10 Bayangenyanya njalo bamela khatshana lami; kabathikazi ukungikhafulela ebusweni.
And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
11 Khathesi njengoba uNkulunkulu eselithukulule idandili lami wangitshaya ngezinhlupheko, sebeklamasa kabasazithinti.
For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
12 Kwesokunene kwami ixuku liyangihlasela; bathiya inyawo zami ngemijibila bakhe imibundu yokungivimbezela.
They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
13 Badiliza indlela yami; bayaphumelela ukungibhidliza besithi ‘Akekho ozamsiza.’
My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
14 Bahlasela ingathi bafohlela esikhaleni esivulekileyo; beza bethululeka phezu kwezinqwaba zamanxiwa.
And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
15 Ukwesaba okukhulu kungiphethe; isithunzi sami sobuntu singathi siphethwe ngumoya, ukuvikeleka kwami kunyamalala njengeyezi.
My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
16 Manje impilo yami isincipha; insuku zokuhlupheka zingibambe nko.
Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami; lokuqaqamba kobuhlungu bami kakupheli.
And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
18 Ngamandla akhe amakhulu uNkulunkulu unjengelembu kimi; uyangikhama ngamabheqe entanyeni yami.
With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
19 Ungivoxela edakeni, ngicina sengiluthuli lomlotha.
And you have counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
20 Ngikhala kuwe, Oh Nkulunkulu, kodwa kawuphenduli; ngiyasukuma, kodwa uyangikhangela kuphela.
And I have cried to you, but you hear me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
21 Ungisukela ngesihluku; ungihlasela ngamandla esandla sakho.
They attacked me also without mercy: you have scourged me with a strong hand.
22 Uyangihlwitha ngiphetshulwe ngumoya; ngiphoseke le lale phakathi kwesiphepho.
And you have put me to grief, and have cast me away from safety.
23 Ngiyazi ukuthi uzangilalisa phansi ekufeni, endaweni emiselwe konke okuphilayo.
For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
24 Ngempela kakho ombeka isandla umuntu oswelayo nxa ekhalela ukusizwa esebunzimeni.
Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
25 Kangibakhalelanga yini labo abahluphekileyo? Umoya wami kawubazwelanga usizi abayanga na?
Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
26 Kodwa ngathi ngilindele ubuhle, kweza ububi; ngathi ngilindele ukukhanya kweza ubumnyama.
But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
27 Ukudunguluka ngaphakathi kwami kakukhawuli; insuku zokuhlupheka zingijamele.
My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
28 Ngihamba nje ngimnyama kubi, kungesikutshiswa lilanga; ngiyasukuma enkundleni ngicele uncedo.
I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
29 Sengingumfowabo wamakhanka, umkhula wezikhova.
I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami siba mnyama, siyaxathuka; umzimba wami uyatshisa ngomkhuhlane.
And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selilungiselwe isililo, lomqangala wami ulindele umkhosi wokukhala.”
My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
