UJobe 30
1 “Kodwa manje bayangiklolodela, amadoda angabantwana kimi, oyise engangingabehlisa ngibelusise izimvu zami.
But now they who are younger than I in years laugh at me, whose fathers I scorned to put as equals with the dogs of my flocks.
2 Amandla ezandla zabo ayengangisiza ngani mina, ngoba amadlabuzane abo ayesephelile;
Yea, what possible use can the strength of their hands be unto me, over whom old age hath passed fruitlessly?
3 sebejujukile ngokuswela langendlala, bazula elizweni elomileyo emangweni eyinkangala engelalutho ebusuku.
Who suffer for want and famine in solitude; who flee into the wilderness [where all is] darkness, ruin, and desolation;
4 Enkotheni khonale bakha imibhida emunyu, ukudla kwabo kuzimpande zezihlahla.
Who crop off mallows by the bushes, and have broom-bush roots as their bread;
5 Baxotshwa ebantwini bakibo, bathethiswa kungathi babengamasela.
Who are driven forth from among [men], who are shouted after as though they were thieves,
6 Kwasekumele bahlale ezihotsheni zezifula ezomileyo, ezimbalwini emadwaleni lemilindini emhlabathini.
To dwell in the caverns of the valleys, in holes of the earth, and on naked cliffs.
7 Bakhonya phakathi kwezihlahla baququbala ezixukwini.
Among the bushes they shriek; under briers they are huddled together,
8 Base bengabantu abaphansi abangaselabizo, sebexotshiwe elizweni.
The children of the worthless, yea, the children of the nameless, who were outcasts from the land.
9 Kodwa manje amadodana abo asengihaya ngengoma; sengiyisiga kubo.
But now I am become their song, and I am become a byword unto them.
10 Bayangenyanya njalo bamela khatshana lami; kabathikazi ukungikhafulela ebusweni.
They loathe me, they keep themselves far from me, and from my face they withhold not their spittle.
11 Khathesi njengoba uNkulunkulu eselithukulule idandili lami wangitshaya ngezinhlupheko, sebeklamasa kabasazithinti.
Because he hath loosened the cord of my bow, and afflicted me, they have also cast off the bridle before me.
12 Kwesokunene kwami ixuku liyangihlasela; bathiya inyawo zami ngemijibila bakhe imibundu yokungivimbezela.
Against my right hand rise up this swarm of worthless youths: they push away my feet, and they level against me their calamity-bringing paths.
13 Badiliza indlela yami; bayaphumelela ukungibhidliza besithi ‘Akekho ozamsiza.’
They destroy my footpath, they help forward my downfall, without any one to aid them.
14 Bahlasela ingathi bafohlela esikhaleni esivulekileyo; beza bethululeka phezu kwezinqwaba zamanxiwa.
As [through] a broad breach they come: amidst a loud noise they rolled themselves along.
15 Ukwesaba okukhulu kungiphethe; isithunzi sami sobuntu singathi siphethwe ngumoya, ukuvikeleka kwami kunyamalala njengeyezi.
Terrors have turned their face against me; they chase like the wind my glory: and like a cloud is my happiness passed away.
16 Manje impilo yami isincipha; insuku zokuhlupheka zingibambe nko.
And now my soul is poured out over me; the days of affliction have seized on me;
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami; lokuqaqamba kobuhlungu bami kakupheli.
All night it holloweth out my bones out of my body; and my pursuers take no rest.
18 Ngamandla akhe amakhulu uNkulunkulu unjengelembu kimi; uyangikhama ngamabheqe entanyeni yami.
Through the Almlghty's power is my garment made unknown: like the opening of my coat hath he enclosed me.
19 Ungivoxela edakeni, ngicina sengiluthuli lomlotha.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngikhala kuwe, Oh Nkulunkulu, kodwa kawuphenduli; ngiyasukuma, kodwa uyangikhangela kuphela.
I cry aloud unto thee, but thou answerest me not: I stand up, and thou fixest thy regard against me.
21 Ungisukela ngesihluku; ungihlasela ngamandla esandla sakho.
Thou art changed into a cruel master toward me: with the strength of thy hand thou assailest me.
22 Uyangihlwitha ngiphetshulwe ngumoya; ngiphoseke le lale phakathi kwesiphepho.
Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to pass away, and dissolvest in me all wise counsel.
23 Ngiyazi ukuthi uzangilalisa phansi ekufeni, endaweni emiselwe konke okuphilayo.
For I know that thou wilt bring me back to death, and to the house of assembly for all the living.
24 Ngempela kakho ombeka isandla umuntu oswelayo nxa ekhalela ukusizwa esebunzimeni.
But doth not a man stretch out his hand among ruins? or doth one not cry out therefrom [for help] when he meeteth his downfall?
25 Kangibakhalelanga yini labo abahluphekileyo? Umoya wami kawubazwelanga usizi abayanga na?
Did I not weep for him that was hard pressed by misfortune? was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Kodwa ngathi ngilindele ubuhle, kweza ububi; ngathi ngilindele ukukhanya kweza ubumnyama.
That I hoped for good, but there came evil; and I waited for light, and there came darkness!
27 Ukudunguluka ngaphakathi kwami kakukhawuli; insuku zokuhlupheka zingijamele.
My bowels heave, and rest not: the days of affliction have overcome me.
28 Ngihamba nje ngimnyama kubi, kungesikutshiswa lilanga; ngiyasukuma enkundleni ngicele uncedo.
I walk about mournfully without sunlight: when I rise up, in the assembly, I cry with pain.
29 Sengingumfowabo wamakhanka, umkhula wezikhova.
I am a brother to [howling] monsters, and a companion to ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami siba mnyama, siyaxathuka; umzimba wami uyatshisa ngomkhuhlane.
My skin hangeth down black from me, and my bones are burnt from heat.
31 Ichacho lami selilungiselwe isililo, lomqangala wami ulindele umkhosi wokukhala.”
And thus is changed to mourning my harp, and my pipe to the sound of weeping.
