UJobe 30
1 “Kodwa manje bayangiklolodela, amadoda angabantwana kimi, oyise engangingabehlisa ngibelusise izimvu zami.
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Amandla ezandla zabo ayengangisiza ngani mina, ngoba amadlabuzane abo ayesephelile;
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 sebejujukile ngokuswela langendlala, bazula elizweni elomileyo emangweni eyinkangala engelalutho ebusuku.
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 Enkotheni khonale bakha imibhida emunyu, ukudla kwabo kuzimpande zezihlahla.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 Baxotshwa ebantwini bakibo, bathethiswa kungathi babengamasela.
They are driven out from amongst men. They cry after them as after a thief,
6 Kwasekumele bahlale ezihotsheni zezifula ezomileyo, ezimbalwini emadwaleni lemilindini emhlabathini.
so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Bakhonya phakathi kwezihlahla baququbala ezixukwini.
They bray amongst the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 Base bengabantu abaphansi abangaselabizo, sebexotshiwe elizweni.
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 Kodwa manje amadodana abo asengihaya ngengoma; sengiyisiga kubo.
“Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 Bayangenyanya njalo bamela khatshana lami; kabathikazi ukungikhafulela ebusweni.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and don’t hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Khathesi njengoba uNkulunkulu eselithukulule idandili lami wangitshaya ngezinhlupheko, sebeklamasa kabasazithinti.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 Kwesokunene kwami ixuku liyangihlasela; bathiya inyawo zami ngemijibila bakhe imibundu yokungivimbezela.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet. They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 Badiliza indlela yami; bayaphumelela ukungibhidliza besithi ‘Akekho ozamsiza.’
They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.
14 Bahlasela ingathi bafohlela esikhaleni esivulekileyo; beza bethululeka phezu kwezinqwaba zamanxiwa.
As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
15 Ukwesaba okukhulu kungiphethe; isithunzi sami sobuntu singathi siphethwe ngumoya, ukuvikeleka kwami kunyamalala njengeyezi.
Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honour as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 Manje impilo yami isincipha; insuku zokuhlupheka zingibambe nko.
“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami; lokuqaqamba kobuhlungu bami kakupheli.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 Ngamandla akhe amakhulu uNkulunkulu unjengelembu kimi; uyangikhama ngamabheqe entanyeni yami.
My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 Ungivoxela edakeni, ngicina sengiluthuli lomlotha.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngikhala kuwe, Oh Nkulunkulu, kodwa kawuphenduli; ngiyasukuma, kodwa uyangikhangela kuphela.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 Ungisukela ngesihluku; ungihlasela ngamandla esandla sakho.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 Uyangihlwitha ngiphetshulwe ngumoya; ngiphoseke le lale phakathi kwesiphepho.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
23 Ngiyazi ukuthi uzangilalisa phansi ekufeni, endaweni emiselwe konke okuphilayo.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all living.
24 Ngempela kakho ombeka isandla umuntu oswelayo nxa ekhalela ukusizwa esebunzimeni.
“However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 Kangibakhalelanga yini labo abahluphekileyo? Umoya wami kawubazwelanga usizi abayanga na?
Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Kodwa ngathi ngilindele ubuhle, kweza ububi; ngathi ngilindele ukukhanya kweza ubumnyama.
When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 Ukudunguluka ngaphakathi kwami kakukhawuli; insuku zokuhlupheka zingijamele.
My heart is troubled, and doesn’t rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
28 Ngihamba nje ngimnyama kubi, kungesikutshiswa lilanga; ngiyasukuma enkundleni ngicele uncedo.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 Sengingumfowabo wamakhanka, umkhula wezikhova.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami siba mnyama, siyaxathuka; umzimba wami uyatshisa ngomkhuhlane.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burnt with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selilungiselwe isililo, lomqangala wami ulindele umkhosi wokukhala.”
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
