UJobe 7
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
The life of man upon earth is a warfare, and his days are like the days of a hireling.
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
As a servant longeth for the shade, as the hireling looketh for the end of his work;
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
So I also have had empty months, and have numbered to myself wearisome nights.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
If I lie down to sleep, I shall say: When shall arise? and again I shall look for the evening, and shall be filled with sorrows even till darkness.
5 Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
My flesh is clothed with rottenness and the filth of dust, my skin is withered and drawn together.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
My days have passed more swiftly than the web is cut by the weaver, and are consumed without any hope.
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
Remember that my life is but wind, and my eyes shall not return to see good things.
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
Nor shall the sight of man behold me: thy eyes are upon me, and I shall be no more.
As a cloud is consumed, and passeth away: so he that shall go down to hell shall not come up. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
Nor shall he return my more into his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
Wherefore I will not spare my month, I will speak in the affliction of my spirit: I will talk with the bitterness of my soul.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe ngiyisilo semanzini okungaze lihlale lingilindile?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou hast enclosed me in a prison?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
If I say: My bed shall comfort me, and I shall be relieved speaking with myself on my couch:
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
Thou wilt frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions.
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
So that my soul rather chooseth hanging, and my bones death.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I have done with hope, I shall now live no longer: spare me, for my days are nothing.
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him? or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
Thou visitest him early in the morning, and thou provest him suddenly.
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long wilt thou not spare me, nor suffer me to swallow down my spittle?
20 Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
I have sinned: what shall I do to thee, O keeper of men? why hast thou set me opposite to thee, and I am become burdensome to myself?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
Why dost thou not remove my sin, and why dost thou not take away my iniquity? Behold now I shall sleep in the dust: and if thou seek me in the morning, I shall not be.
