UJobe 7
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
Is there not an appointed time to man on earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
As a servant earnestly desires the shadow, and as an hireling looks for the reward of his work:
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro to the dawning of the day.
5 Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
O remember that my life is wind: my eye shall no more see good.
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of him that has seen me shall see me no more: your eyes are on me, and I am not.
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away: so he that goes down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe ngiyisilo semanzini okungaze lihlale lingilindile?
Am I a sea, or a whale, that you set a watch over me?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaints;
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
Then you scare me with dreams, and terrify me through visions:
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
So that my soul chooses strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I loathe it; I would not live always: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
What is man, that you should magnify him? and that you should set your heart on him?
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
And that you should visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long will you not depart from me, nor let me alone till I 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 you, O you preserver of men? why have you set me as a mark against you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
And why do you not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and you shall seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
