UJobe 7
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
Is not the life of man upon earth a state of trial? and his existence as that of a hireling by the day?
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
Or as a servant that fears his master, and one who has grasped a shadow? or as a hireling waiting for his pay?
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
So have I also endured months of vanity, and nights of pain have been appointed me.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
Whenever I lie down, I say, When [will it be] day? and whenever I rise up, again [I say] when [will it be] evening? and I am full of pains from evening to morning.
5 Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
And my body is covered with loathsome worms; and I waste away, scraping off clods of dust from my eruption.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
And my life is lighter than a word, and has perished in vain hope.
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
Remember then that my life is breath, and mine eye shall not yet again see good.
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of him that sees me shall not see me [again]: your eyes are upon me, and I am no more.
[I am] as a cloud that is cleared away from the sky: for if a man go down to the grave, he shall not come up again: (Sheol h7585)
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
and he shall surely not return to his own house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
Then neither will I refrain my mouth: I will speak being in distress; being in anguish I will disclose the bitterness of my soul.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe ngiyisilo semanzini okungaze lihlale lingilindile?
Am I a sea, or a serpent, that you have set a watch over me?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
I said that my bed should comfort me, and I would privately counsel with myself on my couch.
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
You scare me with dreams, and do terrify me with visions.
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
You will separate life from my spirit; and yet [keep] my bones from death.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
For I shall not live for ever, that I should patiently endure: depart from me, for my life [is] vain.
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
For what is man, that you have magnified him? or that you give heed to him?
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
Will you visit him till the morning, and judge him till [the time of] rest?
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long do you not let me alone, nor let me go, until I shall swallow down my spittle?
20 Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
If I have sinned, what shall I be able to do, O you that understand the mind of men? why have you made me as your accuser, and [why] am I a burden to you?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
Why have you not forgotten my iniquity, and purged my sin? but now I shall depart to the earth; and in the morning I am no more.
