< UJobe 7 >
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
Is there not a war-service for man on the earth? Are not his days as the days of a hireling?
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
As a servant panteth for the shade, And as a hireling looketh for his wages,
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
So am I made to possess months of affliction, And wearisome nights are appointed for me.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
If I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? And I am full of restlessness until 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; They pass away without hope.
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
O remember that my life is a breath; That mine eye shall no more see good!
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more; Thine eyes shall look for me, but I shall not be.
9 Njengeyezi elinyamalalayo liphele, kanjalo lowo ongena engcwabeni kaphenduki. (Sheol )
As the cloud dissolveth and wasteth away, So he that goeth down to the grave shall arise no more; (Sheol )
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
No more shall he return to his house, And his dwelling-place shall know him no more.
11 Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
Therefore I will not restrain 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 sea-monster, That thou settest a watch over me?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
When I say, My bed shall relieve me, My couch shall ease my complaint,
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
Then thou scarest me with dreams, And terrifiest me with visions;
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, Yea, death, rather than these my bones.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I am wasting away; I shall not live alway: Let me alone, for my days are a vapor!
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
What is man, that thou shouldst make great account him, And fix thy mind upon him?—
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
That thou shouldst visit him every morning, And prove him every moment?
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long ere thou wilt look away from me, And let me alone, till I have time to breathe?
20 Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
If I have sinned, what have I done to thee, O thou watcher of men! Why hast thou set me up as thy mark, So that I have become a burden to myself?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, And take away mine iniquity? For soon shall I sleep in the dust; And, though thou seek me diligently, I shall not be.