< UJobe 7 >
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
“People need to work hard on this earth, like soldiers do; all during the time that we are alive, we work hard [RHQ], like laborers/servants do.
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
We are like [SIM] slaves who keep wanting to be in the cool shade, and we are like [SIM] workers who are waiting to be paid.
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
God has given me many months [in which I think that it is] useless [to remain alive]; he has allotted/given to me many nights during which I feel miserable.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
When I lie down [at night] I say, ‘How long will it be until morning?’ But nights are long, and I (toss/turn over and over) [on my bed] until dawn.
5 Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
My body is covered with maggots and scabs; pus oozes out of my open sores.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
My days pass as quickly as a weaver’s (shuttle/stick that takes the thread back and forth), and they end without my confidently expecting [that things will be better the next day].
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
God, do not forget that my life is [as short as] a breath [MET]; I [think that] I [SYN] will never again be happy.
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
God, you [SYN] see me now, but [some day] you will not see me any more. You will search for me, but I will be gone [because I will be dead].
9 Njengeyezi elinyamalalayo liphele, kanjalo lowo ongena engcwabeni kaphenduki. (Sheol )
Like [SIM] clouds (disperse/break up) and then disappear, people [die and] descend to the place where dead people are, and they do not return; (Sheol )
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
they never return to their houses, and people among whom they lived do not remember them any more.
11 Ngakho-ke kangizukuthula; ngizakhuluma ubuhlungu obusemoyeni wami, ngizasola ngokudabuka komphefumulo wami.
So, I will not be silent; while I am suffering I will speak; I will complain [to God about what has happened to me] because I [SYN] am very angry.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe ngiyisilo semanzini okungaze lihlale lingilindile?
[God, ] why do you watch closely what I am doing? [Do you think that] I am a [dangerous] sea monster?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
When [I lie down at night, ] I think, ‘I will be comforted here on my bed; my pain will be less while I am sleeping.’
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
But then you give me dreams that cause me to be afraid; you give me visions that terrify me,
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
with the result that I would prefer to be strangled to death than to continue to [be alive] being only a bunch of bones.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I detest continuing to be alive; I do not want to live for many years [HYP]. Allow me to be alone, [because I will be alive] for only a very short remaining time [HYP].
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
“We human beings are not [very important]; so, why do you pay a lot of attention to us [DOU]?
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
You look at us every morning [to see what we are doing], and examine us every moment [to see if we are doing what is right].
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
(When will you stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit?/Please stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit.) [RHQ]
20 Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
[Why do] you watch me constantly? If I sin, that certainly does not harm you! Why have you set me up like a target to shoot at? Do you consider me to be a heavy load that you are forced to carry?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
[If I have sinned, ] are you not able to forgive me for my sins— the things that I have done that are wrong? Soon I will lie in my grave; you will search for me, but [you will not find me because] I will be [dead and] gone.”