UJobe 7
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
Does not man have hard labor on earth? Are not his days like the days of a hired man?
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
Like a slave earnestly desires the shadows of evening, like a hired man looks for his wages—
3 kanjalo ngibekelwe izinyanga ezingelambadalo, lobusuku bosizi sebabelwe mina.
so I have been made to endure months of misery; I have been given trouble-filled nights.
4 Ngithi nxa ngilala ngicabange ngithi, ‘Kuzakusa nini na’? Ubusuku buyadonsa ngiqwayize kuze kuse.
When I lie down, I say to myself, 'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?' I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning.
5 Umzimba wami uphihlika impethu lamathuthuva, isikhumba sami siyobukile siyabhibhidla.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; the sores in my skin harden up and then dissolve and run afresh.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kulosungulo lomaluki, zisuka ziphele kungekho ithemba.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they pass without hope.
7 Khumbula, Oh Nkulunkulu, ukuthi impilo yami ngumoya nje; amehlo ami kawayikufa akubona njalo ukuthokoza.
God, call to mind that my life is only a breath; my eye will no more see good.
8 Ilihlo elingibonayo khathesi alisayikuphinde lingibone futhi; lizangidinga, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of God, who sees me, will see me no more; God's eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.
As a cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kasoze lanini aphinde angene endlini yakhe; indawo yakhe kayisayikubuye imazi lanini.
He will return no more to his house; neither will his place know him again.
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 the sea or a sea monster that you place a guard over me?
13 Ngithi lapho ngicabanga ukuthi umbheda wami uzangiduduza lecansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami,
When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, and my couch will ease my complaint,'
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 I would choose strangling and death rather than preserving these bones of mine.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I loathe my life; I would not wish to always be alive; let me alone for my days are useless.
17 Umuntu uyini ongaze uzihluphe kangaka ngaye, ungaze umnake kangaka,
What is man that you should pay attention to him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
that you should observe him every morning and test him every moment?
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long will it be before you look away from me, before you let me alone long enough for me to swallow down my own saliva?
20 Aluba ngenze isono, kuyini engikwenzileyo kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Kungani ukhethe ukuhlukuluza mina na? Sengingumthwalo kuwe na?
Even if I have sinned, what would that do to you, you who watch men? Why have you made a target of me, so that I am a burden for you?
21 Kungani ungaxoleli iziphambeko zami na, uthethelele izono zami? Ngoba kakusekhatshana ukuthi ngilale othulini; uzangidinga, kanti ngizabe ngingasekho.”
Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust; you will seek me carefully, but I will not exist.”
