UJobe 7
1 “Umuntu kakho ekutshikatshikeni okunzima yini emhlabeni? Insuku zakhe kazifani lezomuntu oqhatshiweyo na?
[Is there] not an appointed time to man upon earth? [are not] his days also like the days of a hireling?
2 Njengesigqili siloyisa amathunzi okuhlwa, lanjengoqhatshiweyo elindele umholo wakhe,
As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as a hireling looketh 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 lothsome.
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 will 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]: thy eyes [are] upon me, and I [am] not.
[As] the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth 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 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 whale, 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 comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 lakhona lapho liyangethusa ngamaphupho njalo lingethusele ngemibono,
Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 okwenza ngiqome ukuklinywa lokufa, kulalo umzimba wami.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, [and] death rather than my life.
16 Ngiyayeyisa impilo yami; kangiloyisi ukuphila okwaphakade. Ngiyekelani; insuku zami kazisatsho lutho.
I lothe [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 thou shouldst magnify him? and that thou shouldst set thy heart upon him?
18 uze umhlole ekuseni insuku zonke njalo umlinge imizuzwana yonke na?
And [that] thou shouldst visit him every morning, [and] try him every moment?
19 Kawusoze uke ukhangele eceleni kwami na, loba uke ungixekele okomzuzwana yini?
How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow 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 thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, 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 dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I [shall] not [be].
