UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
“Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
Like a flower, he comes forth, then withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.
3 Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
Do You open Your eyes to one like this? Will You bring him into judgment before You?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one!
5 Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
Since his days are determined and the number of his months is with You, and since You have set limits that he cannot exceed,
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
look away from him and let him rest, so he can enjoy his day as a hired hand.
7 Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
If its roots grow old in the ground and its stump dies in the soil,
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
at the scent of water it will bud and put forth twigs like a sapling.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last, and where is he?
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry,
12 ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
so a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens are no more, he will not be awakened or roused from sleep.
13 Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
If only You would hide me in Sheol and conceal me until Your anger has passed! If only You would appoint a time for me and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
When a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, until my renewal comes.
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
You will call, and I will answer; You will desire the work of Your hands.
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
For then You would count my steps, but would not keep track of my sin.
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
My transgression would be sealed in a bag, and You would cover over my iniquity.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and a rock is dislodged from its place,
19 Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
as water wears away the stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy a man’s hope.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
You forever overpower him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away.
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
If his sons receive honor, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he is unaware.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
He feels only the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.”
