UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
For a mortal born of a woman [is] short lived, and full of wrath.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
Or he falls like a flower that has bloomed; and he departs like a shadow, and cannot continue.
3 Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
Hast thou not taken account even of him, and caused him to enter into judgment before thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
For who shall be pure from uncleanness? not even one;
5 Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
if even his life should be [but] one day upon the earth: and his months are numbered by him: thou hast appointed [him] for a time, and he shall by no means exceed [it].
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
Depart from him, that he may be quiet, and take pleasure in his life, [though] as a hireling.
7 Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
For there is hope for a tree, even if it should be cut down, [that] it shall blossom again, and its branch shall not fail.
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
For though its root should grow old in the earth, and its stem die in the rock;
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
it will blossom from the scent of water, and will produce a crop, as one newly planted.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
But a man that has died is utterly gone; and when a mortal has fallen, he is no more.
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
For the sea wastes in [length of] time, and a river fails and is dried up.
12 ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
And man that has lain down [in death] shall certainly not rise again till the heaven be dissolved, and they shall not awake from their sleep.
13 Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
For oh that thou hadst kept me in the grave, and hadst hidden me until thy wrath should cease, and thou shouldest set me a time in which thou wouldest remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
For if a man should die, shall he live [again], having accomplished the days of his life? I will wait till I exist again?
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
Then shalt thou call, and I will hearken to thee: but do not thou reject the work of thine hands.
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
But thou hast numbered my devices: and not one of my sins shall escape thee?
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
An thou hast sealed up my transgressions in a bag, and marked if I have been guilty of any transgression unawares.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
And verily a mountain falling will utterly be destroyed, and a rock shall be worn out of its place.
19 Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
The waters wear the stones, and waters falling headlong [overflow] a heap of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
Thou drivest him to an end, and he is gone: thou settest thy face against him, and sendest him away;
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
and though his children be multiplied, he knows [it] not; and if they be few, he is not aware.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
But his flesh is in pain, and his soul mourns.
