UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
Man, born of woman, living for a short time, is filled with many miseries.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
He comes forth like a flower, and is crushed, and he flees, as if a shadow, and never remains in the same state.
3 Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
And do you consider it fitting to look down with your eyes on someone in this way and to lead him into judgment with you?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
Who can make him clean who is conceived of unclean seed? Are you not the only one who can?
5 Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
The days of man are short, and the number of his months is with you; you have determined his limits, which cannot be surpassed.
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
Withdraw a little from him, so that he may rest, until his awaited day arrives, like that of the hired hand.
7 Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
A tree has hope: if it has been cut, it turns green again, and its branches spring forth.
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
If its roots grow old in the earth, and its trunk passes into dust,
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
at the scent of water, it will sprout and bring forth leaves, as when it had first been planted.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
Truly, when a man dies, and has been left unprotected, and has decayed, I ask you where is he?
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
It is as if the waters had receded from the sea and an emptied river had dried up;
12 ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
just so, when a man is fallen asleep, he will not rise again, until the heavens are worn away; he will not awaken, nor rise from his sleep.
13 Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
Who will grant this to me, that you will protect me in the underworld, and hide me until your fury passes by, and establish a time for me, in which you will remember me? (Sheol h7585)
14 Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
Do you suppose that a dead man will live again? On each of the days in which I now battle, I wait until my transformation occurs.
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
You will call me and I will answer you; to the work of your hands, you will extend your right hand.
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
Indeed, you have numbered my steps, but you have been lenient with my sins.
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
You have sealed up my offenses, as if in a purse, but you have cured my iniquity.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
A falling mountain flows away, and a stone is transferred from its place.
19 Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
Waters wear away stones, and with a flood the land is reduced little by little; and similarly, you will destroy man.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
You have strengthened him for a little while, so that he may cross over into eternity. You will change his face and send him forth.
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
Whether his sons have been noble or ignoble, he will not understand.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
And in this way his body, while he yet lives, will have grief, and his soul will mourn over himself.
