UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
Man, that is born of woman, Is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down; He fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.
3 Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
And dost thou fix thine eyes upon such a one? And dost thou bring me into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
Who can produce a clean thing from an unclean? Not one.
5 Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
Seeing that his days are determined, And the number of his months, with thee, And that thou hast appointed him bounds which he cannot pass,
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
O turn thine eyes from him, and let him rest, That he may enjoy, as a hireling, his day!
7 Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
For there is hope for a tree, If it be cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender branches will not fail;
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
Though its root may have grown old in the earth, And though its trunk be dead upon the ground,
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
Through the scent of water it will bud, And put forth boughs, like a young plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
But man dieth, and he is gone! Man expireth, and where is he?
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
The waters fail from the lake; And the stream wasteth and drieth up;
12 ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
So man lieth down, and riseth not; Till the heavens be no more, he shall not awake, Nor be roused from his sleep.
13 Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
O that thou wouldst hide me in the under-world! That thou wouldst conceal me till thy wrath be past! That thou wouldst appoint me a time, and then remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
If a man die, can he live again? All the days of my war-service would I wait, Till my change should come.
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
Thou wilt call, and I will answer thee; Thou wilt have compassion upon the work of thy hands!
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
But now thou numberest my steps; Thou watchest over my sins.
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag; Yea, thou addest unto my iniquity.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
As the mountain falling cometh to nought, And the rock is removed from its place;
19 Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
As the waters wear away the stones, And the floods wash away the dust of the earth, So thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
Thou prevailest against him continually, and he perisheth; Thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
His sons come to honor, but he knoweth it not; Or they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
But his flesh shall have pain for itself alone; For itself alone shall his soul mourn.
