UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
He cometh forth like 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 open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee?
4 Ngubani ongaveza okuhlambulukileyo kokungcolileyo? Kakho loyedwa.
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5 Lokhu insuku zakhe zimisiwe, inani lenyanga zakhe likuwe, ummisele imingcele yakhe angeyedlule;
Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with thee, and thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
Look away from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.
7 Ngoba kukhona ithemba esihlahleni uba siganyulwa ukuthi sizabuya sihlume, lokuthi ihlumela laso kaliyikuphela.
For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground;
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and put forth boughs like a plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
[As] the waters fail from the sea, and the river decayeth 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, they shall not awake, nor be roused out of their sleep.
13 Kungathi ungangifihla engcwabeni, ungithukuze, ize iphenduke intukuthelo yakho, ungimisele isikhathi esimisiweyo, ungikhumbule! (Sheol h7585)
Oh that thou wouldest hide me in Sheol, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! (Sheol h7585)
14 Uba umuntu esifa, uzabuya aphile yini? Zonke insuku zemfazo yami ngizalinda, kuze kufike ukukhululwa kwami.
If a man die, shall he live [again]? all the days of my warfare would I wait, till my release should come.
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
Thou shouldest call, and I would answer thee: thou wouldest have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
But now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou fastenest up mine iniquity.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of its place;
19 Amanzi ayaguguda amatshe, impophoma zawo ziyakhukhula ubhuqu lomhlaba. Uyachitha-ke ithemba lomuntu.
The waters wear the stones; the overflowings thereof wash away the dust of the earth: and thou destroyest the hope of man.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth; thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away.
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
But his flesh upon him hath pain, and his soul within him mourneth.
