UJobe 14
1 Umuntu, ozelwe ngowesifazana ulensuku ezimfitshane, ezigcwele inhlupheko.
“Man, who is born of a woman, is of few days, and full of trouble.
2 Uyavela njengeluba, abune, abaleke njengesithunzi, akemi.
He grows up like a flower, and is cut down. He also flees like a shadow, and doesn’t continue.
3 Kambe onjalo umvulela amehlo akho, ungingenise ekwahlulelweni kanye lawe.
Do you open your eyes on such a one, and bring me into judgement with you?
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 you, and you have appointed his bounds that he can’t pass.
6 ungamkhangeli, ukuze aphumule, aze athokoze ngosuku lwakhe njengesiqatshwa.
Look away from him, that he may rest, until he accomplishes, 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 is cut down, that it will sprout again, that the tender branch of it will not cease.
8 Lanxa impande yaso isiba ndala emhlabeni, lesiphunzi saso sifele emhlabathini,
Though its root grows old in the earth, and its stock dies in the ground,
9 ngephunga lamanzi sizahluma, senze ingatsha njengesithombo.
yet through the scent of water it will bud, and sprout boughs like a plant.
10 Kodwa umuntu uyafa alaliswe phansi, yebo, umuntu uyaphela, ungaphi-ke?
But man dies, and is laid low. Yes, man gives up the spirit, and where is he?
11 Amanzi ayemuka elwandle, lomfula uyoma utshe,
As the waters fail from the sea, and the river wastes and dries up,
12 ngokunjalo umuntu uyalala phansi angavuki; kuze kuthi amazulu angabikho, bangavuki, kumbe bangaphatshanyiswa ebuthongweni babo.
so man lies down and doesn’t rise. Until the heavens are no more, they will 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 you would hide me in Sheol, that you would keep me secret until your wrath is past, that you would 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 dies, will he live again? I would wait all the days of my warfare, until my release should come.
15 Uzabiza, mina-ke ngizasabela, uzalangatha umsebenzi wezandla zakho.
You would call, and I would answer you. You would have a desire for the work of your hands.
16 Kanti khathesi uyazibala izinyathelo zami; kawuyikuqaphelisa ngesono sami yini?
But now you count my steps. Don’t you watch over my sin?
17 Isiphambeko sami sinanyekwe esikhwameni, wasusibekela isono sami.
My disobedience is sealed up in a bag. You fasten up my iniquity.
18 Isibili-ke intaba ewayo iyabhidlika, ledwala liyasuswa endaweni yalo.
“But the mountain falling comes to nothing. 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 torrents of it wash away the dust of the earth. So you destroy the hope of man.
20 Uyamehlula phakade, adlule; uyaguqula ubuso bakhe, umxotshe.
You forever prevail against him, and he departs. You change his face, and send him away.
21 Amadodana akhe ayadunyiswa, kodwa engakwazi; kumbe ayehliselwa phansi, kodwa angakunanzeleli.
His sons come to honour, and he doesn’t know it. They are brought low, but he doesn’t perceive it of them.
22 Kodwa inyama yakhe kuye isebuhlungwini, lomphefumulo wakhe kuye uyalila.
But his flesh on him has pain, and his soul within him mourns.”
