UJobe 17
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
“My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
“Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
“But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
11 Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
If I look for Sheol (Sheol h7585) as my house, if I have spread my couch in the darkness,
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
