UJobe 17
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct, the grave is ready for me.
2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
Surely there are mockers with me, and mine eye abideth in their provocation.
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
Give now a pledge, be surety for me with Thyself; who else is there that will strike hands with me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For Thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore shalt Thou not exalt them.
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
He that denounceth his friends for the sake of flattery, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
He hath made me also a byword of the people; and I am become one in whose face they spit.
7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
Mine eye also is dimmed by reason of vexation, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Upright men are astonished at this, and the innocent stirreth up himself against the godless.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
Yet the righteous holdeth on his way, and he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
But as for you all, do ye return, and come now; and I shall not find a wise man among you.
11 Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.
12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
They change the night into day; the light is short because of darkness.
If I look for the nether-world as my house; if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
If I have said to corruption: 'Thou art my father', to the worm: 'Thou art my mother, and my sister';
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it?
