< UJobe 17 >
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
Are there not mockers with me? and does not my eye continue in their provocation?
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
Lay down now, put me in a surety with you; who is he that will strike hands with me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For you have hid their heart from understanding: therefore shall you not exalt them.
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
He that speaks flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.
6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
He has made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.
7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
But as for you all, do you return, and come now: for I cannot find one 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.
13 Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol )
If I wait, the grave is my house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (Sheol )
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
I have said to corruption, You are my father: to the worm, You are my mother, and my sister.
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it?
16 Kuzakwehlela kumijabo yengcwaba, lapho sizaphumula khona ndawonye enhlabathini. (Sheol )
They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust. (Sheol )