UJobe 17
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave is ready for me.
2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
Yet truly those that mock are with me, and on their offendings must my eye rest.
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
And thou, [Creator!] attend, I pray thee, be my surety with thyself: who else is there that would strike hands with me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For thou hast concealed their heart against intelligence: therefore art thou not exalted [through them].
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
Every one of them speaketh deceptively to his friends: may also the eyes of his children fail.
6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
And he hath placed me here as a by-word unto nations; and I become openly as a place of abomination.
7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
Therefore is my eye dim from vexation, and my limbs are all of them like a shadow.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Upright men must be astonished at this, and the innocent must arouse himself against the hypocrite.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
Yet will the righteous hold firmly on to his way; and he that is clean of hands will acquire additional strength.
10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
But all of you, do only return, and come but [to me]: and yet I shall not find among you one wise man.
11 Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days are past, my resolves are broken off, [even the thoughts]—the possessions of my heart.
12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
These would change the night into day, the light as near in the presence of darkness.—
When I hope for the nether world as my house; in the darkness have I spread my couch; (Sheol h7585)
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
When I call to corruption, Thou art my father: Thou art my mother, and my sister, to the worms.
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
Ay, where is then my hope? as for my hope, who will see it [fulfilled]?
