UJobe 17

1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.

My breath is exhausted; My days are at an end; The grave is ready for me.

2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?

Are not revilers before me? And doth not my eye dwell upon their provocations?

3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?

Give a pledge, I pray thee; be thou a surety for me with thee; Who is he that will strike hands with me?

4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.

Behold, thou hast blinded their understanding; Therefore thou wilt not suffer them to prevail.

5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.

He who delivereth up his friends as a prey, —The eyes of his children shall fail.

6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.

He made me the by-word of the people; Yea, I have become their abhorrence.

7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.

My eye therefore is dim with sorrow, And all my limbs are as a shadow.

8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.

Upright men will be astonished at this, And the innocent will rouse themselves against the wicked.

9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.

The righteous will also hold on his way, And he that hath clean hands will gather strength.

10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.

But as for you all, return, I pray! I find not yet among you one wise man.

11 Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.

My days are at an end; My plans are broken off; Even the treasures of my heart.

12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.

Night hath become day to me; The light bordereth on darkness.

13 Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol h7585)

Yea, I look to the grave as my home; I have made my bed in darkness. (Sheol h7585)

14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.

I say to the pit, Thou art 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? Yea, my hope, who shall see it?

16 Kuzakwehlela kumijabo yengcwaba, lapho sizaphumula khona ndawonye enhlabathini. (Sheol h7585)

It must go down to the bars of the under-world, As soon as there is rest for me in the dust. (Sheol h7585)