UJobe 17
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
My spirit is consumed, and my days are over; 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 must always see their provocation.
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself; who else is there who will help me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding; therefore, you will not exalt them over me.
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
He who denounces his friends for a reward, 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 is also dim because of sorrow; all my body parts are as thin as shadows.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Upright men will be stunned by this; the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
The righteous man will keep 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 on now; 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 shattered, and so are the desires of my heart.
12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
These people, these mockers, change the night into day; light is near to darkness.
If the only home I hope for is Sheol; and if I have spread my couch in the darkness; (Sheol h7585)
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
where then is my hope? As for my hope, who can see any?
