UJobe 17
1 Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
My spirit hath been destroyed, My days extinguished — graves [are] for me.
2 Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
If not — mockeries [are] with me. And in their provocations mine eye lodgeth.
3 Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
Place, I pray Thee, my pledge with Thee; Who is he that striketh hand with me?
4 Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
For their heart Thou hast hidden From understanding, Therefore Thou dost not exalt them.
5 Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
For a portion he sheweth friendship, And the eyes of his sons are consumed.
6 Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
And he set me up for a proverb of the peoples, And a wonder before them I am.
7 Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
And dim from sorrow is mine eye, And my members as a shadow all of them.
8 Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
Astonished are the upright at this, And the innocent against the profane Stirreth himself up.
9 Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
And the righteous layeth hold [on] his way, And the clean of hands addeth strength, And — dumb are they all.
10 Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
Return, and come in, I pray you, And I find not among you a wise man.
11 Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
My days have passed by, My devices have been broken off, The possessions of my heart!
12 Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
Night for day they appoint, Light [is] near because of darkness.
If I wait — Sheol [is] my house, In darkness I have spread out my couch. (Sheol h7585)
14 Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
To corruption I have called: — 'Thou [art] my father.' 'My mother' and 'my sister' — to the worm.
15 Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
And where [is] now my hope? Yea, my hope, who doth behold it?
