UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
But now the youngest have laughed me to scorn, now they reprove me in [their] turn, whose fathers I set at nothing; whom I did not deem worthy [to be with] my shepherd dogs.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Yes, why had I the strength of their hands? for them the full term [of life] was lost.
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
[One is] childless in lack and famine, [such as] they that fled but lately the distress and misery of drought.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
Who compass the salt places on the sounding [shore], who had salt [herbs] for their food, and were dishonourable and of no repute, in lack of every good thing; who also ate roots of trees by reason of great hunger.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
Thieves have risen up against me,
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
whose houses were the caves of the rocks, who lived under the wild shrubs.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
They will cry out amongst the rustling [bushes].
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
[They are] sons of fools and vile men, [whose] name and glory [are] quenched from off the earth.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
But now I am their music, and they have me for a byword.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
And they stood aloof and abhorred me, and spared not to spit in my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
For he has opened his quiver and afflicted me: they also have cast off the restraint of my presence.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
They have risen up against [me] on the right hand of [their] offspring; they have stretched out their foot, and directed against me the ways of their destruction.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
My paths are ruined; for they have stripped off my raiment: he has shot at me with his weapons.
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
And he has pleaded against me as he will: I am overwhelmed with pains.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
My pains return upon [me]; my hope is gone like the wind, and my safety as a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
Even now my life shall be poured forth upon me; and days of anguish seize me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
And by night my bones are confounded; and my sinews are relaxed.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
With great force [my disease] has taken hold of my garment: it has compassed me as the collar of my coat.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
And you have counted me as clay; my portion in dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
And I have cried to you, but you hear me not: but they stood still, and observed me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
They attacked me also without mercy: you have scourged me with a strong hand.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
And you have put me to grief, and have cast me away from safety.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that death will destroy me: for the earth is the house [appointed] for every mortal.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
Oh then that I might lay hands upon myself, or at least ask another, and he should do this for me.
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Yet I wept over every helpless man; I groaned when I saw a man in distress.
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
But I, when I waited for good things, behold, days of evils came the more upon me.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My belly boiled, and would not cease: the days of poverty prevented me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I went mourning without restraint: and I have stood and cried out in the assembly.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am become a brother of monsters, and a companion of ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
And my skin has been greatly blackened, and my bones are burnt with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
My harp also has been turned into mourning, and my song into my weeping.
