UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Yea, whereto [should] the strength of their hands [profit] me, [men] in whom vigour hath perished?
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
Withered up through want and hunger, they flee into waste places long since desolate and desert:
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They gather the salt-wort among the bushes, and the roots of the broom for their food.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
They are driven forth from among [men] — they cry after them as after a thief —
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
To dwell in gloomy gorges, in caves of the earth and the rocks:
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
They bray among the bushes; under the brambles they are gathered together:
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
Sons of fools, and sons of nameless sires, they are driven out of the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
And now I am their song, yea, I am their byword.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, yea, they spare not to spit in my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
For he hath loosed my cord and afflicted me; so they cast off the bridle before me.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
At [my] right hand rise the young brood; they push away my feet, and raise up against me their pernicious ways;
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, without any to help them;
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
They come in as through a wide breach: amid the confusion they roll themselves onward.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors are turned against me; they pursue mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away like a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
And now my soul is poured out in me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
The night pierceth through my bones [and detacheth them] from me, and my gnawing pains take no rest:
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
By their great force they have become my raiment; they bind me about as the collar of my coat.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
I cry unto thee, and thou answerest me not; I stand up, and thou lookest at me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
Thou art changed to a cruel one to me; with the strength of thy hand thou pursuest me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to be borne away, and dissolvest my substance.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and into the house of assemblage for all living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
Indeed, no prayer [availeth] when he stretcheth out [his] hand: though they cry when he destroyeth.
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Did not I weep for him whose days were hard? was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
For I expected good, and there came evil; and I waited for light, but there came darkness.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My bowels well up, and rest not; days of affliction have confronted me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I go about blackened, but not by the sun; I stand up, I cry in the congregation.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion of ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin is become black [and falleth] off me, and my bones are parched with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
My harp also is [turned] to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of weepers.
