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 disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? men in whom ripe age is perished.
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
They are gaunt with want and famine; they gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
They are driven forth from the midst of men; they cry after them as after a thief.
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
In the clefts of the valleys must they dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they are gathered together.
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
They are children of churls, yea, children of ignoble men; they were scourged out of the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
And now I am become their song, yea, I am a byword unto them.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me, they flee far from me, and 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, and they have cast off the bridle before me.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
Upon my right hand rise the brood; they entangle my feet, and they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They break up my path, they further my calamity, even men that have no helper.
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
As through a wide breach they come; in the midst of the ruin they roll themselves upon me.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors are turned upon me, they chase mine honour as the wind; and my welfare is passed away as a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
In the night my bones are pierced, and fall from me, and my sinews take no rest.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
By the great force of my disease is my garment disfigured; it bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me; I stand up, and Thou lookest at me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
Thou art turned to be cruel to me; with the might of Thy hand Thou hatest me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
Thou liftest me up to the wind, Thou causest me to ride upon it; and Thou dissolvest my substance.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that Thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
Surely none shall put forth his hand to a ruinous heap, neither because of these things shall help come in one's calamity,
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
If I have not wept for him that was in trouble, and if my soul grieved not for the needy.
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
Yet, when I looked for good, there came evil; and when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
Mine inwards boil, and rest not; days of affliction are come upon me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I go mourning without the sun; I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am become a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin is black, and falleth from me, and my bones are burned with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of them that weep.
