UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
But now they who are younger than I in years laugh at me, whose fathers I scorned to put as equals with the dogs of my flocks.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Yea, what possible use can the strength of their hands be unto me, over whom old age hath passed fruitlessly?
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
Who suffer for want and famine in solitude; who flee into the wilderness [where all is] darkness, ruin, and desolation;
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
Who crop off mallows by the bushes, and have broom-bush roots as their bread;
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
Who are driven forth from among [men], who are shouted after as though they were thieves,
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
To dwell in the caverns of the valleys, in holes of the earth, and on naked cliffs.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
Among the bushes they shriek; under briers they are huddled together,
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
The children of the worthless, yea, the children of the nameless, who were outcasts from the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
But now I am become their song, and I am become a byword unto them.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They loathe me, they keep themselves far from me, and from my face they withhold not their spittle.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
Because he hath loosened the cord of my bow, and afflicted me, they have also cast off the bridle before me.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
Against my right hand rise up this swarm of worthless youths: they push away my feet, and they level against me their calamity-bringing paths.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They destroy my footpath, they help forward my downfall, without any one to aid them.
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
As [through] a broad breach they come: amidst a loud noise they rolled themselves along.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors have turned their face against me; they chase like the wind my glory: and like a cloud is my happiness passed away.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
And now my soul is poured out over me; the days of affliction have seized on me;
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
All night it holloweth out my bones out of my body; and my pursuers take no rest.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
Through the Almlghty's power is my garment made unknown: like the opening of my coat hath he enclosed me.
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 aloud unto thee, but thou answerest me not: I stand up, and thou fixest thy regard against me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
Thou art changed into a cruel master toward me: with the strength of thy hand thou assailest me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
Thou liftest me up to the wind; thou causest me to pass away, and dissolvest in me all wise counsel.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that thou wilt bring me back to death, and to the house of assembly for all the living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
But doth not a man stretch out his hand among ruins? or doth one not cry out therefrom [for help] when he meeteth his downfall?
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Did I not weep for him that was hard pressed by misfortune? was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
That I hoped for good, but there came evil; and I waited for light, and there came darkness!
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My bowels heave, and rest not: the days of affliction have overcome me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I walk about mournfully without sunlight: when I rise up, in the assembly, I cry with pain.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am a brother to [howling] monsters, and a companion to ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin hangeth down black from me, and my bones are burnt from heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
And thus is changed to mourning my harp, and my pipe to the sound of weeping.
