UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
But now they that are younger than I hold 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?
Of what use to me would be even the strength of their hands, To whom old age is lost?
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
By want and hunger they are famished; They gnaw the dry desert, The darkness of desolate wastes.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They gather purslain among the bushes, And the root of the broom is their bread.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
They are driven from the society of men; There is a cry after them as after a thief.
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
They dwell in gloomy valleys, In caves of the earth and in rocks.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
They bray among the bushes; Under the brambles are they stretched out.
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
An impious and low-born race, They are beaten out of the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
And now I am become their song; Yea, I am their by-word!
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me; They forbear not to spit before my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
Yea, they let loose the reins, and humble me; They cast off the bridle before me.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
On my right hand riseth up the brood; They thrust away my feet; They cast up against me their destructive ways.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They break up my path; They hasten my fall, —They who have no helper!
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
They come upon me as through a wide breach; Through the ruins they rush in upon me.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors are turned against me; They pursue my prosperity like the wind, And my welfare passeth away like a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
And now my soul poureth itself out upon me; Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
By night my bones are pierced; they are torn from me, And my gnawers take no rest.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
Through the violence of my disease is my garment changed; It bindeth me about like the collar of my tunic.
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 call upon Thee, but thou dost not hear me; I stand up before thee, but thou regardest me not.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
Thou art become cruel to me; With thy strong hand dost thou lie in wait for me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
Thou liftest me up, and causest me to ride upon the wind; Thou meltest me away in the storm.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
I know that thou wilt bring me to death, To the place of assembly for all the living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
When He stretcheth out his hand, prayer availeth nothing; When He bringeth destruction, vain is the cry for help.
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
But when I looked for good, then evil came; When I looked for light, then came darkness.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My bowels boil, and have no rest; Days of anguish have come upon me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I am black, but not by the sun; I stand up, and utter my cries in the congregation.
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 burn with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
My harp also is turned to mourning, And my pipe to notes of grief.
