UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
But, now, they who are of fewer days than I, have poured derision upon me; whose fathers I refused—to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Even the strength of their hands, wherefore was it mine? Upon them, vigour was lost;
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
In want and hunger, they were lean, —who used to gnaw the dry ground, a dark night of desolation!
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
Who used to pluck off the mallow by the bushes, with the root of the broom for their food;
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
Out of the midst, were they driven, men shouted after them, as after a thief;
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
In the fissures, of the ravines had they to dwell, in holes of dust and crags;
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
Among the bushes, used they to shriek, Under the bramble, were they huddled together:
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
Sons of the base, yea sons of the nameless, they were scourged out of the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
But, now, their song, have I become, Yea I serve them for a byword;
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me—have put themselves far from me, and, from my face, have not withheld—spittle!
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
Because, my girdle, he had loosened and had humbled me, therefore, the bridle—in my presence, cast they off;
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
On my right hand, the young brood rose up, —My feet, they thrust aside, and cast up against me their earthworks of destruction;
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They brake up my path, —My engulfing ruin, they helped forward, unaided;
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
As through a wide breach, came they on, with a crashing noise, they rolled themselves along.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
There are turned upon me terrors, —Chased away as with a wind, is mine abundance, and, as a cloud, hath passed away my prosperity.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
Now, therefore, over myself, my soul poureth itself out, There seize me days of affliction:
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
Night, boreth, my bones, all over me, —and, my sinews, find no rest;
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
Most effectually, is my skin disfigured, —Like the collar of my tunic, it girdeth me about:
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 out for help unto thee, and thou dost not answer, I stand still, and thou dost gaze at me;
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
Thou art turned to become a cruel one unto me, With the might of thy hand, thou assailest me;
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
Thou liftest up me to the wind, thou carriest me away, and the storm maketh me faint;
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that, unto death, thou wilt bring me back, even unto the house of meeting for every one living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
Only, against a heap of ruins, will one not thrust a hand! Surely, when one is in calamity—for that very reason, is there an outcry for help.
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Verily I wept, for him whose lot was hard, Grieved was my soul, for the needy.
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
Surely, for good, I looked, but there came in evil, And I waited for light, but there came in darkness;
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
I boiled within me, and rested not, There confronted me—days of affliction;
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
In gloom, I walked along, without sun, I arose—in the convocation, I cried out for help;
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
A brother, became I to the brutes that howl, and a companion to the birds that screech:
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin, turned black, and peeled off me, and, my bones, burned with heat:
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
Thus is attuned to mourning—my lyre, and my flute, to the noise of them who weep.
