UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
“But now men who are younger than I am make fun of me— men whose fathers I greatly despised, with the result that I would not even have allowed them to help my dogs guard my sheep.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
They were men who were old and (weak/worn out); so (what could I gain from them working for me?/I would have gained nothing from them working for me.) [RHQ]
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
They were very poor and hungry, with the result that they chewed on roots [at night] in dry and desolate places.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They pulled up plants in the desert [and ate them] and warmed themselves by [burning] the roots of broom trees.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
Everyone shouted at them as though they were thieves and expelled them [from their areas].
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
They were forced to live in caves in the hills, in holes in the ground, and in the sides of cliffs.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
In the bushes they howled [like animals because they were hungry], and they huddled together under thornbushes.
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
They were people without good sense, whose names no one knows; they have been expelled from the land [where they were born].
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
“And now their [children] sing songs to make fun of me. They tell jokes about me.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They are disgusted with me, and they [usually] stay away from me, [but when they see me, ] they are happy to spit in my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
Because [it is as though] [MET] God has cut my bowstring, [he has caused me to be unable to defend myself, ] and he has humbled me, and my enemies have done to me whatever they wanted.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
(Gangs/Groups of violent youths) attack me and force me to run away; they prepare to destroy me.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They prevent me from escaping, and they [do] not [need] anyone to help them (OR, there is no one to help me).
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
[It is as though I am a city wall and] [SIM] they have broken through the wall, and they have come crashing down on me.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
I am very terrified; My dignity/honor has been taken away as though [SIM] [it has been] blown away by the wind, and my prosperity has disappeared like [SIM] clouds disappear.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
“And now I [SYN] am about to die [IDM]; I suffer every day.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
My bones ache during the night, and the pain that torments me never stops.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
[It is as though God] seizes my clothes and chokes me with the collar of my coat.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
He has thrown me into the mud; I am [not worth anything more than] dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
“I cry out to God, but he does not answer/help me; I stand up [and pray], but he does not pay any attention.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
He acts very cruelly toward me; with all of his power [MTY] he causes me to suffer.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
He [allows] the wind to lift me up and blow me away, and he tosses me up and down in a violent storm.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
I know that he will cause me to die, which is what happens to everyone [MTY] who is alive.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
“When people experience disasters, and they sit on a pile of ruins and cry out for help, others surely [RHQ] reach out their hand to help them.
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
[That is what I did previously]. I wept for people who were experiencing troubles, and I felt sorry for poor/needy people.
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
But when I expected good things [to happen to me], evil things happened; when I waited for light/happiness, all I experienced was darkness/unhappiness [MET].
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
I am very distressed [IDM], all the time; I suffer every day.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I go about very discouraged; I stand up and plead for people to help me.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
My wailing sounds as sad as [MET] the cries of jackals/foxes and ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin has become dark/black and is peeling off, and I have a fever [which causes my body to feel like it is] burning.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
Previously, I played joyful music on my harp and with my flute, but now I play only the sad music of those who mourn.”
