< UJobe 30 >

1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
Now those who are younger than I have nothing but mockery for me— these young men whose fathers I would have refused to allow to work beside the dogs of my flock.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Indeed, the strength of their fathers' hands, how could it have helped me— men in whom the strength of their mature age had perished?
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
They were thin from poverty and hunger; they gnawed at the dry ground in the darkness of wilderness and desolation.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They plucked saltwort and bushes' leaves; the roots of the broom tree were their food.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
They were driven out from among people who shouted after them as one would shout after a thief.
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
So they had to live in river valleys, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
Among the bushes they brayed like donkeys and they gathered together under the nettles.
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
They were the sons of fools, indeed, sons of nameless people! They were driven out of the land with whips.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
But now I have become the subject of their taunting song; I have become a byword for them.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me and stand far off from me; they do not refrain from spitting in my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
For God has unstrung the string to my bow and afflicted me, and those who taunt me cast off restraint before my face.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
Upon my right hand rise the rabble; they drive me away and pile up against me their siege mounds.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They destroy my path; they push forward disaster for me, men who have no one to hold them back.
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
They come against me like an army through a wide hole in a city wall; in the midst of the destruction they roll themselves in on me.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is driven away as if by the wind; my prosperity passes away as a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
Now my life is pouring out from within me; many days of suffering have laid hold on me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
In the night my bones in me are pierced; the pains that gnaw at me take no rest.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
God's great force has seized my clothing; it wraps around me like the collar of my tunic.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
He has thrown me into the mud; I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
I cry to you, God, but you do not answer me; I stand up, and you merely look at me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
You have changed and become cruel to me; with the strength of your hand you persecute me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
You lift me up to the wind and cause it to drive me along; you throw me back and forth in a storm.
23 Ngoba ngiyazi ukuthi uzangibuyisela ekufeni, lendlini emiselwe bonke abaphilayo.
For I know that you will bring me to death, to the house appointed for all the living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
However, does no one reach out with his hand to beg for help when he falls? Does no one in trouble call out for help?
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Did not I weep for him who was in trouble? Did I not grieve for the needy man?
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
When I hoped for good, then evil came; when I waited for light, darkness came instead.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My heart is troubled and does not rest; days of affliction have come on me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I have gone about like one who was living in the dark, but not because of the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am a brother to jackals, a companion of ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin is black and falls away from me; my bones are burned with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
Therefore my harp is tuned for songs of mourning, my flute for the singing of those who wail.

< UJobe 30 >