UJobe 30
1 Kodwa khathesi abatsha kulami ngensuku bayangihleka, oyise babo engangingabadelela ukubafaka lezinja zomhlambi wami.
“But now those who are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I considered unworthy to put with my sheep dogs.
2 Yebo, amandla ezandla zabo ayengaba yini kimi, ukuvuthwa kwabo sekuphelile?
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, men in whom ripe age has perished?
3 Ngenswelo langendlala bajujukile, bangqathuze elizweni elomileyo, elalikade liyinkangala legwadule.
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
4 Abakha imibhida yetshwayi enkotheni, lempande yesihlahla serotemu iyikudla kwabo.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom tree are their food.
5 Baxotshwa phakathi kwabantu; bamemeza ngabo kungathi lisela;
They are driven out from amongst men. They cry after them as after a thief,
6 ukuthi bahlale eliweni lezihotsha, imigodi yenhlabathi, lamadwala.
so that they live in frightful valleys, and in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Bayakhonya phakathi kwenkotha, babuthane phansi kokhula.
They bray amongst the bushes. They are gathered together under the nettles.
8 Bangabantwana beziphukuphuku, yebo abantwana abangelabizo; betshaywa, bexotshwa emhlabeni.
They are children of fools, yes, children of wicked men. They were flogged out of the land.
9 Khathesi sengiyingoma yabo, sengiyisiga sabo.
“Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
10 Banengwa yimi, bamela khatshana lami; kabayekeli ukungikhafulela ebusweni ngamathe.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, and don’t hesitate to spit in my face.
11 Ngoba ukhulule intambo yami, wangicindezela, ngakho balahle itomu phambi kwami.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; and they have thrown off restraint before me.
12 Ngakwesokunene abatsha bayasukuma, bafuqa inyawo zami, bangivusela indlela zabo zokubhubhisa.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet. They cast their ways of destruction up against me.
13 Badiliza indlela yami, bancedisa ukuqhubela phambili incithakalo yami, kabalamncedisi.
They mar my path. They promote my destruction without anyone’s help.
14 Beza kungathi bafohlela esikhaleni esibanzi; phakathi kwencithakalo batheleka.
As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
15 Izesabiso ziphendukele phezu kwami; baxotshana lodumo lwami njengomoya, lempumelelo yami yedlula njengeyezi.
Terrors have turned on me. They chase my honour as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
16 Khathesi-ke umphefumulo wami uyazithulula phezu kwami; insuku zosizi zingibambile.
“Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 Ubusuku bugwaza amathambo ami phakathi kwami, lokungingqathuzayo kakuphumuli.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
18 Ngobunengi bamandla akhe isembatho sami siyaguqulwa; uyangibhinca njengesiphika sebhatshi lami.
My garment is disfigured by great force. It binds me about as the collar of my tunic.
19 Ungiphosele odakeni, senginjengothuli lomlotha.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
20 Ngiyakhala kuwe, kodwa kawungiphenduli; ngiyasukuma, unginanzelele nje.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
21 Usuphenduke waba lesihluku kimi; ngamandla esandla sakho umelana lami.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 Ungiphakamisela emoyeni, ungigadise kuwo, ungincibilikisele kusiphepho.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the 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 living.
24 Kodwa umuntu kayikwelulela isandla engcwabeni, kumbe encithakalweni yakhe akhalele usizo.
“However doesn’t one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25 Kangimkhalelanga inyembezi yini owayelensuku ezilukhuni, umphefumulo wami wadabuka ngongumyanga?
Didn’t I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn’t my soul grieved for the needy?
26 Lapho ngilindele okuhle, kweza okubi; lapho ngilindele ukukhanya, kweza umnyama.
When I looked for good, then evil came. When I waited for light, darkness came.
27 Imibilini yami yabila, kayithulanga, lensuku zosizi zingandulele.
My heart is troubled, and doesn’t rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
28 Ngahamba ngilila, kungelalanga; ngasukuma ebandleni ngakhalela usizo.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29 Ngingumfowabo wemigobho, lomngane wezintshe.
I am a brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches.
30 Isikhumba sami simnyama phezu kwami, lamathambo ami atshile ngokutshisa.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burnt with heat.
31 Ichacho lami selibe yisililo, lomhlanga wami uyilizwi labakhala inyembezi.
Therefore my harp has turned to mourning, and my pipe into the voice of those who weep.
