UJobe 7
1 Kakukho yini imfazo kumuntu emhlabeni, lensuku zakhe kazinjengensuku zoqhatshiweyo yini?
“Is not man consigned to labor on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired hand?
2 Njengesigqili sikhefuzelela umthunzi, lanjengesiqatshwa silindele iholo laso,
Like a slave he longs for shade; like a hireling he waits for his wages.
3 ngokunjalo mina ngidliswe ilifa lenyanga zeze, lobusuku bezinhlupheko bubalelwe mina.
So I am allotted months of futility, and nights of misery are appointed me.
4 Lapho ngilala phansi ngithi: Ngizavuka nini? Ngoba ubusuku bude, njalo ngigcwele ukutshukuma kuze kuse.
When I lie down I think: ‘When will I get up?’ But the night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
5 Inyama yami yembethe impethu lamagade othuli; isikhumba sami siyadabuka siyenyanyeka.
My flesh is clothed with worms and encrusted with dirt; my skin is cracked and festering.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kuleselukiso someluki, ziphele kungelathemba.
My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.
7 Khumbula ukuthi impilo yami ingumoya; ilihlo lami kaliyikuphinda libone okuhle.
Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
8 Ilihlo longibonayo kaliyikungibona futhi; amehlo akho aphezu kwami, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye that beholds me will no longer see me. You will look for me, but I will be no more.
As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come back up. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kaphindi abuyele emzini wakhe, lendawo yakhe kayisayikumazi.
He never returns to his house; his place remembers him no more.
11 Ngakho mina kangiyikubamba umlomo wami; ngizakhuluma ekucindezelweni komoya wami, ngisole ekubabeni komphefumulo wami.
Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe isilo solwandle, ukuze lingibekele abalindi?
Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that You must keep me under guard?
13 Lapho ngisithi: Umbheda wami uzangiduduza, icansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami;
When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint,
14 ubusungiqhaqhazelisa ngamaphupho, angethuse ngemibono;
then You frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 ukuze umphefumulo wami ukhethe ukuklinywa, ukufa kulamathambo ami.
so that I would prefer strangling and death over my life in this body.
16 Ngiyanengwa yikho, kangiyikuphila njalonjalo; ngiyekele, ngoba insuku zami ziyize.
I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17 Uyini umuntu ukuthi umkhulise, lokuthi ubeke inhliziyo yakho kuye,
What is man that You should exalt him, that You should set Your heart upon him,
18 lokuthi umhambele ikuseni yonke, umlinge sonke isikhathi?
that You attend to him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Koze kube nini ungayekeli ukungiqaphela, ungangiyekeli ngize ngiginye amathe ami yini?
Will You never look away from me, or leave me alone to swallow my spittle?
20 Ngonile, ngizakwenzani kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Ungimiseleni ngibe yinto yakho yokunenjwa, ngize ngibe ngumthwalo kimi?
If I have sinned, what have I done to You, O watcher of mankind? Why have You made me Your target, so that I am a burden to You?
21 Njalo kawuthetheleli ngani isiphambeko sami, ususe isono sami? Ngoba sengizalala phansi othulini; uzangidinga ngovivi, kodwa kangiyikuba khona.
Why do You not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For soon I will lie down in the dust; You will seek me, but I will be no more.”
