UJobe 7
1 Kakukho yini imfazo kumuntu emhlabeni, lensuku zakhe kazinjengensuku zoqhatshiweyo yini?
Is there not a time of service to man upon earth? And are not his days like the days of a hireling?
2 Njengesigqili sikhefuzelela umthunzi, lanjengesiqatshwa silindele iholo laso,
As a servant that eagerly longeth for the shadow, and as a hireling that looketh for his wages;
3 ngokunjalo mina ngidliswe ilifa lenyanga zeze, lobusuku bezinhlupheko bubalelwe mina.
So am I made to possess — months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4 Lapho ngilala phansi ngithi: Ngizavuka nini? Ngoba ubusuku bude, njalo ngigcwele ukutshukuma kuze kuse.
When I lie down, I say: 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
5 Inyama yami yembethe impethu lamagade othuli; isikhumba sami siyadabuka siyenyanyeka.
My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin closeth up and breaketh out afresh.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kuleselukiso someluki, ziphele kungelathemba.
My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 Khumbula ukuthi impilo yami ingumoya; ilihlo lami kaliyikuphinda libone okuhle.
O remember that my life is a breath; mine eye shall no more see good.
8 Ilihlo longibonayo kaliyikungibona futhi; amehlo akho aphezu kwami, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of him that seeth me shall behold me no more; while Thine eyes are upon me, I am gone.
As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away, so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kaphindi abuyele emzini wakhe, lendawo yakhe kayisayikumazi.
He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more.
11 Ngakho mina kangiyikubamba umlomo wami; ngizakhuluma ekucindezelweni komoya wami, ngisole ekubabeni komphefumulo wami.
Therefore I will not refrain 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 a sea, or a sea-monster, that Thou settest a watch over me?
13 Lapho ngisithi: Umbheda wami uzangiduduza, icansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami;
When I say: 'My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint';
14 ubusungiqhaqhazelisa ngamaphupho, angethuse ngemibono;
Then Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions;
15 ukuze umphefumulo wami ukhethe ukuklinywa, ukufa kulamathambo ami.
So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than these my bones.
16 Ngiyanengwa yikho, kangiyikuphila njalonjalo; ngiyekele, ngoba insuku zami ziyize.
I loathe it; I shall not live alway; let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 Uyini umuntu ukuthi umkhulise, lokuthi ubeke inhliziyo yakho kuye,
What is man, that Thou shouldest magnify him, and that Thou shouldest set Thy heart upon him,
18 lokuthi umhambele ikuseni yonke, umlinge sonke isikhathi?
And that Thou shouldest remember him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 Koze kube nini ungayekeli ukungiqaphela, ungangiyekeli ngize ngiginye amathe ami yini?
How long wilt Thou not look away from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 Ngonile, ngizakwenzani kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Ungimiseleni ngibe yinto yakho yokunenjwa, ngize ngibe ngumthwalo kimi?
If I have sinned, what do I unto Thee, O Thou watcher of men? Why hast Thou set me as a mark for Thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 Njalo kawuthetheleli ngani isiphambeko sami, ususe isono sami? Ngoba sengizalala phansi othulini; uzangidinga ngovivi, kodwa kangiyikuba khona.
And why dost Thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? For now shall I lie down in the dust; and Thou wilt seek me, but I shall not be.
