UJobe 7
1 Kakukho yini imfazo kumuntu emhlabeni, lensuku zakhe kazinjengensuku zoqhatshiweyo yini?
“People need to work hard on this earth, like soldiers do; all during the time that we are alive, we work hard [RHQ], like laborers/servants do.
2 Njengesigqili sikhefuzelela umthunzi, lanjengesiqatshwa silindele iholo laso,
We are like [SIM] slaves who keep wanting to be in the cool shade, and we are like [SIM] workers who are waiting to be paid.
3 ngokunjalo mina ngidliswe ilifa lenyanga zeze, lobusuku bezinhlupheko bubalelwe mina.
God has given me many months [in which I think that it is] useless [to remain alive]; he has allotted/given to me many nights during which I feel miserable.
4 Lapho ngilala phansi ngithi: Ngizavuka nini? Ngoba ubusuku bude, njalo ngigcwele ukutshukuma kuze kuse.
When I lie down [at night] I say, ‘How long will it be until morning?’ But nights are long, and I (toss/turn over and over) [on my bed] until dawn.
5 Inyama yami yembethe impethu lamagade othuli; isikhumba sami siyadabuka siyenyanyeka.
My body is covered with maggots and scabs; pus oozes out of my open sores.
6 Insuku zami ziyaphangisa kuleselukiso someluki, ziphele kungelathemba.
My days pass as quickly as a weaver’s (shuttle/stick that takes the thread back and forth), and they end without my confidently expecting [that things will be better the next day].
7 Khumbula ukuthi impilo yami ingumoya; ilihlo lami kaliyikuphinda libone okuhle.
God, do not forget that my life is [as short as] a breath [MET]; I [think that] I [SYN] will never again be happy.
8 Ilihlo longibonayo kaliyikungibona futhi; amehlo akho aphezu kwami, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
God, you [SYN] see me now, but [some day] you will not see me any more. You will search for me, but I will be gone [because I will be dead].
Like [SIM] clouds (disperse/break up) and then disappear, people [die and] descend to the place where dead people are, and they do not return; (Sheol h7585)
10 Kaphindi abuyele emzini wakhe, lendawo yakhe kayisayikumazi.
they never return to their houses, and people among whom they lived do not remember them any more.
11 Ngakho mina kangiyikubamba umlomo wami; ngizakhuluma ekucindezelweni komoya wami, ngisole ekubabeni komphefumulo wami.
So, I will not be silent; while I am suffering I will speak; I will complain [to God about what has happened to me] because I [SYN] am very angry.
12 Ngilulwandle yini, kumbe isilo solwandle, ukuze lingibekele abalindi?
[God, ] why do you watch closely what I am doing? [Do you think that] I am a [dangerous] sea monster?
13 Lapho ngisithi: Umbheda wami uzangiduduza, icansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami;
When [I lie down at night, ] I think, ‘I will be comforted here on my bed; my pain will be less while I am sleeping.’
14 ubusungiqhaqhazelisa ngamaphupho, angethuse ngemibono;
But then you give me dreams that cause me to be afraid; you give me visions that terrify me,
15 ukuze umphefumulo wami ukhethe ukuklinywa, ukufa kulamathambo ami.
with the result that I would prefer to be strangled to death than to continue to [be alive] being only a bunch of bones.
16 Ngiyanengwa yikho, kangiyikuphila njalonjalo; ngiyekele, ngoba insuku zami ziyize.
I detest continuing to be alive; I do not want to live for many years [HYP]. Allow me to be alone, [because I will be alive] for only a very short remaining time [HYP].
17 Uyini umuntu ukuthi umkhulise, lokuthi ubeke inhliziyo yakho kuye,
“We human beings are not [very important]; so, why do you pay a lot of attention to us [DOU]?
18 lokuthi umhambele ikuseni yonke, umlinge sonke isikhathi?
You look at us every morning [to see what we are doing], and examine us every moment [to see if we are doing what is right].
19 Koze kube nini ungayekeli ukungiqaphela, ungangiyekeli ngize ngiginye amathe ami yini?
(When will you stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit?/Please stop looking at me and leave me alone [for a little time], long enough to swallow my spit.) [RHQ]
20 Ngonile, ngizakwenzani kuwe, wena mlindi wabantu? Ungimiseleni ngibe yinto yakho yokunenjwa, ngize ngibe ngumthwalo kimi?
[Why do] you watch me constantly? If I sin, that certainly does not harm you! Why have you set me up like a target to shoot at? Do you consider me to be a heavy load that you are forced to carry?
21 Njalo kawuthetheleli ngani isiphambeko sami, ususe isono sami? Ngoba sengizalala phansi othulini; uzangidinga ngovivi, kodwa kangiyikuba khona.
[If I have sinned, ] are you not able to forgive me for my sins— the things that I have done that are wrong? Soon I will lie in my grave; you will search for me, but [you will not find me because] I will be [dead and] gone.”
