< Ayubu 17 >
1 Moyo wangu umevunjika, siku zangu zimefupishwa, kaburi linaningojea.
Umoya wami wonakele, insuku zami zicitshiwe, amangcwaba ngawami.
2 Hakika wenye mizaha wamenizunguka; macho yangu yamebaki kutazama uadui wao.
Kabakho lami yini abaklolodayo, lelihlo lami lichitha ubusuku ekuvukeleni kwabo?
3 “Ee Mungu, nipe dhamana unayodai. Ni nani mwingine atakayeweka dhamana kwa ajili yangu?
Akubeke isibambiso sami kuwe; ngubani yena ozatshaya esandleni sami?
4 Umezifunga akili zao zisipate ufahamu, kwa hiyo hutawaacha wapate ushindi.
Ngoba inhliziyo yabo uyifihlele ukuqedisisa; ngenxa yalokhu kawuyikubaphakamisa.
5 Kama mtu akiwashutumu rafiki zake ili apate ujira, macho ya watoto wake yatashindwa kuona.
Okhuluma ngokuyenga kubangane, lamehlo abantwana bakhe azafiphala.
6 “Mungu amenifanya kitu cha dhihaka kwa kila mtu, mtu ambaye watu humtemea mate usoni.
Njalo ungimise ngaba yisaga sezizwe, ngaze ngaba ngokhafulelwayo phambi kwazo.
7 Macho yangu yamefifia kwa ajili ya majonzi; umbile langu lote ni kama kivuli.
Njalo ilihlo lami lifiphele ngosizi, lamalunga ami anjengesithunzi wonke.
8 Watu wanyofu wanatishwa na hili; watu wasio na hatia wanasimama dhidi ya wasiomcha Mungu.
Abaqotho bazakwethuswa yikho, longelacala uvukela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu.
9 Hata hivyo, waadilifu watazishika njia zao, nao wale wenye mikono safi wataendelea kupata nguvu.
Lolungileyo uzabambelela endleleni yakhe, lolezandla ezihlambulukileyo uzakwengeza amandla.
10 “Lakini ninyi njooni, ninyi nyote, jaribuni tena! Sitampata mtu mwenye hekima miongoni mwenu.
Kodwa-ke lina lonke, phendukani ake libuye, ngoba kangitholi ohlakaniphileyo phakathi kwenu.
11 Siku zangu zimepita, mipango yangu imevunjika, vivyo hivyo shauku za moyo wangu.
Insuku zami zedlule, amacebo ami adabuke phakathi, lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 Watu hawa hufanya usiku kuwa mchana, kwenye giza wao husema, ‘Mwanga u karibu.’
Bamisa ubusuku bube yimini; ukukhanya kuseduze phambi kobumnyama.
13 Kama nyumba pekee ninayoitarajia ni kaburi, kama nikikitandika kitanda changu gizani, (Sheol )
Uba ngilinda, ingcwaba lizakuba yindlu yami; ngendlala umbheda wami emnyameni. (Sheol )
14 kama nikiuambia uharibifu, ‘Wewe u baba yangu,’ na kuliambia buu, ‘Wewe u mama yangu’ au ‘Dada yangu,’
Ngibiza ingcwaba ngisithi: Wena ungubaba; impethu ngisithi: Umama lodadewethu.
15 liko wapi basi tarajio langu? Ni nani awezaye kuona tarajio lolote kwa ajili yangu?
Pho-ke ithemba lami lingaphi? Yebo, ithemba lami ngubani ozalibona?
16 Je, litashuka chini hadi kwenye malango ya mauti? Je, tutashuka pamoja mavumbini?” (Sheol )
Kuzakwehlela kumijabo yengcwaba, lapho sizaphumula khona ndawonye enhlabathini. (Sheol )