Job 17
1 “My spirit is consumed. My days are extinct and the grave is ready for me.
“Umoya wami udabukile, insuku zami ziqunyiwe, ithuna lingimelele.
2 Surely there are mockers with me. My eye dwells on their provocation.
Impela abaklolodayo bangihanqile; amehlo ami asehlezi elinde ulaka lwabo.
3 “Now give a pledge. Be collateral for me with yourself. Who is there who will strike hands with me?
Ngipha, Oh Nkulunkulu, lesosibambiso osifunayo. Kambe ngubani omunye ongangenzela lesosibambiso na?
4 For you have hidden their heart from understanding, therefore you will not exalt them.
Usuzivalile ingqondo zabo kabasazwisisi; ngakho kawuzukubayekela bagiye.
5 He who denounces his friends for plunder, even the eyes of his children will fail.
Nxa umuntu angaphika umngane wakhe ukuze ahlawulwe, amehlo abantwabakhe azafiphala.
6 “But he has made me a byword of the people. They spit in my face.
UNkulunkulu usengenze ngaba yisiga ebantwini bonke, umuntu okhafulelwa ngabanye emehlweni.
7 My eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. All my members are as a shadow.
Amehlo ami asethundubele ngosizi; umdumbu wami wonke usuyisithunzi nje.
8 Upright men will be astonished at this. The innocent will stir himself up against the godless.
Abantu abaqotho kuyabanenga lokhu; abangelacala bayacaphuka ngabangakholwayo.
9 Yet the righteous will hold to his way. He who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.
Kungenani, abalungileyo bazabambelela ezindleleni zabo, kuthi labo abalezandla ezihlanzekileyo baqine.
10 But as for you all, come back. I will not find a wise man among you.
Kodwa khathesi lina lonke ake lizame futhi! Kangiboni loyedwa ohlakaniphileyo kini.
11 My days are past. My plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
Sezidlule insuku zami, amacebo ami asedilikile, kunjalo lezifiso zenhliziyo yami.
12 They change the night into day, saying ‘The light is near’ in the presence of darkness.
Lababantu bathatha ubusuku njengemini; bathi bebona ubumnyama bathi, ‘Ukukhanya sekusondele.’
Nxa ikhaya engilithembileyo lilingcwaba kuphela, nxa ngisendlala umbheda wami emnyameni, (Sheol h7585)
14 if I have said to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ and ‘My sister,’
nxa ngisithi ekuboleni, ‘Baba,’ ngithi empethwini, ‘Mama’ kumbe ‘Dadewethu,’
15 where then is my hope? As for my hope, who will see it?
pho lingaphi ithemba lami na? Ngubani ongabona ithemba ngami?
