UJobe 7
1 Kakukho yini imfazo kumuntu emhlabeni, lensuku zakhe kazinjengensuku zoqhatshiweyo yini?
“Isn’t a man forced to labour on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 Njengesigqili sikhefuzelela umthunzi, lanjengesiqatshwa silindele iholo laso,
As a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3 ngokunjalo mina ngidliswe ilifa lenyanga zeze, lobusuku bezinhlupheko bubalelwe mina.
so I am made to possess months of misery, 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 will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until 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 closes up, and breaks 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.
Oh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8 Ilihlo longibonayo kaliyikungibona futhi; amehlo akho aphezu kwami, kodwa ngizakuba ngingasekho.
The eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kaphindi abuyele emzini wakhe, lendawo yakhe kayisayikumazi.
He will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11 Ngakho mina kangiyikubamba umlomo wami; ngizakhuluma ekucindezelweni komoya wami, ngisole ekubabeni komphefumulo wami.
“Therefore I will not keep silent. 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 you put a guard over me?
13 Lapho ngisithi: Umbheda wami uzangiduduza, icansi lami liphungule ukusola kwami;
When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14 ubusungiqhaqhazelisa ngamaphupho, angethuse ngemibono;
then you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15 ukuze umphefumulo wami ukhethe ukuklinywa, ukufa kulamathambo ami.
so that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16 Ngiyanengwa yikho, kangiyikuphila njalonjalo; ngiyekele, ngoba insuku zami ziyize.
I loathe my life. I don’t want to 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 magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18 lokuthi umhambele ikuseni yonke, umlinge sonke isikhathi?
that you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19 Koze kube nini ungayekeli ukungiqaphela, ungangiyekeli ngize ngiginye amathe ami yini?
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until 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 do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, 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.
Why do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
