1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them . 5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. 8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.
10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. 11 My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. 12 They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. 13 If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. 14 I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.
1 Meya yangu inopela,
mazhuba angu wopela
gomba lakandimilila.
2 Nge malebeswa badadi bakandipoteleka,
ndogala ndakabalonga zhisho nge sekwa banobhayana nami.
3 “Ndomukumbila, mundibigile tjamunoshaka,
ndiani ungabe mbakilili wangu kene?
4 Ngoti makabazwina mikumbulo yabo kuhwisisa,
ndizo amutobaletjedza bakakunda.
5 Iye unoshaka gobe nge kuwonga bakwinya babe,
bana babe ndibo banowopelela bedziyidzika nge kwako.
6 “Wakandithama sumo ku bathu,
ndatjibe unothwigwa mate mu buso.
7 Mesho angu aatjabonesesa nge tjililo,
ndungululo dzangu dzabe mafupa koga.
8 Balulwami bakatjenamila kose ikoko,
usina nlandu unomukila usina bundzimu.
9 Koga nlulwami wakadzikila mu zila dzidze,
be maboko mabuyanana banowodwilila ngo sima.
10 Koga imwi, shandukilani kundili, imwi mose,
akuna ne nng'ompela wandingawana akatjenjela mu muli.
11 “Mazhuba angu akapinda, mikumbulo yangu yakashangashangana,
kose ne njemulo dze moyo wangu.
12 Busiku banoguthama masikati,
‘Tjedza’ banoti, ‘tjipejo ne zhalima.’
13 Ha ndilinga bugalo gwe bafi ndoti i ng'umba yangu,
mu zhalima ndolulwamisa bulawo gwangu.
14 Ndodwa ikumbu nditi, ‘U tate bangu,’
ku gonye ndoti, ‘Mme bangu’ kene ‘Hazwadzi yangu.’
15 Kugalabgwe kwangu kungayi ngono?
Ndiani unobona kugalabgwe kwangu kene?
16 Apa kowodelukila ku phanda dze bugalo gwe bafi?
Apa towodelukila tose ku hwuluba kene?”