1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow, and as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work: 3 So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me. 4 When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7 O remember that my life is wind: mine eye shall no more see good. 8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more: thine eyes are upon me, and I am not. 9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more . 10 He shall return no more to his house, neither shall his place know him any more. 11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. 12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me? 13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint; 14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions: 15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life. 16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? 18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment? 19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle? 20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself? 21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be .
1 “Apa nthu aana nshingo wakasima mu shango kene?
Apa mazhuba awe aatonga e nshingi wakatapiwa kene?
2 Se nlanda unoyemula mitutshi ye madekwana,
se nthu wakatapiwa wakalindila ndipo iye ye zhuba,
3 ndizo ndapiwa mimwedzi ye suli,
masiku e buyendasi ndakaapiwa.
4 Andiizela ndozwibhuzwa nditi, ‘Ndowomuka lini?’
Koga busiku bulefu, ndolala ndipitukana kudzina kuyedza.
5 Mbili wangu wakaambadziwa nge hwonyana ne shambgwa,
ganda langu lowomelela, likakwanganyuka.
6 Mazhuba angu anopinda elibilidza kupinda thali imu nnali,
anopela koga kusina kugalabgwe.
7 “Kumbulani, kuti butjilo gwangu i phepo koga,
mesho angu aatjowofa abona tjakanaka kakale.
8 Zhisho le unondibona alitjowondibona kakale,
mowondishaka koga ndowobe ndisitjipo.
9 Se gole linopaladza likasitjabong'we
kwakajalo, nthu unongina mu gomba le lufu aatjabuya.
10 Aatjowofa abgwilila ku ng'umba iye kakale,
ne bugalo gugwe agutjowofa gwan'ziba.
11 “Nenguba kwakajalo andingazhalile nlomo wangu!
Ndowolebeleka koga nenguba meya yangu ili mu buyendasi.
Ndowong'ong'ola koga ndili mu kugwadzika.
12 Apa ndi gungwa kene bhukanana le gungwa kene?
Kwamungadzina mukandilisa kene?
13 Ha nditi bulawo gwangu gowondinyaladza,
bulalo gwangu gowobhatsha kutapudza ng'ong'ola kwangu,
14 ipapo monditjisa nge mawoloto,
mukandipalusa moyo nge mibono,
15 kwandinowana ndishalula kusiniwa,
pa kutjila ndili mafupa koga.
16 Ndoshima butjilo gwangu, aanditowotjilila tjose.
Mundiletje, ngoti butjilo gwangu i phepo koga!
17 Apa nthu uni, kwamunga ntolela pezhugwi kene,
kakale wamungashwa muna hanya nge kukwe kene?
18 Wamungashwa mushola mangwanana mamwe ne mamwe kene?
Wamungashwa mulika tjibaka ne tjibaka kene?
19 Apa kowotola tjibaka tjingapani kudusa mesho enyu mundili,
kene kundipa tjibaka tje fema kene?
20 Apa ha ndatjinya ndinga thamani kumuli imwe nlindi we bathu?
Ini mandithama panobhaya nsebe wenyu kene?
Ini ndabe ntolo mu muli kene?
21 Ini musingandizwiibhatigwe milandu yangu kene?
Ini musingaduse kutjena jinyo langu kene?
Ngoti tjinyolotjo ndowobe ndabe mu gomba ndafa,
ngono mowondishaka mukasindibone.”