1 Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth?
Are not his days also like the days of an hireling?
Je! Mtu hana wakati wake wa vita juu ya nchi? Na siku zake, je! Si kama siku za mwajiriwa?
2 As a servant earnestly desireth the shadow,
And as an hireling looketh for the reward of his work:
Kama mtumishi atamaniye sana kile kivuli, Kama mwajiriwa anayetazamia mshahara wake;
3 So am I made to possess months of vanity,
And wearisome nights are appointed to me.
Ni vivyo nami nimepewa miezi ya ubatili iwe fungu langu, Nami nimeandikiwa masiku yenye kuchokesha.
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.
Hapo nilalapo chini, nasema, Nitaondoka lini? Lakini usiku huwa mrefu; Nami nimejawa na kujitupa huku na huku hata kupambazuke.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust;
My skin is broken, and become loathsome.
Mwili wangu unavikwa mabuu na madongoa ya udongo; Ngozi yangu hufumba, kisha ikatumbuka tena.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle,
And are spent without hope.
Siku zangu hupita upesi kuliko chombo cha kufumia, Nazo zapita pasipokuwa na matumaini.
7 O remember that my life is wind:
Mine eye shall no more see good.
Kumbuka ya kwamba maisha yangu ni upepo; Jicho langu halitaona mema tena.
8 The eye of him that hath seen me shall see me no more:
Thine eyes are upon me, and I am not.
Jicho lake huyo anionaye halitaniangalia tena; Macho yako yatanielekea, lakini sitakuwapo.
9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away:
So he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more .
Kama vile wingu likomavyo na kutoweka, Ni vivyo huyo ashukaye kuzimuni hatazuka tena kabisa.
10 He shall return no more to his house,
Neither shall his place know him any more.
Hatarudi tena nyumbani kwake, Wala mahali pake hapatamjua tena.
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.
Kwa hiyo sitakizuia kinywa changu; Nitanena kwa mateso ya roho yangu; Nitalia kwa uchungu wa nafsi yangu.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale,
That thou settest a watch over me?
Je! Mimi ni bahari, au je! Ni nyangumi? Hata ukawaweka walinzi juu yangu?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me,
My couch shall ease my complaint;
Hapo nisemapo, kitanda changu kitanituza moyo, Malazi yangu yatanipunguzia kuugua kwangu;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams,
And terrifiest me through visions:
Ndipo unitishapo kwa ndoto, Na kunitia hofu kwa maono;
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling,
And death rather than my life.
Hata nafsi yangu huchagua kunyongwa, Na kuchagua kifo kuliko maumivu yangu haya.
16 I loathe it ; I would not live alway:
Let me alone; for my days are vanity.
Ninadhoofika; sitaishi sikuzote; Usinisumbue, kwani siku zangu ni uvuvio.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him?
And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
Je! Mtu ni kitu gani, hata ukamtukuza, Na kumtia moyoni mwako,
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning,
And try him every moment?
Na kumwangalia kila asubuhi, Na kumjaribu kila dakika?
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me,
Nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
Je! Hata lini hukomi kuniangalia; Wala kunisumbua hata nimeze mate?
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?
Kwamba nimefanya dhambi, nikufanyieje Ee mlinda wanadamu? Mbona umeniweka niwe shabaha yako, Hata nimekuwa mzigo kwa nafsi yangu?
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 .
Nawe, je! Mbona hunisamehe makosa yangu, Na kuniondolea maovu yangu? Kwa kuwa sasa nitalala mavumbini; Nawe utanitafuta kwa bidii, lakini sitakuwapo.
