1Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.14.1 few…: Heb. short of days 2He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.14.4 can…: Heb. will give 5Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day.14.6 rest: Heb. cease
7For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant. 10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?14.10 wasteth…: Heb. is weakened, or, cut off 11As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: 12So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep. 13O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.
16For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 18And surely the mountain falling cometh to nought, and the rock is removed out of his place.14.18 cometh…: Heb. fadeth 19The waters wear the stones: thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and thou destroyest the hope of man.14.19 washest…: Heb. overflowest 20Thou prevailest for ever against him, and he passeth: thou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 21His sons come to honour, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them. 22But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.
1“Munthu wobadwa mwa amayi
amakhala masiku owerengeka ndipo ndi odzaza ndi mavuto okhaokha.
2Amaphuka ngati duwa ndipo kenaka amafota;
amathawa ngati mthunzi ndipo sakhalitsa.
3Kodi munthu wotereyo nʼkumuyangʼanitsitsa?
Kodi mungamubweretse pamaso panu kuti mumuzenge mlandu?
4Ndani angatulutse chabwino mʼchoyipa?
Palibe ndi mmodzi yemwe!
5Masiku a munthu ndi odziwikiratu;
munakhazikitsa chiwerengero cha miyezi yake
ndipo munamulembera malire amene sangathe kuwalumpha.
6Choncho Inu mumufulatire ndipo mumuleke apumule
kufikira atakondwera nawo moyo ngati munthu waganyu.
7“Mtengo uli nacho chiyembekezo:
ngati wadulidwa, udzaphukiranso
ndipo nthambi zake sizidzaleka kuphukira.
8Mizu yake ingathe kukalamba mʼnthaka
ndipo chitsa chake nʼkuwola pa dothi,
9koma pamene chinyontho chafika udzaphukira
ndipo udzaphuka nthambi ngati mtengo wanthete.
10Koma munthu amafa nayikidwa mʼmanda,
amapuma mpweya wotsiriza ndipo kutha kwake nʼkomweko.
11Monga madzi amaphwera mʼnyanja
kapena monga mtsinje umaphwera nuwuma,
12momwemonso munthu amagona ndipo sadzukanso;
mpaka zamlengalenga zidzathe, anthu sadzauka
kapena kudzutsidwa ku tulo tawo.
13“Aa, Inu mukanangondibisa mʼmanda
ndi kundiphimba kuti ndisaoneke mpaka mkwiyo wanu utapita!
Achikhala munandiyikira nthawi,
kuti pambuyo pake mundikumbukirenso.
14Munthu akafa, kodi adzakhalanso ndi moyo?
Masiku anga onse a moyo wovutikawu
ndidzadikira mpaka itafika nthawi yomasulidwa.
15Inu mudzandiyitane ndipo ndidzakuyankhani;
inu mudzafunitsitsa kuona cholengedwa chimene munachipanga ndi manja anu.
16Ndithudi pamenepo mudzayangʼana mayendedwe anga
koma simudzalondola tchimo langa.
17Zolakwa zanga zidzakulungidwa mʼthumba;
inu mudzaphimba tchimo langa.
18“Koma monga phiri limakokolokera ndi kuswekasweka
ndipo monga thanthwe limasunthira kuchoka pa malo ake,
19monganso madzi oyenda amaperesera miyala
ndipo madzi othamanga amakokololera nthaka,
momwemonso Inu mumawononga chiyembekezo cha munthu.
20Inu mumamugonjetsa kamodzinʼkamodzi ndipo munthuyo nʼkutheratu;
Inu mumasintha maonekedwe a nkhope yake ndipo mumamutaya kutali.
21Ana ake akamalemekezedwa, iyeyo sazidziwa zimenezo;
akamachititsidwa manyazi iye saziona zimenezo.
22Iye amangomva zowawa za mʼthupi lake
ndipo amangodzilirira yekha mwini wakeyo.”