1Munhu akazvarwa nomukadzi anamazuva mashoma, azere nokutambudzika.
1Man, born of woman! Of few days, and full of trouble!
2Anobuda seruva, ndokusvava; Anotizawo somumvuri, haagari.
2As a flower he hath gone forth, and is cut off, And he fleeth as a shadow and standeth not.
3Ko munotarira munhu akadai nameso enyu, Muchinditonga here?
3Also — on this Thou hast opened Thine eyes, And dost bring me into judgment with Thee.
4Ndianiko angabudisa chinhu chakanaka pane chakaipa? Hakuna.
4Who giveth a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
5Mazuva ake zvaakatarwa, mwedzi yake yakaverengwa nemi, Makamutarira miganho yaasingatenderwi kudarika;
5If determined are his days, The number of his months [are] with Thee, His limit Thou hast made, And he passeth not over;
6Regai kumucherekedza, azorore, Kusvikira apedza zuva rake somubatiri.
6Look away from off him that he may cease, Till he enjoy as an hireling his day.
7nekuti kana muti uchinge watemwa, kune tariro kuti uchabudazve, Uye kuti davi rawo nyoro haringaperi.
7For there is of a tree hope, if it be cut down, That again it doth change, That its tender branch doth not cease.
8Kunyange mudzi wawo ukakwegurira muvhu, Nehunde yawo ikafa pasi;
8If its root becometh old in the earth, And its stem doth die in the dust,
9Kunyange zvakadaro uchabukira kana wanzwa kunhuhwira kwemvura, Ndokubudisa matavi somuti muduku.
9From the fragrance of water it doth flourish, And hath made a crop as a plant.
10Asi munhu anofa, akaparara hake; Zvirokwazvo munhu anorega kufema, zvino aripiko?
10And a man dieth, and becometh weak, And man expireth, and where [is] he?
11Mvura inopera pagungwa, Uye rwizi runopera nokupwa;
11Waters have gone away from a sea, And a river becometh waste and dry.
12Saizvozvo munhu anovata pasi, akasamukazve; Havazomukizve kusvikira denga rapera, Havangamutswi pahope dzavo.
12And man hath lain down, and riseth not, Till the wearing out of the heavens they awake not, Nor are roused from their sleep.
13Dai muchindivanza henyu paSheori, Muchindichengeta pakavanda, kusvikira hasha dzenyu dzapfuura, Munditemere nguva yakatarwa, yamungandirangarira nayo.
13O that in Sheol Thou wouldst conceal me, Hide me till the turning of Thine anger, Set for me a limit, and remember me.
14Kana munhu achinge afa, angararamazve here? Ndaimira hangu mazuva ose okutambudzika kwangu, Kusvikira kusunungurwa kwangu kuchisvika.
14If a man dieth — doth he revive? All days of my warfare I wait, till my change come.
15Maizodana, ini ndikakupindurai; Maishuva basa ramaoko enyu.
15Thou dost call, and I — I answer Thee; To the work of Thy hands Thou hast desire.
16Asi zvino munoverenga nhambwe dzangu;
16But now, my steps Thou numberest, Thou dost not watch over my sin.
17Kudarika kwangu kwakasungirwa muhombodo, Munosunga zvakaipa zvangu.
17Sealed up in a bag [is] my transgression, And Thou sewest up mine iniquity.
18Gomo kana richiwa zvirokwazvo rinopfupfunyuka, Uye dombo rinobviswa panzvimbo yaro;
18And yet, a falling mountain wasteth away, And a rock is removed from its place.
19Mvura inochera mabwe; Kuyerera kwayo kunokukura guruva renyika;. imwi munoparadza tariro yomunhu.
19Stones have waters worn away, Their outpourings wash away the dust of earth, And the hope of man Thou hast destroyed.
20Munomukunda nokusingaperi, iye akapfuura hake; Munoshandura chiso chake, ndokumudzinga.
20Thou prevailest [over] him for ever, and he goeth, He is changing his countenance, And Thou sendest him away.
21Vana vake vanokudzwa iye asingazvizivi; Vanoderedzwa, asi iye haaoni vachiitirwa izvozvo.
21Honoured are his sons, and he knoweth not; And they are little, and he attendeth not to them.
22Asi kana ari iye, nyama yake inorwadziwa, Mweya wake unochema mukati make.
22Only — his flesh for him is pained, And his soul for him doth mourn.`