1Asi zvino vaduku kwandiri vanondisweveredza, Ivo vandaishovora kuisa madzibaba avo pambwa dzamapoka angu.
1But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, Whose fathers I disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2Simba ramaoko avo ringandibatsireiko? Ivo vakapererwa nesimba kwazvo.
2Yea, the strength of their hands, whereto should it profit me? Men in whom ripe age is perished.
3Vaonda nokushaiwa nenzara; vanotetena ivhu rakaoma murima ramatangwaza nokuparadzwa.
3They are gaunt with want and famine; They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of wasteness and desolation.
4Vanotanha zvinovava pamakwenzi; Midzi yomurara ndizvo zvokudya zvavo.
4They pluck salt-wort by the bushes; And the roots of the broom are their food.
5Vanodzingwa pakati pavanhu; Vanovashoverera sembavha.
5They are driven forth from the midst [of men]; They cry after them as after a thief;
6Vanofanira kugara pamipata yakasviba, Pamakomba enyika namatombo.
6So that they dwell in frightful valleys, In holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7Vanorira pakati pamakwenzi; Vanounganira pasi porukato.
7Among the bushes they bray; Under the nettles they are gathered together.
8Ndivo vana vamapenzi, zvirokwazvo vana vavanhu vakaipa; Vakadzingwa panyika vachirohwa.
8[They are] children of fools, yea, children of base men; They were scourged out of the land.
9Zvino ndava chiimbo chavo, Ndava shumo yavo.
9And now I am become their song, Yea, I am a byword unto them.
10Vanondisema, vanomira kure neni, Havaregi kupfira mate pachiso changu.
10They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And spare not to spit in my face.
11nekuti iye akasunungura rukungiso rwake akanditambudza; Vakarasha tomu pamberi pangu.
11For he hath loosed his cord, and afflicted me; And they have cast off the bridle before me.
12Vasina maturo vanosimuka kurudyi rwangu; Vanosundira makumbo angu, Vanozvigadzirira nzira dzavo kundiparadza.
12Upon my right hand rise the rabble; They thrust aside my feet, And they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13Vanoparadza nzira yangu, Vanowedzera njodzi yangu, Ivo vanhu vasina mubatsiri.
13They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, [Even] men that have no helper.
14Vanouya vakafanana navanopinda pakakoromoka pakuru; Vanomhanyira kwandiri pakati pamasvingo akakoromoka.
14As through a wide breach they come: In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves [upon me].
15Zvinotyisa zvandivinga, Vanodzinga kukudzwa kwangu semhepo; Kufara kwangu kwapfuura segore.
15Terrors are turned upon me; They chase mine honor as the wind; And my welfare is passed away as a cloud.
16Zvino mweya wangu wadururwa mukati mangu; Mazuva enjodzi andibata.
16And now my soul is poured out within me; Days of affliction have taken hold upon me.
17Panguva yousiku mafupa angu anoururwa mukati mangu, Uye zvinonditetena hazvizorori.
17In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the [pains] that gnaw me take no rest.
18Nesimba rake guru nguvo yangu yachinyikara; Rinondisunga sehuro dzejasi rangu.
18By [God's] great force is my garment disfigured; It bindeth me about as the collar of my coat.
19Iye akandiwisira mumatope, Ndava seguruva nedota.
19He hath cast me into the mire, And I am become like dust and ashes.
20Ndinochema kwamuri, asi hamundidaviri; Ndimire, asi munongonditarira.
20I cry unto thee, and thou dost not answer me: I stand up, and thou gazest at me.
21Mashanduka hamune tsitsi neni; Munonditambudza nesimba roruoko rwenyu.
21Thou art turned to be cruel to me; With the might of thy hand thou persecutest me.
22Munondisimudza nemhepo, munonditasvisa pamusoro payo; munondinyungurusira mudutu remhepo.
22Thou liftest me up to the wind, thou causest me to ride [upon it]; And thou dissolvest me in the storm.
23Nekuti ndinoziva kuti muchandiisa kurufu, nekuimba yakatarirwa vapenyu vose.
23For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.
24Ko munhu, anonyura, haangatambanudzi ruoko here? Pakutambudzika kwake haangaridzi mhere here?
24Howbeit doth not one stretch out the hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
25Ko handina kuchema akanga ari panjodzi here? Mweya wangu wakange usine shungu pamusoro powaishaiwa here?
25Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26Ndakati ndichitarira zvakanaka zvakaipa zvikasvika, Ndakati ndichimirira chiedza, rima ndokusvika.
26When I looked for good, then evil came; And when I waited for light, there came darkness.
27Ura hwangu hunovira, hauzorori; Mazuva okutambudzika andivinga.
27My heart is troubled, and resteth not; Days of affliction are come upon me.
28Ndakafamba ndichichema kusina mushana; Ndinosimuka pakati peungano, ndichichema kubatsirwa.
28I go mourning without the sun: I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
29Ndava hama yamakava, Neshamwari yemhou shiri.
29I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
30Ganda rangu rasviba, rinokwatuka kwandiri; mafupa angu atsva nokupisa.
30My skin is black, [and falleth] from me, And my bones are burned with heat.
31Naizvozvo mbira dzangu dzashanduka kuchema, Uye nyere yangu rava inzwi ravanochema misodzi.
31Therefore is my harp [turned] to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of them that weep.