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