Lakini sasa hao walio wadogo wangu hunifanyia mzaha, Ambao baba zao niliwadharau hata kuwaweka na mbwa wa kundi langu.
"But now those who are younger than I, have me in derision, Whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.
Naam, uwezo wa mikono yao utanifaa nini? Watu ambao nguvu zao zimekoma.
Of what use is the strength of their hands to me, Men in whom ripe age has perished?
Wamekonda kwa uhitaji na njaa; Huguguna nchi kavu, penye giza la ukiwa na uharibifu.
They are gaunt from lack and famine. They gnaw the dry ground, in the gloom of waste and desolation.
Hung'oa mboga ya chumvi kwenye kichaka; Na mizizi ya mretemu ni chakula chao.
They pluck salt herbs by the bushes. The roots of the broom are their food.
Hufukuzwa watoke kati ya watu; Huwapigia kelele kama kumpigia mwivi.
They are driven forth from the midst of men; They cry after them as after a thief;
Lazima hukaa katika mianya ya mabonde, Katika mashimo ya nchi na ya majabali.
So that they dwell in frightful valleys, And in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
Hulia kama punda vichakani; Hukusanyika chini ya upupu.
Among the bushes they bray; And under the nettles they are gathered together.
Wao ni wana wa wapumbavu, naam, watoto wa wahuni; Walifukuzwa kwa mijeledi watoke katika nchi.
They are children of fools, yes, children of base men. They were flogged out of the land.
Na sasa mimi nimekuwa wimbo wao, Naam, nimekuwa simo kwao.
"Now I have become their song. Yes, I am a byword to them.
Wao hunichukia, na kujitenga nami, Hawaachi kunitemea mate usoni.
They abhor me, they stand aloof from me, And don't hesitate to spit in my face.
Kwani ameilegeza kamba yake, na kunitesa, Wala hawajizuii tena mbele yangu.
For he has untied his cord, and afflicted me; And they have thrown off restraint before me.
Kwa mkono wangu wa kuume huinuka kundi; Huisukuma miguu yangu kando, Na kunipandishia njia zao za uharibifu.
On my right hand rise the rabble. They thrust aside my feet, They cast up against me their ways of destruction.
Waiharibu njia yangu, Wauzidisha msiba wangu, Watu wasio na msaidizi.
They mar my path, They set forward my calamity, Without anyone's help.
Wanijilia kama wapitao katika ufa mpana; Katikati ya magofu wanishambulia.
As through a wide breach they come, In the midst of the ruin they roll themselves in.
Vitisho vimenigeukia; Huifukuza heshima yangu kama upepo; Na kufanikiwa kwangu kumepita kama wingu.
Terrors are turned on me. They chase my honor as the wind. My welfare has passed away as a cloud.
Sasa nafsi yangu inamwagika ndani yangu; Siku za mateso zimenishika.
"Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me.
Wakati wa usiku mifupa yangu huchomeka ndani yangu, Na maumivu yanayonitafuna hayapumziki.
In the night season my bones are pierced in me, And the pains that gnaw me take no rest.
Kwa ugonjwa wangu kuwa na nguvu nyingi Mavazi yangu yameharibika; Hunikaza kama shingo ya kanzu yangu.
By great force is my garment disfigured. It binds me about as the collar of my coat.
Yeye amenibwaga topeni, Nami nimekuwa kama mavumbi na majivu.
He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes.
Nakulilia wewe, wala huniitikii; Nasimama, nawe wanitazama tu.
I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me.
Wewe umegeuka kuwa mkali kwangu; Nawe waniudhi kwa uweza wa mkono wako.
You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me.
Waniinua juu hata upeponi, na kunipandisha juu yake; Nawe waniyeyusha katika dhoruba.
You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm.
Kwani najua kuwa utanileta hata kifoni, Niifikilie nyumba waliyoandikiwa wenye uhai wote.
For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living.
Je! Mtu katika kuanguka kwake hanyoshi mkono? Na kulilia msaada katika msiba wake?
"However doesn't one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help?
Je! Mimi sikulia kwa ajili ya huyo aliyekuwa katika taabu? Nafsi yangu, je! Haikusononeka kwa ajili ya wahitaji?
Didn't I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the needy?
Hapo nilipotazamia mema, ndipo yakaja mabaya; Nami nilipongojea mwanga, likaja giza.
When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness.
Matumbo yangu yatokota, wala hayaachi; Siku za taabu zimenijilia.
My heart is troubled, and doesn't rest. Days of affliction have come on me.
Naenda nikiomboleza pasipo jua; Nasimama katika mkutano, na kuulilia msaada.
I go mourning without the sun. I stand up in the assembly, and cry for help.
Mimi ni ndugu yao mbwa-mwitu, Ni mwenzao mbuni.
I am a brother to jackals, And a companion to ostriches.
Ngozi yangu ni nyeusi, nayo yanitoka, Na mifupa yangu imeteketea kwa hari.
My skin grows black and peels from me. My bones are burned with heat.
Kwa hiyo kinanda changu kimegeuzwa kuwa maombolezo, Na filimbi yangu kuwa sauti yao waliao.
Therefore is my harp turned to mourning, And my pipe into the voice of those who weep.