1
Nafsi yangu inachoka na maisha yangu; Sitajizuia na kuugua kwangu; Nitanena kwa uchungu wa roho yangu.
“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2
Nitamwambia Mungu, Usinihukumie makosa; Nionyeshe sababu ya wewe kushindana nami.
I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me.
3
Je! Ni vema kwako wewe kuonea, Na kuidharau kazi ya mikono yako, Na kuyaangazia mashauri ya waovu?
Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked?
4
Je! Wewe una macho ya kimwili, Au je! Waona kama aonavyo binadamu?
Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees?
5
Je! Siku zako ni kama siku za mtu, Au je! Miaka yako ni kama siku za mtu,
Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man,
6
Hata ukauliza-uliza habari za uovu wangu, Na kuitafuta dhambi yangu,
that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin—
7
Ujapojua ya kuwa mimi si mwovu; Wala hapana awezaye kuokoa na mkono wako?
though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?
8
Mikono yako imeniumba na kunifinyanga; Nawe utageuka na kuniangamiza?
Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me?
9
Kumbuka, nakusihi ulivyonifinyanga kama vile udongo; Nawe, je! Utanirudisha uvumbini tena?
Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust?
10
Je! Wewe hukunimimina kama maziwa, Na kunigandisha mfano wa jibini?
Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese?
11
Umenivika ngozi na nyama, Na kuniunga pamoja kwa mifupa na mishipa.
You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12
Umenijazi uhai na upendeleo, Na maangalizi yako yameilinda roho yangu.
You have granted me life and loving devotion, and Your care has preserved my spirit.
13
Lakini mambo haya uliyaficha moyoni mwako; Najua kuwa haya yamo nafsini mwako;
Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind:
14
Nikifanya dhambi, ndipo waniangalia, Wala hutaniachilia na uovu wangu.
If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.
15
Mimi nikiwa mbaya, ole wangu! Nami nikiwa mwenye haki, walakini sitainua kichwa changu; Mimi nimejaa aibu Na kuyaangalia mateso yangu.
If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction.
16
Kichwa changu kikijiinua, waniwinda kama simba; Tena wajionyesha kwangu kuwa wa ajabu.
Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me.
17
Wewe warejeza upya hao mashahidi yako juu yangu, Na kasirani yako waiongeza juu yangu; Jeshi kwa jeshi juu yangu.
You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave.
18
Kwa nini basi kunitoa tumboni? Ningekata roho, lisinione jicho lo lote.
Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me!
19
Ningalikuwa kama mtu asiyekuwapo; Ningalichukuliwa kaburini kutoka tumboni.
If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave.
20
Je! Siku zangu si chache? Acha basi, Usinisumbue, nipate ngaa kutuzwa moyo kidogo.
Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort,
21
Kabla sijaenda huko ambako sitarudi kutoka huko tena, Ni hiyo nchi ya giza, giza tupu;
before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom,
22
Ni nchi ya giza kuu, kama giza lenyewe lilivyo; Ni nchi ya giza tupu, isiyo na matengezo ya mambo yo yote, Nchi ambayo nuru yake ni kama giza.
to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”