Job 13
1 “Indeed, my eyes have seen all this; my ears have heard and understood.
“Amehlo ami asekubonile konke lokhu, indlebe zami zikuzwile zakuqedisisa lokhu.
2 What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you.
Elikwaziyo lina lami ngiyakwazi; kalingcono ngalutho kulami.
3 Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.
Kodwa ngiloyisa ukukhuluma loSomandla, ngiphikisane loNkulunkulu ngendaba yami.
4 You, however, smear with lies; you are all worthless physicians.
Kodwa lina lingigcona ngamanga; lonke lizinyanga ezingelamsebenzi!
5 If only you would remain silent; for that would be your wisdom!
Thulani lithi zwi lonke! Lokho kungaba yikuhlakanipha kini.
6 Hear now my argument, and listen to the plea of my lips.
Zwanini-ke manje engikutshoyo; lalelani ukuncenga kwezindebe zami.
7 Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf or speak deceitfully for Him?
Lingakhuluma okubi limele uNkulunkulu na? Lingamkhulumela inkohliso na?
8 Would you show Him partiality or argue in His defense?
Limtshengisa ukuthi liyabandlulula yini? Yini elimkhulumelayo uNkulunkulu akutshoyo?
9 Would it be well when He examined you? Could you deceive Him like a man?
Kungalilungela yini nxa engalihlola? Kambe lingamkhohlisa njengoba lingakhohlisa abantu na?
10 Surely He would rebuke you if you secretly showed partiality.
Ngempela angaligcona nxa lingabe litshengisa ukubandlulula.
11 Would His majesty not terrify you? Would the dread of Him not fall upon you?
Inkazimulo yakhe ingezake ilethuse na? Ukwesabeka kwakhe kungezake kulehlele na?
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
Izitsho zenu ziyizaga zomlotha; lezivikelo zenu yizivikelo zebumba kuphela.
13 Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.
Thulani ngikhulume mina; kungivelele loba kuyini okuvelayo.
14 Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
Ngizifakelani engozini na ngiphathe impilo yami ezandleni zami?
15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways to His face.
Lanxa engangibulala kodwa ngizakwala ngimethemba; ngizazivikela izindlela zami phambi kwakhe.
16 Moreover, this will be my salvation, for no godless man can appear before Him.
Ngeqiniso lokhu kuzangihlenga, ngoba kakho umuntu ongakholwayo ongasondela kuye!
17 Listen carefully to my words; let my declaration ring in your ears.
Ake lilalele kuhle amazwi ami; vulani indlebe zenu lizwe engikutshoyo.
18 Behold, now that I have prepared my case, I know that I will be vindicated.
Manje-ke njengoba sengiyilungisile indaba yami, ngiyabona ukuthi ngizakhululwa.
19 Can anyone indict me? If so, I will be silent and die.
Ngubani kambe ongangethesa icala? Nxa ekhona, ngizathula ngife.
20 Only grant these two things to me, so that I need not hide from You:
Akungiphe lezizinto ezimbili nje, Oh Nkulunkulu, lapho-ke angiyikukucatshela:
21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Sisusele khatshana lami isandla sakho, ukhawule ukungethusa ngokwesabeka kwakho.
22 Then call me, and I will answer, or let me speak, and You can reply.
Ubusungibizela ecaleni, ngizaphendula, kumbe ungiyekele ngikhulume, lawe uphendule.
23 How many are my iniquities and sins? Reveal to me my transgression and sin.
Sengenze iziphambeko lezono ezinganani na? Ngitshengisa isiphambeko sami lesono sami.
24 Why do You hide Your face and consider me as Your enemy?
Kungani ufihla ubuso bakho ungithathe njengesitha sakho?
25 Would You frighten a windblown leaf? Would You chase after dry chaff?
Uzahluphana lehlamvu eliphetshulwa ngumoya na? Uzaxotshana lomule owomileyo na?
26 For You record bitter accusations against me and bequeath to me the iniquities of my youth.
Ngoba ubhala izinto ezibuhlungu ngami ungenze ngivune izono zobutsha bami.
27 You put my feet in the stocks and stand watch over all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
Ukhina inyawo zami ngezibopho; ulandelela zonke izindlela zami ngokudweba uphawu ezinyathelweni zezinyawo zami.
28 So man wastes away like something rotten, like a moth-eaten garment.
Yikho-ke umuntu ecikizeka njengento ebolileyo, njengesigqoko esidliwe yinondo.”
