Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
2 “Can a man be of use to God? Can even a wise man benefit Him?
“Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
3 Does it delight the Almighty that you are righteous? Does He profit if your ways are blameless?
Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
4 Is it for your reverence that He rebukes you and enters into judgment against you?
Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
5 Is not your wickedness great? Are not your iniquities endless?
Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
6 For you needlessly demanded security from your brothers and deprived the naked of their clothing.
Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
7 You gave no water to the weary and withheld food from the famished,
Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
8 while the land belonged to a mighty man, and a man of honor lived on it.
lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
9 You sent widows away empty-handed, and the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
10 Therefore snares surround you, and sudden peril terrifies you;
Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
11 it is so dark you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
12 Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
13 Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness?
Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
14 Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’
Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
15 Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod?
Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
16 They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.
Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us. What can the Almighty do to us?’
Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
18 But it was He who filled their houses with good things; so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.
Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent mock them:
Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
20 ‘Surely our foes are destroyed, and fire has consumed their excess.’
‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
22 Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents
Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
24 and consign your gold to the dust and the gold of Ophir to the stones of the ravines,
lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and the finest silver for you.
lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
26 Surely then you will delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
27 You will pray to Him, and He will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows.
Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
28 Your decisions will be carried out, and light will shine on your ways.
Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
29 When men are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then He will save the lowly.
Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, rescuing him through the cleanness of your hands.”
Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
