< Job 23 >
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning.
“Lalamuhla ukusola kwami kulokhu kubuhlungu kabi, isandla sakhe siyasinda loba ngibubula kangaka.
3 If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.
Ngabe ngiyakwazi lapho engingamfumana khona; aluba nje bengingaya emzini wakhe!
4 I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
Bengizayibeka kuhle indaba yami phambi kwakhe ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngamazwi empikiswano.
5 I would learn how He would answer, and consider what He would say.
Bengizakuzwa ukuthi yena uphendula athini, ngikuhlolisise lokho akutshoyo.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No, He would certainly take note of me.
Kambe angangiphikisa ngamandla na? Hatshi, angazake angethese cala.
7 Then an upright man could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
Lapho umuntu oqotho ubengendlala indaba yakhe phambi kwakhe, njalo bengizakhululwa lanini kumahluleli wami.
8 If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot find Him.
Kodwa nxa ngisiya empumalanga, yena kakho khona; nxa ngisiya entshonalanga, kangimfumani khona.
9 When He is at work in the north, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the south, I cannot see Him.
Nxa esemsebenzini enyakatho, kangimboni; angaphendukela eningizimu, kangiboni lokuthi tshazi kwakhe.
10 Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
Kodwa uyayazi indlela engihamba ngayo; nxa esengilingile, ngizaphuma senginjengegolide.
11 My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept His way without turning aside.
Inyawo zami bezilokhu zilandelana lezinyathelo zakhe; ngalela endleleni yakhe angaze ngaphambuka.
12 I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.
Angigudlukanga emilayweni yezindebe zakhe; ngiwenze igugu amazwi omlomo wakhe ukwedlula isinkwa sami sansukuzonke.
13 But He is unchangeable, and who can oppose Him? He does what He desires.
Kodwa uzimele yedwa, ngubani ongaphikisana laye na? Uyenza loba yini ayifunayo.
14 For He carries out His decree against me, and He has many such plans.
Uyagcwalisa isimiso sakhe ngami, njalo manengi amacebo anjalo awagcinileyo.
15 Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I fear Him.
Yikho-nje ngithuthumela ukuma phambi kwakhe; ngithi ngingakukhumbula konke lokhu ngimesabe.
16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.
UNkulunkulu usenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla; uSomandla usengethusile.
17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.
Kodwa kawuyikungithulisa umnyama lo, umnyama lo onzima ovala ubuso bami.”