Job 34
1 Then Elihu continued:
Wasephendula uElihu wathi:
2 “Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
Zwanini amazwi ami, zihlakaniphi, lani zazi, libeke indlebe kimi.
3 For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
Ngoba indlebe ihlola amazwi, njengolwanga lunambitha ukudla.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
Asizikhetheleni isahlulelo; sazi phakathi kwethu okuhle.
5 For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
Ngoba uJobe uthe: Ngilungile, kodwa uNkulunkulu ususe isahlulelo sami;
6 Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
ngiqamba amanga ngimelene lelungelo lami; umtshoko wami kawelapheki, ngaphandle kwesiphambeko.
7 What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
Nguwuphi umuntu onjengoJobe? Unatha ukuklolodelwa njengamanzi,
8 He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
ahambahambe exukwini labenzi bobubi, ahambe labantu benkohlakalo.
9 For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
Ngoba uthe: Kakumsizi umuntu nxa ethokoza ngoNkulunkulu.
10 Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
Ngakho, bantu bengqondo, ngilalelani: Kakube khatshana loNkulunkulu ukwenza inkohlakalo, loSomandla ukwenza isiphambeko.
11 For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
Ngoba umsebenzi womuntu uzawubuyisela kuye, amenze athole njengendlela yalowo lalowo.
12 Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
Yebo, isibili uNkulunkulu kenzi okubi, njalo uSomandla kagobisi isehlulelo.
13 Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
Ngubani owambeka phezu komhlaba? Kumbe ngubani owamisa umhlaba wonke?
14 If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
Uba ebeka inhliziyo yakhe phezu kwakhe, uzabuthela umoya wakhe lomphefumulo wakhe kuye.
15 all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
Inyama yonke ibizaphela kanyekanye, lomuntu abuyele ethulini.
16 If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
Uba kulokuqedisisa-ke, zwana lokhu, ubeke indlebe elizwini lamazwi ami.
17 Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
Kambe, ozonda isehlulelo ubengabusa yini? Kambe uzamlahla yini olungileyo kakhulu?
18 who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
Angatsho yini enkosini: Mkhohlisi; kuziphathamandla: Lina abangelaNkulunkulu?
19 who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
Kuye ongemukeli ubuso beziphathamandla, engananzi isinothi phambi komyanga? Ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe.
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
Bayafa ngesikhatshana; laphakathi kobusuku abantu bayaqhuqhiswa, bedlule; kuzasuswa olamandla kungelasandla.
21 For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
Ngoba amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zomuntu, uyabona zonke izinyathelo zakhe.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
Kakulamnyama njalo kakulathunzi lokufa lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
23 For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
Ngoba kabi lokhu enaka umuntu, ukuthi aye kuNkulunkulu esahlulelweni.
24 He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
Uyaphahlaza abalamandla kungahlolwanga, amise abanye endaweni zabo.
25 Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
Ngakho uyayazi imisebenzi yabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku, bachotshozwe.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
Uyabatshaya njengababi endaweni yababukelayo.
27 because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
Ngenxa yokuthi bephambukile ekumlandeleni, bengananzanga leyodwa yezindlela zakhe,
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
baze benza ukukhala komyanga kufike kuye, njalo wakuzwa ukukhala kwabahluphekayo.
29 But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
Lapho yena ethulisa, ngubani-ke ongaziphatha ngenkohliso? Lapho efihla ubuso, ngubani-ke ongambona? Loba esizweni loba emuntwini eyedwa.
30 that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
Ukuze abantu abangabazenzisi bangabusi, ukuze bangabi yimijibila ebantwini.
31 Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
Isibili uthe kuNkulunkulu: Ngithwele isijeziso, kangiyikona.
32 Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
Lokhu engingakuboniyo ngifundise wena; uba ngenze okubi kangisayikukwenza futhi.
33 Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
Uzaphindisela yini njengokuthanda kwakho, loba uyala, loba wena ukhetha, njalo kungesimi? Wazini-ke? Khuluma.
34 Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
Abantu abalokuqedisisa bazakhuluma kimi, lomuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzangizwa.
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
UJobe ukhulume engelalwazi, lamazwi akhe kawalanhlakanipho.
36 If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
Kungathi ngabe uJobe uyahlolwa kuze kube sekupheleni, ngenxa yempendulo zakhe njengabantu ababi.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
Ngoba esonweni sakhe wengezelela ububi, etshaya izandla phakathi kwethu, esandisa amazwi akhe emelene loNkulunkulu.
