Job 22
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite made answer and said,
Wasephendula uElifazi umThemani wathi:
2 Is it possible for a man to be of profit to God? No, for a man's wisdom is only of profit to himself.
Umuntu angaba losizo kuNkulunkulu yini, ngoba ohlakaniphileyo elusizo kuye ngokwakhe?
3 Is it of any interest to the Ruler of all that you are upright? or is it of use to him that your ways are without sin?
Kuyintokozo yini kuSomandla ukuthi ulungile? Kumbe inzuzo kuye ukuthi uphelelise indlela zakho?
4 Is it because you give him honour that he is sending punishment on you and is judging you?
Uzakusola yini ngenxa yokwesaba kwakho? Uzangena lawe kusahlulelo.
5 Is not your evil-doing great? and there is no end to your sins.
Ububi bakho kabubukhulu yini, lezono zakho kazilakuphela?
6 For you have taken your brother's goods when he was not in your debt, and have taken away the clothing of those who have need of it.
Ngoba uthethe isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho, wahlubula abanqunu izigqoko.
7 You do not give water to the tired traveller, and from him who has no food you keep back bread.
Kawumnathisanga amanzi odiniweyo, lolambileyo umgodlele ukudla.
8 For it was the man with power who had the land, and the man with an honoured name who was living in it.
Kodwa umuntu olengalo, umhlaba ungowakhe, lowemukeleka ebusweni wahlala kuwo.
9 You have sent widows away without hearing their cause, and you have taken away the support of the child who has no father.
Uxotshile abafelokazi bengelalutho, lengalo zezintandane zichotshoziwe.
10 For this cause nets are round your feet, and you are overcome with sudden fear.
Ngakho-ke imijibila ikuhanqile, lovalo luhle lwakwesabisa,
11 Your light is made dark so that you are unable to see, and you are covered by a mass of waters.
kumbe ubumnyama ukuze ungaboni, lesikhukhula samanzi sikusibekele.
12 Is not God as high as heaven? and see the stars, how high they are!
UNkulunkulu kakho yini engqongeni yamazulu? Bona-ke ingqonga yezinkanyezi, ukuthi ziphakeme kangakanani.
13 And you say, What knowledge has God? is he able to give decisions through the deep dark?
Kanti uthi: UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela yini engemuva komnyama onzima?
14 Thick clouds are covering him, so that he is unable to see; and he is walking on the arch of heaven.
Amayezi amnyama ayisisibekelo sakhe ukuze angaboni, uhamba esigombolozini samazulu.
15 Will you keep the old way by which evil men went?
Usunanzelele indlela endala yini abantu ababi abanyathela kuyo?
16 Who were violently taken away before their time, who were overcome by the rush of waters:
Abahluthunwa kungakabi yisikhathi; uzamcolo wathululwa phezu kwesisekelo sabo.
17 Who said to God, Go away from us; and, What is the Ruler of all able to do to us?
Abathi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi. LoSomandla wayenzeni kubo?
18 Though he made their houses full of good things: but the purpose of the evil-doers is far from me!
Kanti yena wayegcwalise izindlu zabo ngokuhle; kodwa icebo labakhohlakeleyo likhatshana lami.
19 The upright saw it and were glad: and those who had done no wrong made sport of them,
Abalungileyo bayakubona bathokoze, lomsulwa ubahleka usulu.
20 Saying, Truly, their substance is cut off, and their wealth is food for the fire.
Isibili isitha sethu sichithiwe, lomlilo uqede insali yabo.
21 Put yourself now in a right relation with him and be at peace: so will you do well in your undertakings.
Ake wejwayelane laye, ube lokuthula, ngalokho okuhle kuzakuza kuwe.
22 Be pleased to take teaching from his mouth, and let his words be stored up in your heart.
Ake wemukele umlayo ovela emlonyeni wakhe, ubeke amazwi akhe enhliziyweni yakho.
23 If you come back to the Ruler of all, making yourself low before him; if you put evil far away from your tents;
Uba ubuyela kuSomandla, uzakwakhiwa, ususe okubi khatshana lamathente akho.
24 And put your gold in the dust, even your gold of Ophir among the rocks of the valleys;
Ubusubeka igolide lakho othulini, legolide leOfiri elitsheni lezifula.
25 Then the Ruler of all will be your gold, and his teaching will be your silver;
Ngakho uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva sakho esinengi.
26 For then you will have delight in the Ruler of all, and your face will be lifted up to God.
Ngoba ngalesosikhathi uzazithokozisa ngoSomandla, uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and be answered; and you will give effect to your oaths.
Uzakhuleka kuye, akuzwe, ukhokhe izifungo zakho.
28 Your purposes will come about, and light will be shining on your ways.
Uzaquma-ke udaba, luqiniseke kuwe, lokukhanya kukhanye endleleni zakho.
29 For God makes low those whose hearts are lifted up, but he is a saviour to the poor in spirit.
Nxa behliselwe phansi, ubususithi: Phezulu! Abesesindisa othobekileyo ngamehlo.
30 He makes safe the man who is free from sin, and if your hands are clean, salvation will be yours.
Uzamkhulula ongemsulwa; njalo ukhululwa ngokuhlanzeka kwezandla zakho.
