Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
UJobe waqhubeka ngenkulumo yakhe wathi:
2 If only I might again be as I was in the months which are past, in the days when God was watching over me!
“Ngiyaziloyisa lezozinyanga esezadlulayo, lezinsuku uNkulunkulu esangilinda,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
lapho isibane sakhe sisakhanyisa phezu kwekhanda lami ngihamba ngokukhanya kwakhe emnyameni!
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
Oh, lezinsuku ngisazizwa ukuthi ngiyimi, lapho ubudlelwano obukhulu loNkulunkulu busesendlini yami,
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
lapho uSomandla eseselami labantwabami besaphila lami,
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
lapho indlela yami ifafazwe ngolaza ledwala lingithululela impophoma zamafutha e-oliva.
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Ekuyeni kwami emasangweni edolobho ngafika ngahlala enkundleni,
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
amajaha angibona agudluka ema eceleni, abadala baphakama bema ngezinyawo;
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
amadoda ayizikhulu athula akaze akhuluma avala imilomo yawo ngezandla zawo;
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
amazwi ezikhulu ehliselwa phansi, inlimi zazo zanamathela olwangeni lwazo.
11 For when it came to their ears, men said that I was truly happy; and when their eyes saw, they gave witness to me;
Loba ngubani owangizwayo wakhuluma kuhle ngami, kwathi labo abangibonayo bangibuka,
12 For I was a saviour to the poor when he was crying for help, to the child with no father, and to him who had no supporter.
ngoba ngalamulela abayanga abacela uncedo, lezintandane ezazingelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him who was near to destruction came on me, and I put a song of joy into the widow's heart.
Indoda eyayisifa yangibusisa; ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi yahlabelela.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Ngavunula ukulunga njengezigqoko zami; ukwahlulela ngokulunga kwaba yisembatho sami lengwane yami.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
Ngangingamehlo kwabayiziphofu lezinyawo kwabaqhulayo.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
Nganginguyise kwabaswelayo; ngayimela indaba yesihambi.
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Ngawephula amazinyo ababi ngahluthuna labo ababebabambile ngamazinyo abo.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Ngakhumbula ngathi, ‘Ngizafela endlini yami, insuku zami zinengi njengezinhlamvu zetshebetshebe.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Impande zami zizafinyelela emanzini, amazolo azalala emagatsheni ubusuku bonke.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Udumo lwami luzahlala lulutsha kimi, idandili lami lilitsha esandleni sami.’
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
Abantu babengilalela belethemba, belindele ukwelulekwa bethule zwi.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Nxa sekukhulume mina, kungakhulumi omunye njalo; amazwi ami ayengena kamnandi ezindlebeni zabo.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Babengilindela njengokulindela izulu, bawanathe amazwi ami njengezulu lentwasa.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Ngangisithi ngingababobothekela, bathabe bangakholwa; ukukhanya kobuso bami kwakuligugu kubo.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
Yimi engangibakhethela ukuthi benzeni ngoba ngisanduna kubo; ngangihlala njengenkosi phakathi kwamabutho ayo; ngangifana lomduduzi wabalilayo.”
