Job 29
1 And Job again took up the word and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe 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!
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When his light was shining over my head, and when I went through the dark by his light.
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 As I was in my flowering years, when my tent was covered by the hand of God;
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 While the Ruler of all was still with me, and my children were round me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When my steps were washed with milk, and rivers of oil were flowing out of the rock for me.
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went out of my door to go up to the town, and took my seat in the public place,
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me, and went away, and the old men got up from their seats;
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 The rulers kept quiet, and put their hands on their mouths;
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The chiefs kept back their words, and their tongues were joined to the roofs of their mouths.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
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;
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
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 ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
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.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I put on righteousness as my clothing, and was full of it; right decisions were to me a robe and a head-dress.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to him who had no power of walking.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I was a father to the poor, searching out the cause of him who was strange to me.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 By me the great teeth of the evil-doer were broken, and I made him give up what he had violently taken away.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then I said, I will come to my end with my children round me, my days will be as the sand in number;
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root will be open to the waters, and the night mist will be on my branches,
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory will be ever new, and my bow will be readily bent in my hand.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 Men gave ear to me, waiting and keeping quiet for my suggestions.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After I had said what was in my mind, they were quiet and let my words go deep into their hearts;
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 They were waiting for me as for the rain, opening their mouths wide as for the spring rains.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 I was laughing at them when they had no hope, and the light of my face was never clouded by their fear.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I took my place as a chief, guiding them on their way, and I was as a king among his army. ...
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
