Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 Yea, I know that pleading is out of my reach; and his hand has been made heavy upon my groaning.
Lalamuhla isikhalazo sami silokubaba; isandla sami sinzima phezu kokububula kwami.
3 Who would then know that I might find him, and come to an end [of the matter]?
Kungathi ngabe ngiyazi lapho engingamthola khona! Bengingeza enkundleni yakhe!
4 And I would plead my own cause, and he would fill my mouth with arguments.
Ngibeke kuhle udaba lwami phambi kwakhe, ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngokuphikisa.
5 And I would know the remedies which he would speak to me, and I would perceive what he would tell me.
Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.
6 Though he should come on me in [his] great strength, then he would not threaten me;
Uzaphikisana lami ngobukhulu bamandla yini? Hatshi, kodwa uzabeka inhliziyo yakhe kimi.
7 for truth and reproof are from him; and he would bring forth my judgment to an end.
Lapho oqotho angaphikisana laye; ngakho bengizaphepha phakade kumahluleli wami.
8 For if I shall go first, and exist no longer, still what do I know [concerning] the latter end?
Khangelani ngiya phambili, kodwa kakho, lemuva, kodwa kangimboni.
9 When he wrought on the left hand, then I observed [it] not: his right hand shall encompass me but I shall not see [it].
Ngakwesokhohlo ekusebenzeni kwakhe, kodwa kangimboni; uyacatsha ngakwesokunene, kodwa kangimboni.
10 For he knows already my way; and he has tried me as gold.
Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.
11 And I will go forth according to his commandments, for I have kept his ways; and I shall not turn aside from his commandments,
Unyawo lwami lubambelele enyathelweni lakhe, ngiyigcinile indlela yakhe, kangiphambukanga.
12 neither shall I transgress; but I have hid his words in my bosom.
Kangisukanga lemlayweni wezindebe zakhe, ngawalondoloza amazwi omlomo wakhe okwedlula isabelo sami.
13 And if too he has thus judged, who is he that has contradicted, for he has both willed [a thing] and done it.
Kodwa yena ukokukodwa, ngubani-ke ongambuyisela emuva? Lokho umphefumulo wakhe okufisayo uyakwenza.
Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.
15 Therefore am I troubled at him; and when I was reproved, I thought of him. Therefore let me take good heed before him: I will consider, and be afraid of him.
Ngenxa yalokho ngitshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe; ngicabanga, ngiyamesaba.
16 But the Lord has softened my heart, and the Almighty has troubled me.
Ngoba uNkulunkulu wenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla, loSomandla ungethusile.
17 For I knew not that darkness would come upon me, and thick darkness has covered [me] before my face.
Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.
