Job 24
1 The times are not hidden from the Almighty; even those who know him, do not know his days.
“Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
2 Some have crossed the boundaries, plundered the flocks, and given them pasture.
Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
3 They have driven away the donkey of orphans, and have taken the cow from the widow as collateral.
Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4 They have undermined the way of the poor, and have pressed together the meek of the earth.
Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
5 Others, like wild asses in the desert, go forth to their work; by watching for prey, they obtain bread for their children.
Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
6 They reap a field that is not their own, and they harvest a vineyard that they have taken by force.
Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
7 They send men away naked, having taken the clothing of those who have no covering in the cold;
Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
8 these are wet with the mountain rain, and, having no covering, they embrace the rocks.
Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
9 They have used violence to deprive orphans, and they have robbed the poor common people.
Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
10 From the naked and those who do not have enough clothing, and from the hungry, they have taken away sheaves of grain.
Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
11 They take their midday rest among the stockpiles of those who, though they have trodden the winepresses, suffer thirst.
Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
12 In the cities, they caused the men to groan and the spirit of the wounded to cry out, and so God does not allow this to go unpunished.
Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.
13 They have been rebellious against the light; they have not known his ways, nor have they returned by his paths.
Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya loba ukuhlala kuzo.
14 The killer of men rises at first light; he executes the destitute and the poor, but, in truth, he is like a thief in the night.
Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
15 The eye of the adulterer waits for darkness, saying, “No eye will see me,” and he covers his face.
Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa; sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’ sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.
16 He passes through houses in the nighttime, just as they had agreed among themselves in the daytime; and they are ignorant of the light.
Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.
17 If sunrise should suddenly appear, it is treated by them like the shadow of death; and they walk in darkness, as if in light.
Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.
18 He is nimble on the surface of water. His place on land is to be accursed. May he not walk by way of the vineyards.
Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
19 May he cross from the snowy waters to excessive heat, and his sin, all the way to hell. (Sheol h7585)
Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono. (Sheol h7585)
20 Let mercy forget him. His charm is worms. Let him not be remembered, but instead be broken like an unfruitful tree.
Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa, impethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
21 For he has fed on the barren, who does not bear fruit, and he has not done good to the widow.
Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
22 He has pulled down the strong by his strength, and, when he stands up, he will not have trust in his life.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
23 God has given him a place for repentance, and he abuses it with arrogance, but his eyes are upon his ways.
Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
24 They are lifted up for a little while, but they will not continue, and they will be brought low, just like all things, and they will be taken away, and, like the tops of the ears of grain, they will be crushed.
Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.
25 But, if this is not so, who is able to prove to me that I have lied and to place my words before God?
Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”
