< Job 20 >

1 And Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,
Wasephendula uZofari umNahama wathi:
2 Therefore do my thoughts give me an answer, and for this is my haste within me.
“Imicabango yami ekhathazekileyo ingifuqa ukuthi ngiphendule ngoba sengikhubekile kakhulu.
3 I hear a reproof putting me to shame; and [my] spirit answereth me by mine understanding.
Ngizwa kulokukhuzwa okungilulazisayo njalo ukuzwisisa kwami kungifuqela ukuthi ngiphendule.
4 Knowest thou [not] this, that of old, since man was placed upon earth,
Ngempela uyakwazi ukuthi kwakuvele kunjani lendulo, kusukela ukubekwa komuntu emhlabeni,
5 The exultation of the wicked is short, and the joy of the ungodly man but for a moment?
ukuthi injabulo yomubi imfitshane, intokozo yongakholwayo ngeyomzuzwana nje.
6 Though his height mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds,
Loba ukuzigqaja kwakhe kufika emazulwini lekhanda lakhe lithinta emayezini,
7 Like his own dung doth he perish for ever; they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
uzabhubha okwaphakade, njengobulongwe bakhe; labo abake bambona bazakuthi, ‘Ungaphi kanti?’
8 He flieth away as a dream, and is not found; and is chased away as a vision of the night.
Njengephupho uyanyamalala angabe esabonwa njalo, axotshwe njengombono webusuku.
9 The eye which saw him shall [see him] not again; and his place beholdeth him no more.
Ilihlo elake lambona kalisayikumbona njalo; indawo yakhe ingeke ibe isambona.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands restore his wealth.
Abantwabakhe bazazincengela ebayangeni ngezandla zakhe abuyisele inotho yakhe.
11 His bones were full of his youthful strength; but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
Amadlabuzane obutsha alawo emathanjeni akhe azalala kanye laye othulini.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth [and] he hide it under his tongue,
Loba ububi bumnandi emlonyeni wakhe, ebufihla ngaphansi kolimi lwakhe,
13 [Though] he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it within his mouth,
loba esehluleka ukutshiyana labo abugcine emlonyeni wakhe,
14 His food is turned in his bowels; it is the gall of asps within him.
kodwa ukudla kwakhe kuzahloba esiswini sakhe; kuzaphenduka kube yibuhlungu bezinyoka ngaphakathi kwakhe.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
Uzayihlanza yonke inotho ayiginyayo; uNkulunkulu uzakwenza isisu sakhe sikuhlanze konke.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps; the viper's tongue shall kill him.
Uzamunya ubuhlungu bezinyoka; amazinyo ebululu azambulala.
17 He shall not see streams, rivers, brooks of honey and butter.
Akayikuyikholisa imifula, leyomifula egeleza uluju lolaza.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and not swallow down; its restitution shall be according to the value, and he shall not rejoice [therein].
Lokho akuginqeleyo kumele akubuyise engakudlanga; akayikuyikholisa inzuzo yokuthengiselana kwakhe.
19 For he hath oppressed, hath forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away a house that he did not build.
Ngoba ubebancindezela abayanga basala bengelalutho; wathumba izindlu angazakhanga.
20 Because he knew no rest in his craving, he shall save nought of what he most desired.
Ngempela akayikudeda kulobubuhwaba bakhe; ngeke azisindise ngenotho yakhe.
21 Nothing escaped his greediness; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Akusela lutho angabe esaludla; ukuphumelela kwakhe kakuyikuma.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wretched shall come upon him.
Phakathi kwenotho yakhe uzahlaselwa zinhlupho; ubuhlungu buzamehlela ngamandla.
23 It shall be that, to fill his belly, he will cast his fierce anger upon him, and will rain it upon him into his flesh.
Nxa esesigcwalisile isisu sakhe, uNkulunkulu uzabhodlisela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo kuye akhwele ehle ngezidutshulo phezu kwakhe.
24 If he have fled from the iron weapon, the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Lanxa angaze abalekele isikhali sensimbi umtshoko wethusi uzamciba.
25 He draweth it forth; it cometh out of his body, and the glittering point out of his gall: terrors are upon him.
Uyawuhwatsha emhlane wakhe, umcijo wawo ocazimulayo awuhwatshe esibindini. Uzangenwa yikwesaba okukhulu;
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown shall devour him; it shall feed upon what is left in his tent.
umnyama omkhulu uyilindele inotho yakhe. Umlilo ongungumayo uzamqeda utshise lokho okuseleyo ethenteni lakhe.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
Amazulu azabembula ububi bakhe; umhlaba uzamvukela.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, flowing away in the day of his anger.
Isikhukhula sizayithwala indlu yakhe, kungamanzi azimpophoma mhla wosuku lolaka lukaNkulunkulu.
29 This is the portion of the wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God.
Sinjalo isiphetho uNkulunkulu asimisele ababi, ilifa abalikhethelwe nguNkulunkulu.”

< Job 20 >