Job 21
1 And Job answered and said,
UJobe wasephendula wathi:
2 Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
“Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
3 Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
4 As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
6 Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
8 Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
12 They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
Yonke iminyaka yabo ngeyokuphumelela baze bayongena egodini belokuthula. (Sheol h7585)
14 And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
15 What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
16 Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
18 Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
19 God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
21 For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
22 Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
24 His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
25 And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
26 Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
27 Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
30 That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
32 Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
