Job 23
1 And Job answered and said,
Waphendula uJobe wathi:
2 Even to-day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
“Lalamuhla ukusola kwami kulokhu kubuhlungu kabi, isandla sakhe siyasinda loba ngibubula kangaka.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to his seat!
Ngabe ngiyakwazi lapho engingamfumana khona; aluba nje bengingaya emzini wakhe!
4 I would order the cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments;
Bengizayibeka kuhle indaba yami phambi kwakhe ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngamazwi empikiswano.
5 I would know the words he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
Bengizakuzwa ukuthi yena uphendula athini, ngikuhlolisise lokho akutshoyo.
6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? Nay; but he would give heed unto me.
Kambe angangiphikisa ngamandla na? Hatshi, angazake angethese cala.
7 There would an upright man reason with him; and I should be delivered for ever from my judge.
Lapho umuntu oqotho ubengendlala indaba yakhe phambi kwakhe, njalo bengizakhululwa lanini kumahluleli wami.
8 Lo, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I do not perceive him;
Kodwa nxa ngisiya empumalanga, yena kakho khona; nxa ngisiya entshonalanga, kangimfumani khona.
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I behold [him] not; he hideth himself on the right hand, and I see [him] not.
Nxa esemsebenzini enyakatho, kangimboni; angaphendukela eningizimu, kangiboni lokuthi tshazi kwakhe.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take; he trieth me, I shall come forth as gold.
Kodwa uyayazi indlela engihamba ngayo; nxa esengilingile, ngizaphuma senginjengegolide.
11 My foot hath held to his steps; his way have I kept, and not turned aside.
Inyawo zami bezilokhu zilandelana lezinyathelo zakhe; ngalela endleleni yakhe angaze ngaphambuka.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have laid up the words of his mouth more than the purpose of my own heart.
Angigudlukanga emilayweni yezindebe zakhe; ngiwenze igugu amazwi omlomo wakhe ukwedlula isinkwa sami sansukuzonke.
13 But he is in one [mind], and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.
Kodwa uzimele yedwa, ngubani ongaphikisana laye na? Uyenza loba yini ayifunayo.
14 For he will perform [what] is appointed for me; and many such things are with him.
Uyagcwalisa isimiso sakhe ngami, njalo manengi amacebo anjalo awagcinileyo.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence; I consider, and I am afraid of him.
Yikho-nje ngithuthumela ukuma phambi kwakhe; ngithi ngingakukhumbula konke lokhu ngimesabe.
16 For God hath made my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me;
UNkulunkulu usenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla; uSomandla usengethusile.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he hidden the gloom from me.
Kodwa kawuyikungithulisa umnyama lo, umnyama lo onzima ovala ubuso bami.”
