Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stood still; I could not discern the appearance thereof: a form was before mine eyes; I heard a slight murmur and a voice:
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
