Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
2 If a word were essayed to thee, wouldest thou be grieved? But who can refrain from speaking?
Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands;
Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Thy words have upholden him that was stumbling, and thou hast braced up the bending knees:
Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou grievest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
6 Hath not thy piety been thy confidence, and the perfection of thy ways thy hope?
Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who that was innocent has perished? and where were the upright cut off?
Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plough iniquity and sow mischief, reap the same.
Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his nostrils are they consumed.
Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
10 The roar of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken;
Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
12 Now to me a word was secretly brought, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men: —
Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
14 Fear came on me, and trembling, and made all my bones to shake;
ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
15 And a spirit passed before my face — the hair of my flesh stood up —
Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
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:
Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
17 Shall [mortal] man be more just than God? Shall a man be purer than his Maker?
Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
18 Lo, he trusteth not his servants, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
19 How much more them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed as the moth!
Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
20 From morning to evening are they smitten: without any heeding it, they perish for ever.
Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
21 Is not their tent-cord torn away in them? they die, and without wisdom.
Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
