Job 4
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered Job.
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 “Could I say a word? I don't want to upset you but who could keep quiet and not respond?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 You've certainly encouraged many people and supported those who are weak.
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Your advice has helped those who are stumbling not to fall, and you have strengthened those whose knees are weak.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now you're the one suffering and you're upset.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Wasn't it your reverence for God that gave you confidence and your integrity that gave you hope?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Think about it: since when did the innocent die? Since when were good people destroyed?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 From what I've seen it's those who plant evil and sow trouble who reap the same!
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 A breath from God destroys them; a blast of his anger wipes them out.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 Lions may roar and growl, but their teeth still break.
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 Even a lion dies from lack of food, and the lioness' cubs are scattered.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 A word quietly crept up on me; a whisper reached my ear.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 Troubling thoughts came to me in nightmares when you fall into a deep sleep.
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 I became terrified and trembled; all my bones were shaking.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 Then a breath brushed my face and gave me goose-pimples.
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 Something stopped, but I couldn't see its face. My eyes could only make out a shape. It was totally quiet, and then I heard a voice:
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 ‘Can anyone be right before God? Can anyone be pure before their Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 If he doesn't even trust his servants, and he says his angels make mistakes,
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 how much more does this apply to those who live in these houses made of clay, whose foundations are based on dust, who fall apart like clothing to a moth?
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 Alive in the morning, they are dead by evening. They die, unnoticed.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 They are like tent ropes that are pulled up, and they collapse in death. They die without wisdom.’
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
