Job 29
1 And Job again took up his parable, and said:
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When His lamp shined above my head, and by His light I walked through darkness;
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the converse of God was upon my tent;
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were about me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil!
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went forth to the gate unto the city, when I prepared my seat in the broad place,
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves, and the aged rose up and stood;
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth;
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye saw me, it gave witness unto me;
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless also, that had none to help him.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed itself with me; my justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I was a father to the needy; and the cause of him that I knew not I searched out.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then I said: 'I shall die with my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the phoenix;
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root shall be spread out to the waters, and the dew shall lie all night upon my branch;
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory shall be fresh in me, and my bow shall be renewed in my hand.'
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
