Job 4
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 If one venture a word unto thee, wilt thou be weary? But who can withhold himself 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 falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou art weary; it toucheth thee, and thou art affrighted.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy confidence, and thy hope the integrity of thy ways?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 According as I have seen, they that plow 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 anger are they consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The lion roareth, and the fierce lion howleth — yet 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 abroad.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 Now a word was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a whisper thereof.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, and all my bones were made to shake.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, that made the hair of my flesh to stand up.
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern the appearance thereof; a form was before mine eyes; I heard a still voice:
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 'Shall mortal man be just before God? Shall a man be pure before his Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Behold, He putteth no trust in 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 before the moth!
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 Betwixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish for ever without any regarding it.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them? They die, and that without wisdom.'
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
