< Job 8 >
1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said:
Wasephendula uBilidadi umShuhi wathi:
2 How long wilt thou speak these things, seeing that the words of thy mouth are as a mighty wind?
Koze kube nini ukhuluma lezizinto, lamazwi omlomo wakho abe ngumoya olamandla?
3 Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice?
UNkulunkulu uyahlanekela isahlulelo yini? Kumbe uSomandla uyahlanekela ukulunga yini?
4 If thy children sinned against Him, He delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
Uba abantwana bakho bonile kuye, yena usebalahlile emandleni esiphambeko sabo;
5 If thou wouldest seek earnestly unto God, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
uba wena umdinga uNkulunkulu ngovivi, uncenge kuSomandla;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now He would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
uba uhlambulukile, uqotho; isibili khathesi ubezavuka ngenxa yakho, aphumelelise indawo yokuhlala yokulunga kwakho.
7 And though thy beginning was small, yet thy end should greatly increase.
Lanxa ukuqala kwakho bekukuncinyane, kube kanti isiphetho sakho sizakwanda kakhulu.
8 For inquire, I pray thee, of the former generation, and apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out —
Ngoba ake ubuze esizukulwaneni sakuqala, uzilungisele isidingo saboyise.
9 For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow —
Ngoba singabezolo, njalo kasazi, ngoba insuku zethu emhlabeni ziyisithunzi.
10 Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?
Kabayikukufundisa yini, bakutshele, bakhuphe amazwi enhliziyweni yabo?
11 Can the rush shoot up without mire? Can the reed-grass grow without water?
Imihlanga ingakhula lapho okungelaxhaphozi khona yini? Ibhuma likhule lapho okungelamanzi khona?
12 Whilst it is yet in its greenness, and not cut down, it withereth before any other herb.
Nxa lisebuluhlazeni balo lingakakhiwa, kube kanti libuna kuqala kwazo zonke izihlahlakazana.
13 So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hope of the godless man shall perish;
Zinjalo indlela zabo bonke abamkhohlwayo uNkulunkulu, lethemba lomzenzisi lizabhubha.
14 Whose confidence is gossamer, and whose trust is a spider's web.
Othemba lakhe lizaqunywa, lokuthemba kwakhe kuyibulembu besayobe.
15 He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold fast thereby, but it shall not endure.
Uyeyama endlini yakhe, kodwa kayimi; ubambelela kiyo, kodwa kayihlali.
16 He is green before the sun, and his shoots go forth over his garden.
Uluhlaza phambi kwelanga, lamahlumela akhe aphuma esivandeni sakhe.
17 His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones.
Impande zakhe zithandele enqunjini; ubona indawo yamatshe.
18 If he be destroyed from his place, then it shall deny him: 'I have not seen thee.'
Uba emchitha endaweni yakhe, izamphika ithi: Kangizange ngikubone.
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the earth shall others spring.
Khangela, le yintokozo yendlela yakhe; njalo kuzakhula abanye emhlabathini.
20 Behold, God will not cast away an innocent man, neither will He uphold the evil-doers;
Khangela, uNkulunkulu kayikumlahla opheleleyo, kabambi isandla sabenzi bobubi.
21 Till He fill thy mouth with laughter, and thy lips with shouting.
Aze agcwalise umlomo wakho ngohleko, lezindebe zakho ngokumemeza kwentokozo.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; and the tent of the wicked shall be no more.
Abakuzondayo bazakwembeswa ngenhloni, lethente lababi lingabi khona.