Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Waphendula uJobe wathi:
2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
“Lalamuhla ukusola kwami kulokhu kubuhlungu kabi, isandla sakhe siyasinda loba ngibubula kangaka.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
Ngabe ngiyakwazi lapho engingamfumana khona; aluba nje bengingaya emzini wakhe!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Bengizayibeka kuhle indaba yami phambi kwakhe ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngamazwi empikiswano.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
Bengizakuzwa ukuthi yena uphendula athini, ngikuhlolisise lokho akutshoyo.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
Kambe angangiphikisa ngamandla na? Hatshi, angazake angethese cala.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
Lapho umuntu oqotho ubengendlala indaba yakhe phambi kwakhe, njalo bengizakhululwa lanini kumahluleli wami.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
Kodwa nxa ngisiya empumalanga, yena kakho khona; nxa ngisiya entshonalanga, kangimfumani khona.
9 On the left hand, where he does work, but I cannot behold him: he hides himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
Nxa esemsebenzini enyakatho, kangimboni; angaphendukela eningizimu, kangiboni lokuthi tshazi kwakhe.
10 But he knows the way that I take: when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Kodwa uyayazi indlela engihamba ngayo; nxa esengilingile, ngizaphuma senginjengegolide.
11 My foot has held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Inyawo zami bezilokhu zilandelana lezinyathelo zakhe; ngalela endleleni yakhe angaze ngaphambuka.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
Angigudlukanga emilayweni yezindebe zakhe; ngiwenze igugu amazwi omlomo wakhe ukwedlula isinkwa sami sansukuzonke.
13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desires, even that he does.
Kodwa uzimele yedwa, ngubani ongaphikisana laye na? Uyenza loba yini ayifunayo.
14 For he performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.
Uyagcwalisa isimiso sakhe ngami, njalo manengi amacebo anjalo awagcinileyo.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
Yikho-nje ngithuthumela ukuma phambi kwakhe; ngithi ngingakukhumbula konke lokhu ngimesabe.
16 For God makes my heart soft, and the Almighty troubles me:
UNkulunkulu usenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla; uSomandla usengethusile.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither has he covered the darkness from my face.
Kodwa kawuyikungithulisa umnyama lo, umnyama lo onzima ovala ubuso bami.”
