Job 29
1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When his candle shined on my head, and when 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 secret of God was on my tabernacle;
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
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 nobles held their peace, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came on 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 me: my judgment 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 poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night on my branch.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 To me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped on 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 chief, and dwelled as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
