Job 21
1 But Job answered and said,
UJobe wasephendula wathi:
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
“Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
4 As for me, [is] my complaint to man? and if [it were so], why should not my spirit be troubled?
Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay [your] hand upon [your] mouth.
Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
9 Their houses [are] safe from fear, neither [is] the rod of God upon them.
Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
Yonke iminyaka yabo ngeyokuphumelela baze bayongena egodini belokuthula. (Sheol h7585)
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
15 What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
16 Lo, their good [is] not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and [how oft] cometh their destruction upon them! [God] distributeth sorrows in his anger.
Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away.
Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it].
Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
21 For what pleasure [hath] he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
22 Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.
Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure.
Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices [which] ye wrongfully imagine against me.
Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
28 For ye say, Where [is] the house of the prince? and where [are] the dwelling places of the wicked?
Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens,
Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him [what] he hath done?
Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as [there are] innumerable before him.
Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
