Job 24
1 But why have the seasons been hidden from the Lord,
“Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
2 while the ungodly have passed over the bound, carrying off the flock with the shepherd?
Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
3 They have led away, the ass of the fatherless, and taken the widow's ox for a pledge.
Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4 They have turned aside the weak from the right way: and the meek of the earth have hidden themselves together.
Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
5 And they have departed like asses in the field, having gone forth on my account according to their own order: his bread is sweet to [his] little ones.
Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
6 They have reaped a field that was not their own before the time: the poor have laboured in the vineyards of the ungodly without pay and without food.
Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
7 They have caused many naked to sleep without clothes, and they have taken away the covering of their body.
Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
8 They are wet with the drops of the mountains: they have embraced the rock, because they had no shelter.
Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
9 They have snatched the fatherless from the breast, and have afflicted the outcast.
Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
10 And they have wrongfully caused [others] to sleep without clothing, and taken away the morsel of the hungry.
Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
11 They have unrighteously laid wait in narrow places, and have not known the righteous way.
Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
12 Who have cast forth [the] poor from the city and their own houses, and the soul of the children has groaned aloud.
Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.
13 Why then has he not visited these? forasmuch as they were upon the earth, and took no notice, and they knew not the way of righteousness, neither have they walked in their [appointed] paths?
Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya loba ukuhlala kuzo.
14 But having known their works, he delivered them into darkness: and in the night one will be as a thief:
Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
15 and the eye of the adulterer has watched [for] the darkness, saying, Eye shall not perceive me, and he puts a covering on his face.
Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa; sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’ sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.
16 In darkness he digs through houses: by day they conceal themselves securely: they know not the light.
Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.
17 For the morning is to them all [as] the shadow of death, for [each] will be conscious of the terror of the shadow of death.
Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.
18 He is swift on the face of the water: let his portion be cursed on the earth; and let their plants be laid bare.
Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
19 [Let them be] withered upon the earth; for they have plundered the sheaves of the fatherless. (Sheol h7585)
Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono. (Sheol h7585)
20 Then is his sin brought to remembrance, and he vanishes like a vapor of dew: but let what he has done be recompensed to him, and let every unrighteous one be crushed like rotten wood.
Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa, impethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
21 For he has not treated the barren woman well, and has had no pity on a feeble woman.
Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
22 And in wrath he has overthrown the helpless: therefore when he has arisen, [a man] will not feel secure of his own life.
Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
23 When he has fallen sick, let him not hope to recover: but let him perish by disease.
Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
24 For his exaltation has hurt many; but he has withered as mallows in the heat, or as an ear of corn falling off of itself from the stalk.
Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.
25 But if not, who is he that says I speak falsely, and will make my words of no account?
Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”
