Job 29
1 And Job continued and said in his parable,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Oh that I were as in months past, wherein God preserved me!
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 As when his lamp shone over my head; when by his light I walked through darkness.
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 [As] when I steadfastly pursued my ways, when God took care of my house.
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 When I was very fruitful, and my children were about me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 when my ways were moistened with butter, and the mountains flowed for me with milk.
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went forth early in the city, and the seat was placed for me in the streets.
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and all the old men stood up.
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 And the great men ceased speaking, and laid their finger on their mouth.
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 And they that heard [me] blessed me, and their tongue clave to their throat.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 For I saved the poor out of the hand of the oppressor, and helped the fatherless who had no helper.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yes, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 Also I put on righteousness, and clothed myself with judgment like a mantle.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I was the father of the helpless; and I searched out the cause which I knew not.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I broke the jaw teeth of the unrighteous; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 And I said, My age shall continue as the stem of a palm tree; I shall live a long while.
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 [My] root was spread out by the water, and the dew would lodge on my crop.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and by bow prospered in his hand.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 [Men] heard me, and gave heed, and they were silent at my counsel.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 At my word they spoke not again, and they were very gland whenever I spoke to them.
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 As the thirsty earth expecting the rain, so they [waited for] my speech.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 Were I to laugh on them, they would not believe [it]; and the light of my face has not failed.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and lived as a king in the midst of warriors, as one comforting mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
