Job 21
1 Then answered Job, and said,
UJobe wasephendula wathi:
2 Hear, O hear my speech, and let this be wherewith you give consolations.
“Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
3 Bear with me that I may indeed speak: and after my speaking, then canst thou mock.
Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
4 As for me, —is against man my complaint? and if this be so, why should my spirit not be impatient?
Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
5 Turn yourselves unto me, and be astounded, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
6 Yea, when I think of it, I am terrified, and shuddering seizeth hold of my flesh.
Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, grow strong in power?
Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
8 Their seed is firmly established in their presence with them. their offspring are before their eyes.
Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
9 Their houses are at peace without any dread, and no rod of God [cometh] over them.
Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
10 The bull of each one gendereth, and disappointeth not: the cow of each one calveth, and casteth not her young.
Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children skip about [with joy].
Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
13 They wear out their days in happiness, and in a moment they go down to the nether world. (Sheol h7585)
Yonke iminyaka yabo ngeyokuphumelela baze bayongena egodini belokuthula. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us; and the knowledge of thy ways we desire not.
Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit shall we have, if we entreat him urgently?”
Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
16 Lo, not in their hand doth their happiness rest! The counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
17 How often is the lamp of the wicked quenched? and how often cometh over them their calamity? and doth [God] distribute their lot in his anger?
Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
18 Are they as straw before the wind, and as chaff which the stealeth away?
Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
19 Should God lay up for his children his wrong-doing? it were better that he reward him, that he might know it himself.
Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
20 His own eyes ought to see his downfall, and from the wrath of the Almighty ought he to drink.
Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
21 For what care hath he for his household after him, when the number of his months is all apportioned to him?
Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
22 Is this fitting God, who teacheth knowledge? him who judgeth those that are highest?
Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
23 That this one dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
24 His vessels being full of healthy fluid, and the marrow of his bones being well moistened:
umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
25 While this other dieth with an embittered soul, and hath never partaken of any happiness;
Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
26 [And yet] together they must lie down in the dust, and the worms will cover them?
Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the opinions which ye wrongfully devise against me.
Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
28 For ye say, Where is the house of the noble-minded? and where is the tent of the dwelling-places of the wicked?
Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
29 Have ye not asked the wayfarers? surely their token ye cannot disregard,
Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
30 That the bad man is reserved for the day of calamity, [that the wicked] are carried forward to the day of wrath.
ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
31 [But] who will tell him to his face of his way? and who will repay him what he hath done?
Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
32 Yea he will indeed be carried to the grave, and men will quickly think of his monument:
Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
33 Sweet are to him the clods of the valley; and after him succeedeth every man, as those that were before him are without number.
Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
34 How then will ye comfort me with vanity? and of your answers there remaineth only deception.
Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
