Job 29
1 And Job continued to take up his parable, and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Who will give me back months like those which are past, days like those when God guarded me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When his lamp shone over my head, when by his light I could walk in darkness;
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 As I was in the days of my abundance, when the confidence of God was upon my tent:
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my servants stood round about me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When I bathed my steps in cream, and the rock poured out near me streamlets of oil!
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went out to the gate close by the city, when in the open place I established my seat:
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves; and the aged rose up, and remained standing;
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 Princes stopped in the midst of [their] words, and laid their hand on their mouth:
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The voice of nobles was arrested, and their tongue cleaved to their palate.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 For the ear that heard me called me happy; and the eye that saw me bore witness for me;
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, yea, that had none to help him.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and the heart of the widow I caused to sing for joy.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I took righteousness as my garment, and it clothed me: as a robe and a mitre was justice unto me.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 Eyes was I to the blind; and feet to the lame was I.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 A father was I to the needy; and the cause of him I knew not I used to investigate.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I broke the cutting-teeth of the wrong-doer, and out of his teeth I cast down his prey.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 And I said then, “In the midst of my nest shall I depart hence, and like the sand shall I have many days.
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root will stand open for the water, and the dew will lodge on my boughs.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory will ever be new with me, and my bow will acquire fresh strength in my hand.”
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 Unto me men listened, and waited, and watched in silence for my counsel
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After my words they made no reply, and my speech dropped on them [like dew].
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened wide their mouth as for the latter rain.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 I smiled on those that had lost their confidence; and the light of my countenance they never cast down.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose their way for them, and I sat as chief, and dwelt as king in his army, as one that comforteth mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
