Job 34
1 And Elihu commenced, and said,
U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
2 Hear, O ye wise men, my words; and ye that have knowledge, give ear unto me.
“Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
3 For the ear proveth words, as the palate tasteth the food.
Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is just: let us acknowledge between ourselves what is good.
Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
5 For Job hath said, “I am righteous; and God hath taken away justice from me.
UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
6 Should I lie concerning the justice due me? incurable is [my wound from] the arrow I bear in me without any transgression.”
Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
7 What man is there like Job, who drinketh scorning like water,
UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
8 And is on the road to keep company with the wrong-doers, and to walk with men of wickedness?
Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
9 For he hath said, “It profiteth a man nothing when he acteth according to the pleasure of God.”
Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
10 Therefore ye men of sense hearken unto me: far is it from God to practise wickedness; and from the Almighty to do wrong!
Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
11 For the work of a son of earth doth he recompense unto him, and according to the path of man doth he permit things to occur to him.
Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
12 Yea, surely God will not condemn unjustly, nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
13 Who hath given him a charge concerning the earth? or who hath intrusted [him] the whole world?
Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
14 If he were to set his heart upon man, he would gather unto himself his spirit and his breath:
Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
15 All flesh would perish together, and the son of earth would return again unto dust.
bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
16 If then thou wishest to understand, hear this: give ear to the sound of my words.
Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
17 Is it possible that he who hateth justice should govern? or wilt thou condemn the righteous mighty One?
Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
18 [Is it fit] to say to a king, Thou art worthless? and to princes, Ye are wicked?
Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
19 Whereas he is one that showeth no favor to chieftains, and distinguisheth not the rich before the indigent; for all of them are the work of his hands.
ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
20 In a moment will they die, and in the midst of the night; people are moved, and pass away: and the mighty will be removed without a human hand.
Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
21 For big eyes are upon the ways of man, and all his steps doth he see.
Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the evil-doers can hide themselves.
Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
23 For he need not direct [his attention] a long time upon man, that he should enter into judgment before God.
UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
24 He breaketh down mighty men without [long] searching, and placeth others in their stead.
Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
25 For the reason that he knoweth their deeds: therefore he overturneth them in the night, and they are crushed.
Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
26 Among wicked men doth he strike them, in the place where [many] see them:
Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
27 Because they have departed from following him, and have not considered all his ways.
ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
28 Bringing before them the cry of the indigent, and the cry of the afflicted which he had to hear.
Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
29 When he now granteth rest, who will condemn [him]! and when he hideth his face, who can behold him? whether it be against a nation, or against one man, it is the same:
Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
30 That no hypocritical man may reign, that such shall not be a mare to the people.
ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
31 For truly it is only fitting to say unto God, “I bear [cheerfully], I will not do any wrong;
Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
32 What I cannot see myself, do thou truly teach me; if I have done what is unjust, I will do so no more.”
Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
33 Should he then according to thy view send a recompense, because thou hast rejected him? “Because thou must choose, and not I?” and what thou knowest, do speak.
Pho uNkulunkulu akuvuze ngokwentando yakho na, wena usala ukuphenduka? Kumele ukhethe wena, hatshi mina; ngakho ngitshela lokho okwaziyo.
34 Men of sense will say unto me, and every wise man who heareth me,
Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
35 That Job hath not spoken with knowledge, and that his words are without intelligence.
‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
36 Oh that Job may therefore be probed continually, in order to give answers against sinful men.
Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
37 For he addeth unto his sin transgression: among us he uttereth too many loud words, and multiplieth his speeches against God.
Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
