Job 4
1 Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
2 If we essay to address a word to thee, wilt thou be wearied? yet who is able to refrain from speaking?
Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
3 Behold, thou hast [ere this] corrected many, and weak hands thou wast wont to strengthen.
Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Him that stumbled thy words used to uphold, and to sinking knees thou gavest vigor.
Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
5 Yet now, when it cometh to thee, thou art wearied: it toucheth even thee, and thou art terrified.
Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
6 Is not then thy fear of God still thy confidence, thy hope equal to the integrity of thy ways?
Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous destroyed?
Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
8 Even as I have seen, that those who plough wrong-doing, and sow trouble, have to reap the same.
Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
9 Before the breathing of God they perish, and before the breath of his nostrils they come to their end.
Ngokuphephetha kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha, langokuphefumula kwamakhala akhe bayaphela.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
Ukubhonga kwesilwane, lelizwi lesilwane esesabekayo, lamazinyo amabhongo esilwane, kwephukile.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness have to scatter themselves abroad.
Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
12 But to me a word came by stealth, and my ear took in a scarcely perceptible whisper thereof.
Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
13 In intense thoughts out of visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men:
Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
14 Dread came over me, with trembling, and it caused all my bones to shudder.
ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
15 Then flitted a spirit past before my face; the hair of my body stood up:
Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
16 It stood still, but I could not recognize its form; a figure was before my eyes, a slight whisper, then a [louder] voice I heard, saying,
Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
17 Can a mortal be more righteous than God? or can a man be more pure than his Maker?
Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
18 Behold, in his servants he putteth no trust, and his angels he chargeth with folly:
Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
19 How much less in those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed till they come to be eaten by the moth?
Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
20 From morning to evening are they broken to pieces: without laying it [to heart] they perish for ever.
Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
21 Behold, their excellency which is in them is torn away: they die, and this without wisdom.
Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
