Job 4
1 And Eliphaz the Temanite answers and says:
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 “Has one tried a word with you? You are weary! And who is able to keep in words?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, And feeble hands you make strong.
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Your words raise up the stumbling one, And you strengthen bowing knees.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now, it comes to you, And you are weary; It strikes to you, and you are troubled.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 Is your reverence not your confidence? Your hope—the perfection of your ways?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Now remember, Who, being innocent, has perished? And where have the upright been cut off?
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 As I have seen—plowers of iniquity, And sowers of misery, reap it!
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 From the breath of God they perish, And from the spirit of His anger [are] consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The roaring of a lion, And the voice of a fierce lion, And teeth of young lions have been broken.
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 An old lion is perishing without prey, And the whelps of the lioness separate.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 And a thing is secretly brought to me, And my ear receives a little of it.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 In thoughts from visions of the night, In the falling of deep sleep on men,
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 Fear has met me, and trembling, And the multitude of my bones caused to fear.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 And a spirit passes before my face, The hair of my flesh stands up;
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stands, and I do not discern its aspect, A likeness [is] before my eyes, Silence! And I hear a voice:
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 Is mortal man more righteous than God? Is a man cleaner than his Maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Behold, He puts no credence in His servants, Nor sets praise in His messengers.
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 Also—the inhabitants of houses of clay (Whose foundation [is] in the dust, They bruise them before a moth).
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 From morning to evening are beaten down, Without any regarding, they perish forever.
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 Has their excellence not been removed with them? They die, and not in wisdom!”
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
