Job 29
1 Job again took up his parable, and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 "Oh that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 when his lamp shone on my head, and by his light I walked through darkness,
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 as I was in the ripeness of my days, when the friendship of God was in my tent,
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 when Shaddai was yet with me, and my children were around me,
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me,
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 when I went forth to the city gate, when I prepared my seat in the street.
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves. The aged rose up and stood.
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 The princes refrained from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The voice of the nobles was hushed, and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 For when the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it commended me:
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had none to help him,
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was as a robe and a diadem.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I was a father to the needy. The cause of him who I did not know, I searched out.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 I broke the jaws of the unrighteous, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then I said, 'I shall die in my own house, I shall number my days as the sand.
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root is spread out to the waters. The dew lies all night on my branch.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory is fresh in me. My bow is renewed in my hand.'
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 "Men listened to me, waited, and kept silence for my counsel.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After my words they did not speak again. My speech fell on them.
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 They waited for me as for the rain. Their mouths drank as with the spring rain.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 I smiled on them when they had no confidence. They did not reject the light of my face.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief. I lived as a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
