Job 21
1 But Job answered and said:
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
Zwanini lilalele ilizwi lami, lalokho kube zinduduzo zenu.
3 Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
Ngibekezelelani, ukuthi mina ngikhulume; lemva kokukhuluma kwami lingakloloda.
4 Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
Mina-ke ukusola kwami kusemuntwini yini? Kodwa uba kunjalo, kungani umoya wami ungekhathazeke?
5 Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
Ngikhangelani, likhakhamale, libeke isandla phezu komlomo.
6 When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
Yebo, lapho ngikhumbula, ngitshaywa luvalo, lokuthuthumela kubamba inyama yami.
7 Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
Ababi baphilelani, babe badala, yebo, bakhule emandleni?
8 Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
Inzalo yabo izinze phambi kwabo kanye labo, lembewu yabo emehlweni abo.
9 Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not upon them.
Izindlu zabo zilokuthula kungelakwesaba, loswazi lukaNkulunkulu kaluphezu kwabo.
10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; Their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
Inkunzi yakhe iyakhwela ingaphuthi; inkomokazi yakhe iyazala, ingaphunzi.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children dance.
Bakhupha abantwanyana babo njengomhlambi, labantwana babo bayagida.
12 They sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
Baphakamisa ilizwi ngesigujana lechacho, bathokoze ngelizwi lomhlanga.
Bachitha insuku zabo ngokuhle, behlele engcwabeni ngokucwayiza kwelihlo. (Sheol h7585)
14 And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
Babesebesithi kuNkulunkulu: Suka kithi; ngoba kasifisi ulwazi lwendlela zakho.
15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
Uyini uSomandla ukuthi simkhonze? Sizazuzani uba simncenga?
16 [[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
Khangela, okuhle kwabo kakukho esandleni sabo; icebo lababi likhatshana lami.
17 How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
Kukangaki isibane sababi sicitshwa, kusiza ukuchitheka kwabo phezu kwabo! UNkulunkulu ubabela ubuhlungu elakeni lwakhe.
18 How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
Banjengamahlanga phambi komoya, lanjengomule isiphepho esiwuphephulayo.
19 “But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
UNkulunkulu ubekela abantwana bakhe usizi lwakhe. Uyamvuza, njalo uzakwazi.
20 Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
Amehlo akhe azabona ukuchitheka kwakhe, anathe okolaka lukaSomandla.
21 For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
Ngoba iyini intokozo yakhe endlini yakhe emva kwakhe, lapho inani lenyanga zakhe liqunywa?
22 Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
Kukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi yini? Ngoba yena wehlulela abaphezulu.
23 One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
Lo uyafa esemandleni akhe apheleleyo, yena wonke onwabile, elokuthula.
24 His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
Iziphathelo zakhe zigcwele uchago, lomnkantsho wamathambo akhe umanzi.
25 Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
Lomunye ufa elomphefumulo obabayo, engadlanga kokuhle.
26 Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
Balala ndawonye ethulini, lempethu zibasibekele.
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
Khangelani, ngiyayazi imicabango yenu, lamacebo eliwaceba limelene lami.
28 For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
Ngoba lithi: Ingaphi indlu yesiphathamandla? Njalo lingaphi ithente lendawo zababi zokuhlala?
29 Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
Kalibabuzanga yini abadlula ngendlela, njalo kalinanzeleli iziboniso zabo?
30 That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
Ukuthi omubi uyekelwa osukwini lokubhujiswa; bazalethwa osukwini lwezintukuthelo.
31 Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
Ngubani ozamtshela indlela yakhe ebusweni? Ngubani ozamphindisela ngakwenzileyo?
32 Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
Kanti yena uzasiwa engcwabeni, lilindwe idundulu.
33 Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
Amagade esihotsha amnandi kuye, njalo udonsa wonke umuntu emva kwakhe, njengoba bengelakubalwa abaphambi kwakhe.
34 Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
Pho lizangiduduza njani ngeze, ngoba empendulweni zenu kusele inkohliso?
