Job 24
1 Why are not times treasured up by the Almighty? And why do not they who know him see his days?
Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
2 They remove landmarks; They take away flocks by violence, and pasture them.
Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
3 They drive away the ass of the fatherless, And take the widow's ox for a pledge.
Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4 They push the needy from the way; All the poor of the land are forced to hide themselves.
Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
5 Behold, like wild asses of the desert, they go forth to their work; They search for prey; The wilderness supplieth them food for their children.
Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
6 In the fields they reap the harvest, And gather the vintage of the oppressor.
Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
7 They lodge naked, without clothing, And without covering from the cold.
Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
8 They are drenched with the mountain showers, And embrace the rock for want of shelter.
Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
9 The fatherless are torn from the breast, And the garment of the needy is taken for a pledge.
Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
10 They go naked, without clothing, And carry the sheaf hungry.
Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
11 They make oil within their walls, And tread the wine-vat, yet suffer thirst.
Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
12 From anguish the dying groan, And the wounded cry aloud; And God regardeth not their prayer!
Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
13 Others hate the light; They know not its ways, And abide not in its paths.
Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
14 With the light ariseth the murderer; He killeth the poor and needy; In the night he is as a thief.
Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
15 The eye of the adulterer watcheth for the twilight; He saith, “No eye will see me,” And putteth a mask upon his face.
Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
16 In the dark they break into houses; In the daytime they shut themselves up; They are strangers to the light.
Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
17 The morning is to them the very shadow of death; They are familiar with the terrors of the shadow of death.
Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
18 Light are they on the face of the waters; They have an accursed portion in the earth; They come not near the vineyards.
Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
20 His own mother forgetteth him; The worm feedeth sweetly on him; He is no more remembered, And iniquity is broken like a tree.
Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
21 He oppresseth the barren, that hath not borne, And doeth not good to the widow.
Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
22 He taketh away the mighty by his power; He riseth up, and no one is sure of life.
Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
23 God giveth them security, so that they are confident; His eyes are upon their ways.
Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
24 They are exalted; —in a little while they are gone! They are brought low, and die, like all others; And like the topmost ears of corn are they cut off.
Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
25 If it be not so, who will confute me, And show my discourse to be worthless?
Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
