Job 4
1 Then spake Eliphaz the Temanite, and said:
UElifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
2 If one attempt a word with thee, wilt thou be offended? But who can refrain from speaking?
Uba sizama ilizwi kuwe, uzadabuka yini? Kodwa ngubani ongazibamba emazwini?
3 Behold, thou hast admonished many; Thou hast strengthened feeble hands;
Khangela, uqondisile abanengi, waqinisa izandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, And thou hast given strength to feeble knees.
Amazwi akho amvusile okhubekayo, waqinisa amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; It toucheth thee, and thou art confounded!
Kodwa khathesi kufikile kuwe, uyadinwa; kuyakuthinta wena, utshaywa luvalo.
6 Is not thy fear of God thy hope, And the uprightness of thy ways thy confidence?
Ukwesaba kwakho uNkulunkulu kakusiso isibindi sakho yini, lobuqotho bendlela zakho ithemba lakho?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished being innocent? Or where have the righteous been cut off?
Akukhumbule, ngubani owake wachithwa engelacala? Kumbe abalungileyo bake baqunywa ngaphi?
8 According to what I have seen, they who plough iniquity, And sow mischief, reap the same.
Njengengikubonileyo, abalima ububi behlanyela udubo, bavuna khona.
9 By the blast of God they perish, And by the breath of his nostrils they are consumed.
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 fierce lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.
Isilwane esidala siyabhubha ngokuswela impango, lemidlwane yesilwanekazi isabalale.
12 A word was once secretly brought to me, And mine ear caught a whisper thereof.
Ngasenginyenyezelwa ilizwi, lendlebe yami yemukela okuncinyane kwalo.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, When deep sleep falleth upon men,
Phakathi kwemicabango yemibono yebusuku, lapho ubuthongo obukhulu busehlela abantu,
14 A fear and a horror came upon me, Which made all my bones to shake.
ukwesaba kwangifikela lokuthuthumela okwenza ubunengi bamathambo ami baqhaqhazela.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face, The hair of my flesh rose on end;
Kwasekusedlula umoya ebusweni bami, loboya benyama yami bavuka.
16 It stood still, but its form I could not discern; An image was before mine eyes; There was silence, and I heard a voice:
Wema, kodwa angikuqondanga ukubonakala kwawo; isimo sasiphambi kwamehlo ami; kwathula, ngasengisizwa ilizwi lisithi:
17 “Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall man be more pure than his Maker?
Kambe umuntu angalunga okwedlula uNkulunkulu? Umuntu angahlambuluka okwedlula uMenzi wakhe yini?
18 Behold, he putteth no trust in his ministering spirits, And his angels he chargeth with frailty.
Khangela, kazithembi inceku zakhe, lengilosi zakhe uthi zingabaphosisi.
19 What then are they who dwell in houses of clay, Whose foundation is in the dust, Who crumble to pieces, as if moth-eaten!
Kangakanani abahlala endlini zebumba, abasisekelo sabo sisethulini, abachotshozwa phambi kwenundu.
20 Between morning and evening are they destroyed; They perish for ever, and none regardeth it.
Bakhandwa kusukela ekuseni kuze kube kusihlwa, kungelakunanzwa bayabhubha kuze kube nininini.
21 The excellency that is in them is torn away; They die before they have become wise.”
Ubuhle babo kabususwa labo yini? Bayafa kodwa bengalanhlakanipho.
