< Job 20 >

1 Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,
Wasephendula uZofari umNahama wathi:
2 Therefore do my thoughts give answer to me, even by reason of my haste that is in me.
“Imicabango yami ekhathazekileyo ingifuqa ukuthi ngiphendule ngoba sengikhubekile kakhulu.
3 I have heard the reproof which putteth me to shame, and the spirit of my understanding answereth me.
Ngizwa kulokukhuzwa okungilulazisayo njalo ukuzwisisa kwami kungifuqela ukuthi ngiphendule.
4 Knowest thou [not] this of old time, since man was placed upon earth,
Ngempela uyakwazi ukuthi kwakuvele kunjani lendulo, kusukela ukubekwa komuntu emhlabeni,
5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless but for a moment?
ukuthi injabulo yomubi imfitshane, intokozo yongakholwayo ngeyomzuzwana nje.
6 Though his excellency mount up to the heavens, and his head reach unto the clouds;
Loba ukuzigqaja kwakhe kufika emazulwini lekhanda lakhe lithinta emayezini,
7 Yet he shall perish for ever like his own dung: they which have seen him shall say, Where is he?
uzabhubha okwaphakade, njengobulongwe bakhe; labo abake bambona bazakuthi, ‘Ungaphi kanti?’
8 He shall fly away as a dream, and shall not be found: yea, he shall be chased away as a vision of the night.
Njengephupho uyanyamalala angabe esabonwa njalo, axotshwe njengombono webusuku.
9 The eye which saw him shall see him no more; neither shall his place any more behold him.
Ilihlo elake lambona kalisayikumbona njalo; indawo yakhe ingeke ibe isambona.
10 His children shall seek the favour of the poor, and his hands shall give back his wealth.
Abantwabakhe bazazincengela ebayangeni ngezandla zakhe abuyisele inotho yakhe.
11 His bones are full of his youth, but it shall lie down with him in the dust.
Amadlabuzane obutsha alawo emathanjeni akhe azalala kanye laye othulini.
12 Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
Loba ububi bumnandi emlonyeni wakhe, ebufihla ngaphansi kolimi lwakhe,
13 Though he spare it, and will not let it go, but keep it still within his mouth;
loba esehluleka ukutshiyana labo abugcine emlonyeni wakhe,
14 Yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of asps within him.
kodwa ukudla kwakhe kuzahloba esiswini sakhe; kuzaphenduka kube yibuhlungu bezinyoka ngaphakathi kwakhe.
15 He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly.
Uzayihlanza yonke inotho ayiginyayo; uNkulunkulu uzakwenza isisu sakhe sikuhlanze konke.
16 He shall suck the poison of asps: the viper’s tongue shall slay him.
Uzamunya ubuhlungu bezinyoka; amazinyo ebululu azambulala.
17 He shall not look upon the rivers, the flowing streams of honey and butter.
Akayikuyikholisa imifula, leyomifula egeleza uluju lolaza.
18 That which he laboured for shall he restore, and shall not swallow it down; according to the substance that he hath gotten, he shall not rejoice.
Lokho akuginqeleyo kumele akubuyise engakudlanga; akayikuyikholisa inzuzo yokuthengiselana kwakhe.
19 For he hath oppressed and forsaken the poor; he hath violently taken away an house, and he shall not build it up.
Ngoba ubebancindezela abayanga basala bengelalutho; wathumba izindlu angazakhanga.
20 Because he knew no quietness within him, he shall not save aught of that wherein he delighteth.
Ngempela akayikudeda kulobubuhwaba bakhe; ngeke azisindise ngenotho yakhe.
21 There was nothing left that he devoured not; therefore his prosperity shall not endure.
Akusela lutho angabe esaludla; ukuphumelela kwakhe kakuyikuma.
22 In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits: the hand of every one that is in misery shall come upon him.
Phakathi kwenotho yakhe uzahlaselwa zinhlupho; ubuhlungu buzamehlela ngamandla.
23 When he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fierceness of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating.
Nxa esesigcwalisile isisu sakhe, uNkulunkulu uzabhodlisela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo kuye akhwele ehle ngezidutshulo phezu kwakhe.
24 He shall flee from the iron weapon, and the bow of brass shall strike him through.
Lanxa angaze abalekele isikhali sensimbi umtshoko wethusi uzamciba.
25 He draweth it forth, and it cometh out of his body: yea, the glittering point cometh out of his gall; terrors are upon him.
Uyawuhwatsha emhlane wakhe, umcijo wawo ocazimulayo awuhwatshe esibindini. Uzangenwa yikwesaba okukhulu;
26 All darkness is laid up for his treasures: a fire not blown [by man] shall devour him; it shall consume that which is left in his tent.
umnyama omkhulu uyilindele inotho yakhe. Umlilo ongungumayo uzamqeda utshise lokho okuseleyo ethenteni lakhe.
27 The heavens shall reveal his iniquity, and the earth shall rise up against him.
Amazulu azabembula ububi bakhe; umhlaba uzamvukela.
28 The increase of his house shall depart, [his goods] shall flow away in the day of his wrath.
Isikhukhula sizayithwala indlu yakhe, kungamanzi azimpophoma mhla wosuku lolaka lukaNkulunkulu.
29 This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.
Sinjalo isiphetho uNkulunkulu asimisele ababi, ilifa abalikhethelwe nguNkulunkulu.”

< Job 20 >