Job 24
1 Wherefore, since from the Almighty times are not hid, have, his knowing ones, no vision of his days?
“Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
2 Boundaries, men move back, flocks, they seize and consume;
Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
3 The ass of the fatherless, they drive off, they take in pledge the ox of the widow;
Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4 They turn aside the needy out of the way, at once, are the humbled of the land made to hide themselves.
Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
5 Lo! [as] wild asses in the wilderness, they go forth with their work, eager seekers for prey, the waste plain, yieldeth them food for their young;
Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
6 In the field—a man’s fodder, they cut down, and, the vineyard of the lawless, they strip of its late berries;
Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
7 Ill-clad, they are left to lodge without clothing, and have no covering in the cold;
Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
8 With the sweeping rain of the mountains, are they wet, and, through having no shelter, they embrace a rock.
Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
9 Men tear, from the breast, the fatherless, and, over the poor, they take a pledge;
Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
10 Naked, they go about without clothing, and, famished, they carry the sheaves;
Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
11 Between their walls, are they exposed to the sun, Wine-presses, they tread, and yet are thirsty;
Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
12 Out of the city—out of the houses, they make outcry. and, the soul of the wounded, calleth for help, and, GOD, doth not regard it as foolish.
Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.
13 They, have become rebels against the light, —they are not acquainted with the ways thereof, neither abide they in the paths thereof.
Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya loba ukuhlala kuzo.
14 With the light, riseth the murderer, He slayeth the poor and needy, And, in the night, he becometh like a thief.
Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
15 And, the eye of the adulterer, watcheth for the evening twilight, saying, Not an eye will see me! A covering for the face, he putteth on;
Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa; sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’ sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.
16 He breaketh, in the dark, into houses, —By day, they lock themselves in, They know not the light;
Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.
17 For, in the case of all such, morning to them is the death-shade, For, to be recognised, is a death-shade terror.
Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.
18 Swift is he on the face of the waters, Speedily vanished their share in the land, He turneth not to the way of the vineyards.
Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono. (Sheol h7585)
20 Maternal love shall forget him, the worm shall find him sweet, No more shall he be remembered, but perversity shall be shivered like a tree.
Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa, impethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
21 He oppresseth the barren who beareth not, and, to the widow, he doeth not good;
Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
22 Yea he draggeth along the mighty by his strength, He riseth up, and none hath assurance of life;
Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
23 It is given him to be secure, and confident, yet, his eyes, are upon their ways.
Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
24 They are exalted a little, and are not, Yea having been laid low, like all men, are they gathered, Even as the top of an ear of corn, do they hang down.
Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.
25 But, if not, who then can convict me of falsehood? or make of no account my words?
Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”
