Job 24
1 Wherefore, since from the Almighty times are not hid, have, his knowing ones, no vision of his days?
Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
2 Boundaries, men move back, flocks, they seize and consume;
Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
3 The ass of the fatherless, they drive off, they take in pledge the ox of the widow;
Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, 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.
Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
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;
Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
6 In the field—a man’s fodder, they cut down, and, the vineyard of the lawless, they strip of its late berries;
Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
7 Ill-clad, they are left to lodge without clothing, and have no covering in the cold;
Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
8 With the sweeping rain of the mountains, are they wet, and, through having no shelter, they embrace a rock.
Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
9 Men tear, from the breast, the fatherless, and, over the poor, they take a pledge;
Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
10 Naked, they go about without clothing, and, famished, they carry the sheaves;
Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
11 Between their walls, are they exposed to the sun, Wine-presses, they tread, and yet are thirsty;
Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, 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.
Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
13 They, have become rebels against the light, —they are not acquainted with the ways thereof, neither abide they in the paths thereof.
Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
14 With the light, riseth the murderer, He slayeth the poor and needy, And, in the night, he becometh like a thief.
Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
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;
Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
16 He breaketh, in the dark, into houses, —By day, they lock themselves in, They know not the light;
Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi 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.
Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
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.
Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (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.
Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
21 He oppresseth the barren who beareth not, and, to the widow, he doeth not good;
Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
22 Yea he draggeth along the mighty by his strength, He riseth up, and none hath assurance of life;
Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
23 It is given him to be secure, and confident, yet, his eyes, are upon their ways.
Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela 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.
Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
25 But, if not, who then can convict me of falsehood? or make of no account my words?
Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
