Job 29
1 And Job again took up his measure, and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
