Job 29
1 Job spoke again,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 “I wish/desire that I could be like I was previously, during the years when God took care of me.
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 During those years, [it was as though] God’s lamp [MET] shone on me and gave me light while I walked in the darkness.
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 At that time I was young and strong, and because God was my friend, [he protected] [PRS] my tent.
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 Almighty [God] was with me during those years when all my children were around me.
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 [My herds] provided me with plenty of milk, and streams of oil flowed from the rock where my olives were pressed.
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 “Whenever I went to [the place where the elders gathered at] the city gate, I sat down with them,
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 and when the young men saw me, they stepped aside [respectfully], and the old men [also] stood [respectfully].
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 The leaders of the people stopped talking [DOU],
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 and even the most important men became quiet and ceased talking [MTY] [in order to hear me speak to them].
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 When they [SYN] all heard [what I told them], they said good things about me. When they [SYN] saw me (OR, what I had done), they commended me,
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 because I had helped the poor people when they cried out for help and I aided/helped orphans who had no one else to help them.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 Those who were suffering and about to die praised [PRS] me, and I caused widows [SYN] to sing joyfully, [because of my helping them].
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I always acted justly; my continually doing that was like [MET] a robe that I wore and a turban [that was wrapped around my head].
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 [It was as though] [MET] I was eyes for blind people and feet for people who were lame.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I was [like] [MET] a father to poor people, and in courts I defended those who were strangers.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 My causing wicked people [to be unable to continue oppressing others was like] [MET] breaking the fangs [of fierce wild animals] and forcing them to drop from their teeth/mouths the animals that they had caught/seized.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 “At that time I thought, ‘Surely I will live securely, until I am very old [SIM], and I will die at home [with my family].’
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 I was [like a tree] [MET] whose roots reach down into the water and whose branches become wet with dew each night.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 People always honored me, and I was always [strong like] [MET] a new bow.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 “When I spoke, people waited to hear [what I would say] and remained silent until I advised them [what they should do].
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After I finished speaking, they did not say any more; [it was as though] [MET] my words fell on their ears [like refreshing drops of rain].
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 They waited for me [to speak] like they wait for rain; they [appreciated what I said] like [MET] [farmers appreciate] the final rain in the spring [before the dry season].
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 When they were discouraged, I smiled at them [to encourage them]; they became encouraged when they saw that I approved of them.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I was their leader, and I decided what things [would be good for them to do]; I was among them like [SIM] a king who is among his troops; I was like someone who comforts [others] who are mourning.”
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
