Job 23
1 Then Job answered and said,
Wasephendula uJobe wathi:
2 Even to-day [is] my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning.
Lalamuhla isikhalazo sami silokubaba; isandla sami sinzima phezu kokububula kwami.
3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! [that] I might come [even] to his seat!
Kungathi ngabe ngiyazi lapho engingamthola khona! Bengingeza enkundleni yakhe!
4 I would order [my] cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Ngibeke kuhle udaba lwami phambi kwakhe, ngigcwalise umlomo wami ngokuphikisa.
5 I would know the words [which] he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
Bengingawazi amazwi azangiphendula ngawo, ngiqedisise azakutsho kimi.
6 Would he plead against me with [his] great power? No; but he would put [strength] in me.
Uzaphikisana lami ngobukhulu bamandla yini? Hatshi, kodwa uzabeka inhliziyo yakhe kimi.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
Lapho oqotho angaphikisana laye; ngakho bengizaphepha phakade kumahluleli wami.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he [is] not [there]; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
Khangelani ngiya phambili, kodwa kakho, lemuva, kodwa kangimboni.
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold [him]: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see [him]:
Ngakwesokhohlo ekusebenzeni kwakhe, kodwa kangimboni; uyacatsha ngakwesokunene, kodwa kangimboni.
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: [when] he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
Kanti uyayazi indlela elami; kangihlole, ngizaphuma njengegolide.
11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Unyawo lwami lubambelele enyathelweni lakhe, ngiyigcinile indlela yakhe, kangiphambukanga.
12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
Kangisukanga lemlayweni wezindebe zakhe, ngawalondoloza amazwi omlomo wakhe okwedlula isabelo sami.
13 But he [is] in one [mind], and who can turn him? and [what] his soul desireth, even [that] he doeth.
Kodwa yena ukokukodwa, ngubani-ke ongambuyisela emuva? Lokho umphefumulo wakhe okufisayo uyakwenza.
14 For he performeth [the thing that is] appointed for me: and many such [things are] with him.
Ngoba uzaphelelisa engikumiselweyo; lezinto ezinengi ezinjalo zikuye.
15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.
Ngenxa yalokho ngitshaywa luvalo phambi kwakhe; ngicabanga, ngiyamesaba.
16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
Ngoba uNkulunkulu wenze inhliziyo yami yaphela amandla, loSomandla ungethusile.
17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, [neither] hath he covered the darkness from my face.
Ngoba kangiqunywanga phambi komnyama, wagubuzela ubumnyama ebusweni bami.
