Job 29
1 Moreover, Job continued his parable, and said,
UJobe wasebuya ephakamisa isaga sakhe wathi:
2 Oh that I were as [in] months past, as [in] the days [when] God preserved me;
Kungathi ngabe nginjengenyangeni zamandulo, njengensukwini uNkulunkulu angigcine ngazo,
3 When his candle shined upon my head, [and when] by his light I walked [through] darkness;
lapho isibane sakhe sakhanya phezu kwekhanda lami; ngahamba emnyameni ngokukhanya kwakhe!
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God [was] upon my tabernacle;
Njengoba nganginjalo ensukwini zokuvuthwa kwami, lapho iseluleko sikaNkulunkulu sasiphezu kwethente lami,
5 When the Almighty [was] yet with me, [when] my children [were] about me;
lapho uSomandla wayeseselami, labantwana bami bengiphahlile,
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
lapho ngagezisa izinyathelo zami ngolaza, ledwala langithululela imifula yamafutha!
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, [when] I prepared my seat in the street!
Lapho ngaphuma ngaya esangweni ngidabula umuzi, ngalungisa isihlalo sami emdangeni;
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, [and] stood up.
amajaha angibona, acatsha; lamaxhegu asukuma ema;
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid [their] hand on their mouth.
iziphathamandla zayekela ukukhuluma, zabeka isandla phezu komlomo wazo;
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
ilizwi labakhulu lacatsha, lolimi lwabo lwanamathela elwangeni lwabo.
11 When the ear heard [me], then it blessed me; and when the eye saw [me], it gave witness to me:
Lapho indlebe isizwa yangibusisa, lelihlo libona langifakazela,
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and [him that had] none to help him.
ngoba ngakhulula umyanga okhalayo, lentandane, longelamsizi.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
Isibusiso sobhubhayo sehlele phezu kwami, njalo ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi ihlabele ngentokozo.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a diadem.
Ngembatha ukulunga, kwangembesa; isahlulelo sami saba njengesembatho lomqhele.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet [was] I to the lame.
Ngangingamehlo koyisiphofu, ngangizinyawo kusiqhuli.
16 I [was] a father to the poor: and the cause [which] I knew not I searched out.
Nganginguyise wabayanga, lendaba engingayaziyo ngayihlolisisa.
17 And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Ngasengisephula umhlathi womubi, ngamenza alahle impango emazinyweni akhe.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply [my] days as the sand.
Ngasengisithi: Ngizaphela lesidleke sami, ngandise insuku njengetshebetshebe.
19 My root [was] spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
Impande zami zinabele emanzini, lamazolo alale ubusuku ogatsheni lwami.
20 My glory [was] fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
Udumo lwami lutsha kimi, ledandili lami laguquka esandleni sami.
21 To me [men] gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
Bangilalela, belindele, bathulela iseluleko sami.
22 After my words they spoke not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
Emva kwelizwi lami kabaphendulanga, lelizwi lami lathontela phezu kwabo.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide [as] for the latter rain.
Bangilindela njengezulu, lomlomo wabo bawukhamisela izulu lokucina.
24 [If] I laughed on them, they believed [it] not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
Lapho ngibahlekela, kabakholwanga, lokukhanya kobuso bami kabakuwiselanga phansi.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforteth the mourners.
Ngakhetha indlela yabo ngahlala ngiyinhloko, ngahlala njengenkosi phakathi kweviyo, njengoduduza abalilayo.
