Job 4
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
Wasephendula u-Elifazi umThemani wathi:
2 [If] we essay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can refrain from speaking?
“Nxa umuntu angaphosa ilizwi nje kuwe uzacunuka na? Kodwa ngubani ongathula angakhulumi na?
3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
Khumbula ukuthi sewabafundisa njani abanengi, ukuthi ubaqinise njani abalezandla ezibuthakathaka.
4 Thy words have upheld him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Amazwi akho abasekele labo abakhubekayo; uwaqinisile amadolo axegayo.
5 But now it hath come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
Kodwa manje uhlupho luze kuwe, usuphela amandla; lukutshaya ubusudela ithemba.
6 [Is] not [this] thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
Kungani ukukholwa kwakho kungabi yiso isibindi sakho na lezindlela zakho ezimsulwa zibe lithemba lakho na?
7 Remember, I pray thee, who [ever] perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off;
Khumbula manje: Ngubani owathi engelacala wabhubha na? Kungaphi lapho abaqotho abake babhujiswa khona na?
8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Ngokubona kwami labo abalima okubi lalabo abahlanyela ububi bavuna bona.
9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
Ngokuphefumula kukaNkulunkulu bayabhubha; ngokukhwaza kolaka lwakhe bayafa.
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
Izilwane zingabhonga zihwabhe, kodwa amazinyo ezilwane ezinkulu ayephuka.
11 The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
Isilwane siyafa ngokuswela ukudla besekuthi imidlwane yesilwanekazi ihlakazeke.
12 Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a small sound of it.
Kulethwe ilizwi kimi ngasese, indlebe zami zilizwile linyenyezwa.
13 In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men.
Phakathi kwamaphupho adungayo ebusuku, lapho abantu belele obukabhuka,
14 Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
ukwesaba lokuthuthumela kwangifikela kwenza wonke amathambo ami aqhaqhazela.
15 Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
Kwathi tshazi umoya emehlweni ami, wahlasimula umzimba wami lenwele zami zema.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern its form: an image [was] before my eyes, [there was] silence, and I heard a voice, [saying],
Umoya lowo wema, kodwa kangikwazanga ukuthi kuyini. Kwakumi into phambi kwamehlo ami, ngasengisizwa ilizwi elihelezayo:
17 Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
‘Kambe umuntu angalunga ukwedlula uNkulunkulu na? Umuntu angahlanzeka kuloMenzi wakhe na?
18 Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
Nxa uNkulunkulu engazethembi izinceku zakhe, nxa ebeka izingilosi zakhe umlandu ngokona,
19 How much less [in] them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [who] are crushed before the moth?
pho-ke kuzakuba njani kulabo abahlala ezindlini zodaka, ozisekelo zazo zisothulini, abahlifizeka lula njengenondo!
20 They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding [it].
Phakathi kokusa lokuhlwa bayabhidlizwa babe yizicucu; bengananzwa langubani, bayabhubha kokuphela.
21 Doth not their excellence [which is] in them depart? they die, even without wisdom.
Izintambo zamatende abo kazidonswa na, bafe bengelalwazi?’”
