Job 24
1 Wherefore from the Mighty One Times have not been hidden, And those knowing Him have not seen His days.
Kungani izikhathi zingafihlelwanga uSomandla, labamaziyo bengaboni insuku zakhe?
2 The borders they reach, A drove they have taken violently away, Yea, they do evil.
Bathuthukisa imingcele, baphange imihlambi bayeluse.
3 The ass of the fatherless they lead away, They take in pledge the ox of the widow,
Baxotsha ubabhemi wezintandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
4 They turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.
Baphambula abaswelayo emigwaqweni; abayanga bomhlaba bacatsha ndawonye.
5 Lo, wild asses in a wilderness, They have gone out about their work, Seeking early for prey, A mixture for himself — food for young ones.
Khangelani, bangobabhemi beganga enkangala, baphumela emsebenzini wabo, badinge impango ngovivi; inkangala ibe yikudla kwakhe lokwabantwana.
6 In a field his provender they reap, And the vineyard of the wicked they glean.
Emasimini bavuna ukudla kwakhe, bakhothoze esivinini somubi.
7 The naked they cause to lodge Without clothing. And there is no covering in the cold.
Balala beze ebusuku bengelasembatho, bengelasigubuzelo emqandweni.
8 From the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge — have embraced a rock.
Bamanzi ngezihlambo zezintaba, babambelela edwaleni ngoba bengelasiphephelo.
9 They take violently away From the breast the orphan, And on the poor they lay a pledge.
Bahluthuna intandane ebeleni, bathathe lesibambiso kumyanga.
10 Naked, they have gone without clothing, And hungry — have taken away a sheaf.
Bahamba beze bengelasigqoko, labalambileyo bathwala isithungo.
11 Between their walls they make oil, Wine-presses they have trodden, and thirst.
Phakathi kwemiduli yabo bahluza amafutha, banyathela izikhamelo zewayini, kodwa bomile.
12 Because of enmity men do groan, And the soul of pierced ones doth cry, And God doth not give praise.
Abantu bayabubula besemzini, lomphefumulo wabalimeleyo uyakhala; kodwa uNkulunkulu kababaleli ukungalungi.
13 They have been among rebellious ones of light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abode in His paths.
Bona baphakathi kwabavukela ukukhanya; kabazazi indlela zakhe, kabahlali emikhondweni yakhe.
14 At the light doth the murderer rise, He doth slay the poor and needy, And in the night he is as a thief.
Umbulali uyavuka ngovivi, abulale umyanga loswelayo; lebusuku unjengesela.
15 And the eye of an adulterer Hath observed the twilight, Saying, 'No eye doth behold me.' And he putteth the face in secret.
Lelihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa, sisithi: Kakulalihlo elizangibona; sifake isimbombozo ebusweni baso.
16 He hath dug in the darkness — houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light.
Emnyameni ugebha aphutshele ezindlini abaziphawulele zona emini; kabakwazi ukukhanya.
17 When together, morning [is] to them death shade, When he discerneth the terrors of death shade.
Ngoba ikuseni kanyekanye ilithunzi lokufa kubo; uba besaziwa bakuzesabiso zethunzi lokufa.
18 Light he [is] on the face of the waters, Vilified is their portion in the earth, He turneth not the way of vineyards.
Ulula phezu kobuso bamanzi; isabelo sabo siqalekisiwe emhlabeni; kaphendukeli endleleni yezivini.
Imbalela lokutshisa kuqeda amanzi eliqhwa elikhithikileyo, ngokunjalo ingcwaba abonileyo. (Sheol h7585)
20 Forget him doth the womb, Sweeten [on] him doth the worm, No more is he remembered, And broken as a tree is wickedness.
Isizalo sizamkhohlwa, impethu izammunya, engabe esakhunjulwa, lenkohlakalo izakwephulwa njengesihlahla.
21 Treating evil the barren [who] beareth not, And [to] the widow he doth no good,
Udla ngokuminza inyumba engazaliyo, kamenzeli okuhle umfelokazi.
22 And hath drawn the mighty by his power, He riseth, and none believeth in life.
Njalo udonsa abalamandla ngamandla akhe, uyavuka, njalo kungabi lolethemba lempilo.
23 He giveth to him confidence, and he is supported, And his eyes [are] on their ways.
Uyamnika ukuze alondolozeke, eseyama kukho, kodwa amehlo akhe aphezu kwendlela zabo.
24 High they were [for] a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. As all [others] they are shut up, And as the head of an ear of corn cut off.
Bayaphakanyiswa okwesikhatshana, babesebengasekho, behliselwa phansi, bavalelwe njengaye wonke, bayaqunywa njengesihloko sesikhwebu.
25 And if not now, who doth prove me a liar, And doth make of nothing my word?
Uba-ke kungenjalo, ngubani ongangenza umqambimanga, enze inkulumo yami ibe yize?
