UJobe 11

1 UZofari umNahama wasephendula wathi:

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:

2 “Uthi amazwi wonke la angayekelwa ukuphendulwa na? Uwawane lolu luyekelwe nje lubheda?

“Should this stream of words go unanswered and such a speaker be vindicated?

3 Umbhedo wakho lo ungenza abantu bathule na? Uthi ungangakhuzwa muntu wena ukhulumela eceleni?

Should your babbling put others to silence? Will you scoff without rebuke?

4 Uthi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Inkolo yami kayilansolo njalo ngimsulwa phambi kwakho.’

You have said, ‘My doctrine is sound, and I am pure in Your sight.’

5 Oh, ngize ngifise ukuthi ngabe uNkulunkulu uyakhuluma, avule izindebe zakhe ekusola

But if only God would speak and open His lips against you,

6 akuvulele imfihlo zokuhlakanipha, ngoba inhlakanipho yeqiniso ikabili. Yazi lokhu: UNkulunkulu uvele usezikhohliwe ezinye izono zakho.

and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know then that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves.

7 Kambe ungayifinyelela yini imfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu? Ungaziphenya iziphetho zikaSomandla na?

Can you fathom the deep things of God or discover the limits of the Almighty?

8 Ziqongile ngaphezu kwamazulu, ungenzani kambe? Zizikile kulokujula kolwandle, kuyini ongakwazi pho? (Sheol h7585)

They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than Sheol—what can you know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Ukulinganiswa kwazo kude kulomhlaba njalo kubanzi kulolwandle.

Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

10 Nxa engeza lapha akuphosele entolongweni abize inkundla, ngubani ongamphikisa na?

If He comes along to imprison you, or convenes a court, who can stop Him?

11 Liqiniso ukuthi uyababona abantu abakhohlisayo; njalo nxa ebona okubi, kananzeleli na?

Surely He knows the deceit of men. If He sees iniquity, does He not take note?

12 Kodwa umuntu oyisithutha ngeke ahlakaniphe njengoba ubabhemi weganga engeke azalwa ngumuntu.

But a witless man can no more become wise than the colt of a wild donkey can be born a man!

13 Kodwa nxa ugxilisa inhliziyo yakho kuye uphakamisele izandla zakho kuye,

As for you, if you direct your heart and lift up your hands to Him,

14 nxa ulahla isono esisesandleni sakho ungavumeli bubi buhlale ethenteni lakho,

if you put away the iniquity in your hand, and allow no injustice to dwell in your tents,

15 lapho-ke uzabuveza ubuso bakho ungelanhloni; uzakuma uqine ungesabi.

then indeed you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and unafraid.

16 Uzalukhohlwa ngempela uhlupho lwakho, lufike nje engqondweni njengezikhukhula ezadlulayo.

For you will forget your misery, recalling it only as waters gone by.

17 Impilo izakhanya kulemini enkulu, lobumnyama buzakuba njengasekuseni.

Your life will be brighter than noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.

18 Uzavikeleka, ngoba ithemba likhona; uzakhangela ofuna khona uzuze ukuphumula uvikelekile.

You will be secure, because there is hope, and you will look around and lie down in safety.

19 Uzazilalela, kungekho okwethusayo, njalo abanengi bazabe sebezisondeza kuwe.

You will lie down without fear, and many will court your favor.

20 Kodwa amehlo ababi azafiphala, behluleke lokubaleka; ithemba labo libe yikuhotsha umoya wokufa.”

But the eyes of the wicked will fail, and escape will elude them; they will hope for their last breath.”