UJobe 11

1 UZofari umNahama wasephendula wathi:

Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,

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

Are all these words to go unanswered? and is a man seen to be right because he is full of talk?

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

Are your words of pride to make men keep quiet? and are you to make sport, with no one to put you to shame?

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

You may say, My way is clean, and I am free from sin in your eyes.

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

But if only God would take up the word, opening his lips in argument with you;

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

And would make clear to you the secrets of wisdom, and the wonders of his purpose!

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

Are you able to take God's measure, to make discovery of the limits of the Ruler of all?

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

They are higher than heaven; what is there for you to do? deeper than the underworld, and outside your knowledge; (Sheol h7585)

9 Ukulinganiswa kwazo kude kulomhlaba njalo kubanzi kulolwandle.

Longer in measure than the earth, and wider than the sea.

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

If he goes on his way, shutting a man up and putting him to death, who may make him go back from his purpose?

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

For in his eyes men are as nothing; he sees evil and takes note of it.

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

And so a hollow-minded man will get wisdom, when a young ass of the field gets teaching.

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

But if you put your heart right, stretching out your hands to him;

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

If you put far away the evil of your hands, and let no wrongdoing have a place in your tent;

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

Then truly your face will be lifted up, with no mark of sin, and you will be fixed in your place without fear:

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

For your sorrow will go from your memory, like waters flowing away:

17 Impilo izakhanya kulemini enkulu, lobumnyama buzakuba njengasekuseni.

And your life will be brighter than day; though it is dark, it will become like the morning.

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

And you will be safe because there is hope; after looking round, you will take your rest in quiet;

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

Sleeping with no fear of danger; and men will be desiring to have grace in your eyes;

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

But the eyes of the evil-doers will be wasting away; their way of flight is gone, and their only hope is the taking of their last breath.