UJobe 11
1 UZofari umNahama wasephendula wathi:
But Zophar the Naamathite, responding, said:
2 “Uthi amazwi wonke la angayekelwa ukuphendulwa na? Uwawane lolu luyekelwe nje lubheda?
Will he who speaks much, not also listen? Or will a talkative man be justified?
3 Umbhedo wakho lo ungenza abantu bathule na? Uthi ungangakhuzwa muntu wena ukhulumela eceleni?
Will men be silent only for you? And when you have mocked others, will no one refute you?
4 Uthi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Inkolo yami kayilansolo njalo ngimsulwa phambi kwakho.’
For you said: “My word is pure, and I am clean in your sight.”
5 Oh, ngize ngifise ukuthi ngabe uNkulunkulu uyakhuluma, avule izindebe zakhe ekusola
Yet I wish that God would speak with you, and would open his lips to you,
6 akuvulele imfihlo zokuhlakanipha, ngoba inhlakanipho yeqiniso ikabili. Yazi lokhu: UNkulunkulu uvele usezikhohliwe ezinye izono zakho.
so that he might reveal to you the secrets of wisdom, and how intricate his law is, and that you would understand how much less he requires of you than your iniquity deserves.
7 Kambe ungayifinyelela yini imfihlakalo kaNkulunkulu? Ungaziphenya iziphetho zikaSomandla na?
By chance, will you comprehend the footsteps of God and reach all the way to the perfection of the Almighty?
8 Ziqongile ngaphezu kwamazulu, ungenzani kambe? Zizikile kulokujula kolwandle, kuyini ongakwazi pho? (Sheol h7585)
He is higher than heaven, and what will you do? He is deeper than hell, but how will you know? (Sheol h7585)
9 Ukulinganiswa kwazo kude kulomhlaba njalo kubanzi kulolwandle.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
10 Nxa engeza lapha akuphosele entolongweni abize inkundla, ngubani ongamphikisa na?
If he overturns all things, or packs them together, who will contradict him?
11 Liqiniso ukuthi uyababona abantu abakhohlisayo; njalo nxa ebona okubi, kananzeleli na?
For he knows the vanity of men, and when he sees iniquity, does he not evaluate it?
12 Kodwa umuntu oyisithutha ngeke ahlakaniphe njengoba ubabhemi weganga engeke azalwa ngumuntu.
A vain man is lifted up in arrogance, and he thinks that he is born free like a wild ass’s colt.
13 Kodwa nxa ugxilisa inhliziyo yakho kuye uphakamisele izandla zakho kuye,
But you have fortified your heart and extended your hands to him.
14 nxa ulahla isono esisesandleni sakho ungavumeli bubi buhlale ethenteni lakho,
If you would send away from you the iniquity that is in your hand, and not let injustice remain in your tabernacle,
15 lapho-ke uzabuveza ubuso bakho ungelanhloni; uzakuma uqine ungesabi.
then you would be able to lift up your face without blemish, and you would be steadfast and unafraid.
16 Uzalukhohlwa ngempela uhlupho lwakho, lufike nje engqondweni njengezikhukhula ezadlulayo.
Misery, likewise, you would forget, or would remember only like waters that have passed by.
17 Impilo izakhanya kulemini enkulu, lobumnyama buzakuba njengasekuseni.
And brightness, like that of midday, will rise upon you until evening, and when you would think yourself consumed, you will rise up like the morning star.
18 Uzavikeleka, ngoba ithemba likhona; uzakhangela ofuna khona uzuze ukuphumula uvikelekile.
And, when hope has been set before you, you will have faith, and, when buried, you will sleep secure.
19 Uzazilalela, kungekho okwethusayo, njalo abanengi bazabe sebezisondeza kuwe.
You will rest, and there will be nothing to make you afraid, and many will make requests before your face.
20 Kodwa amehlo ababi azafiphala, behluleke lokubaleka; ithemba labo libe yikuhotsha umoya wokufa.”
But the eyes of the impious will fade away, and the path to escape will perish before them, for the abomination of the soul is their hope.
