UJobe 11

1 UZofari umNahama wasephendula wathi:

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said,

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

Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified?

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

Should thy falsehoods make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?

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

For thou hast said, My doctrine [is] pure, and I am clean in thy eyes.

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

But Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee;

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

And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that [they are] double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee [less] than thy iniquity [deserveth].

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

Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty to perfection?

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

[It is] as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (Sheol h7585)

9 Ukulinganiswa kwazo kude kulomhlaba njalo kubanzi kulolwandle.

The measure of it [is] longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

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

If he shall cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him?

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

For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider [it]?

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

For vain man would be wise, though man is born [like] a wild ass's colt.

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

If thou preparest thy heart, and stretchest out thy hands towards him;

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

If iniquity [is] in thy hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in thy tabernacles.

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

For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yes, thou shalt be steadfast, and shalt not fear:

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

Because thou shalt forget [thy] misery, [and] remember [it] as waters [that] pass away:

17 Impilo izakhanya kulemini enkulu, lobumnyama buzakuba njengasekuseni.

And [thy] age shall be clearer than the noon-day: thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.

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

And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yes, thou shalt dig [about thee], [and] thou shalt take thy rest in safety.

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

Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make [thee] afraid; yes, many shall make suit to thee.

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

But the eyes of the wicked shall fail, and they shall not escape, and their hope [shall be as] the expiration of the breath.