UJobe 13
1 “Amehlo ami asekubonile konke lokhu, indlebe zami zikuzwile zakuqedisisa lokhu.
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 Elikwaziyo lina lami ngiyakwazi; kalingcono ngalutho kulami.
What ye know, do I know also; I am not inferior unto you.
3 Kodwa ngiloyisa ukukhuluma loSomandla, ngiphikisane loNkulunkulu ngendaba yami.
Notwithstanding I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 Kodwa lina lingigcona ngamanga; lonke lizinyanga ezingelamsebenzi!
But ye are plasterers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 Thulani lithi zwi lonke! Lokho kungaba yikuhlakanipha kini.
Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it would be your wisdom.
6 Zwanini-ke manje engikutshoyo; lalelani ukuncenga kwezindebe zami.
Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Lingakhuluma okubi limele uNkulunkulu na? Lingamkhulumela inkohliso na?
Will ye speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for Him?
8 Limtshengisa ukuthi liyabandlulula yini? Yini elimkhulumelayo uNkulunkulu akutshoyo?
Will ye show Him favour? Will ye contend for God?
9 Kungalilungela yini nxa engalihlola? Kambe lingamkhohlisa njengoba lingakhohlisa abantu na?
Would it be good that He should search you out? Or as one mocketh a man, will ye mock Him?
10 Ngempela angaligcona nxa lingabe litshengisa ukubandlulula.
He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly show favour.
11 Inkazimulo yakhe ingezake ilethuse na? Ukwesabeka kwakhe kungezake kulehlele na?
Shall not His majesty terrify you, and His dread fall upon you?
12 Izitsho zenu ziyizaga zomlotha; lezivikelo zenu yizivikelo zebumba kuphela.
Your memorials shall be like unto ashes, your eminences to eminences of clay.
13 Thulani ngikhulume mina; kungivelele loba kuyini okuvelayo.
Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Ngizifakelani engozini na ngiphathe impilo yami ezandleni zami?
Wherefore? I will take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand.
15 Lanxa engangibulala kodwa ngizakwala ngimethemba; ngizazivikela izindlela zami phambi kwakhe.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him; but I will argue my ways before Him.
16 Ngeqiniso lokhu kuzangihlenga, ngoba kakho umuntu ongakholwayo ongasondela kuye!
This also shall be my salvation, that a hypocrite cannot come before Him.
17 Ake lilalele kuhle amazwi ami; vulani indlebe zenu lizwe engikutshoyo.
Hear diligently my speech, and let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Manje-ke njengoba sengiyilungisile indaba yami, ngiyabona ukuthi ngizakhululwa.
Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Ngubani kambe ongangethesa icala? Nxa ekhona, ngizathula ngife.
Who is he that will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and die.
20 Akungiphe lezizinto ezimbili nje, Oh Nkulunkulu, lapho-ke angiyikukucatshela:
Only do not two things unto me, then will I not hide myself from Thee:
21 Sisusele khatshana lami isandla sakho, ukhawule ukungethusa ngokwesabeka kwakho.
Withdraw Thy hand far from me; and let not Thy terror make me afraid.
22 Ubusungibizela ecaleni, ngizaphendula, kumbe ungiyekele ngikhulume, lawe uphendule.
Then call Thou, and I will answer; or let me speak, and answer Thou me.
23 Sengenze iziphambeko lezono ezinganani na? Ngitshengisa isiphambeko sami lesono sami.
How many are mine iniquities and sins? Make me to know my transgression and my sin.
24 Kungani ufihla ubuso bakho ungithathe njengesitha sakho?
Wherefore hidest Thou Thy face, and holdest me for Thine enemy?
25 Uzahluphana lehlamvu eliphetshulwa ngumoya na? Uzaxotshana lomule owomileyo na?
Wilt Thou harass a driven leaf? And wilt Thou pursue the dry stubble?
26 Ngoba ubhala izinto ezibuhlungu ngami ungenze ngivune izono zobutsha bami.
That Thou shouldest write bitter things against me, and make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 Ukhina inyawo zami ngezibopho; ulandelela zonke izindlela zami ngokudweba uphawu ezinyathelweni zezinyawo zami.
Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; Thou drawest Thee a line about the soles of my feet;
28 Yikho-ke umuntu ecikizeka njengento ebolileyo, njengesigqoko esidliwe yinondo.”
Though I am like a wine-skin that consumeth, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
