UJobe 13
1 “Amehlo ami asekubonile konke lokhu, indlebe zami zikuzwile zakuqedisisa lokhu.
“Behold, my eye has seen all this. My ear has heard and understood it.
2 Elikwaziyo lina lami ngiyakwazi; kalingcono ngalutho kulami.
What you know, I know also. I am not inferior to you.
3 Kodwa ngiloyisa ukukhuluma loSomandla, ngiphikisane loNkulunkulu ngendaba yami.
“Surely I would speak to the Almighty. I desire to reason with God.
4 Kodwa lina lingigcona ngamanga; lonke lizinyanga ezingelamsebenzi!
But you are forgers of lies. You are all physicians of no value.
5 Thulani lithi zwi lonke! Lokho kungaba yikuhlakanipha kini.
Oh that you would be completely silent! Then you would be wise.
6 Zwanini-ke manje engikutshoyo; lalelani ukuncenga kwezindebe zami.
Hear now my reasoning. Listen to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Lingakhuluma okubi limele uNkulunkulu na? Lingamkhulumela inkohliso na?
Will you speak unrighteously for God, and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Limtshengisa ukuthi liyabandlulula yini? Yini elimkhulumelayo uNkulunkulu akutshoyo?
Will you show partiality to him? Will you contend for God?
9 Kungalilungela yini nxa engalihlola? Kambe lingamkhohlisa njengoba lingakhohlisa abantu na?
Is it good that he should search you out? Or as one deceives a man, will you deceive him?
10 Ngempela angaligcona nxa lingabe litshengisa ukubandlulula.
He will surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality.
11 Inkazimulo yakhe ingezake ilethuse na? Ukwesabeka kwakhe kungezake kulehlele na?
Won’t his majesty make you afraid and his dread fall on you?
12 Izitsho zenu ziyizaga zomlotha; lezivikelo zenu yizivikelo zebumba kuphela.
Your memorable sayings are proverbs of ashes. Your defences are defences of clay.
13 Thulani ngikhulume mina; kungivelele loba kuyini okuvelayo.
“Be silent! Leave me alone, that I may speak. Let come on me what will.
14 Ngizifakelani engozini na ngiphathe impilo yami ezandleni zami?
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in my hand?
15 Lanxa engangibulala kodwa ngizakwala ngimethemba; ngizazivikela izindlela zami phambi kwakhe.
Behold, he will kill me. I have no hope. Nevertheless, I will maintain my ways before him.
16 Ngeqiniso lokhu kuzangihlenga, ngoba kakho umuntu ongakholwayo ongasondela kuye!
This also will be my salvation, that a godless man will not come before him.
17 Ake lilalele kuhle amazwi ami; vulani indlebe zenu lizwe engikutshoyo.
Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears.
18 Manje-ke njengoba sengiyilungisile indaba yami, ngiyabona ukuthi ngizakhululwa.
See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous.
19 Ngubani kambe ongangethesa icala? Nxa ekhona, ngizathula ngife.
Who is he who will contend with me? For then would I hold my peace and give up the spirit.
20 Akungiphe lezizinto ezimbili nje, Oh Nkulunkulu, lapho-ke angiyikukucatshela:
“Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face:
21 Sisusele khatshana lami isandla sakho, ukhawule ukungethusa ngokwesabeka kwakho.
withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid.
22 Ubusungibizela ecaleni, ngizaphendula, kumbe ungiyekele ngikhulume, lawe uphendule.
Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me.
23 Sengenze iziphambeko lezono ezinganani na? Ngitshengisa isiphambeko sami lesono sami.
How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin.
24 Kungani ufihla ubuso bakho ungithathe njengesitha sakho?
Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy?
25 Uzahluphana lehlamvu eliphetshulwa ngumoya na? Uzaxotshana lomule owomileyo na?
Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble?
26 Ngoba ubhala izinto ezibuhlungu ngami ungenze ngivune izono zobutsha bami.
For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.
27 Ukhina inyawo zami ngezibopho; ulandelela zonke izindlela zami ngokudweba uphawu ezinyathelweni zezinyawo zami.
You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet,
28 Yikho-ke umuntu ecikizeka njengento ebolileyo, njengesigqoko esidliwe yinondo.”
though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
