UJobe 20
1 Wasephendula uZofari umNahama wathi:
Then Zophar the Naamathite made answer and said,
2 “Imicabango yami ekhathazekileyo ingifuqa ukuthi ngiphendule ngoba sengikhubekile kakhulu.
For this cause my thoughts are troubling me and driving me on.
3 Ngizwa kulokukhuzwa okungilulazisayo njalo ukuzwisisa kwami kungifuqela ukuthi ngiphendule.
I have to give ear to arguments which put me to shame, and your answers to me are wind without wisdom.
4 Ngempela uyakwazi ukuthi kwakuvele kunjani lendulo, kusukela ukubekwa komuntu emhlabeni,
Have you knowledge of this from early times, when man was placed on the earth,
5 ukuthi injabulo yomubi imfitshane, intokozo yongakholwayo ngeyomzuzwana nje.
That the pride of the sinner is short, and the joy of the evil-doer but for a minute?
6 Loba ukuzigqaja kwakhe kufika emazulwini lekhanda lakhe lithinta emayezini,
Though he is lifted up to the heavens, and his head goes up to the clouds;
7 uzabhubha okwaphakade, njengobulongwe bakhe; labo abake bambona bazakuthi, ‘Ungaphi kanti?’
Like the waste from his body he comes to an end for ever: those who have seen him say, Where is he?
8 Njengephupho uyanyamalala angabe esabonwa njalo, axotshwe njengombono webusuku.
He is gone like a dream, and is not seen again; he goes in flight like a vision of the night.
9 Ilihlo elake lambona kalisayikumbona njalo; indawo yakhe ingeke ibe isambona.
The eye which saw him sees him no longer; and his place has no more knowledge of him.
10 Abantwabakhe bazazincengela ebayangeni ngezandla zakhe abuyisele inotho yakhe.
His children are hoping that the poor will be kind to them, and his hands give back his wealth.
11 Amadlabuzane obutsha alawo emathanjeni akhe azalala kanye laye othulini.
His bones are full of young strength, but it will go down with him into the dust.
12 Loba ububi bumnandi emlonyeni wakhe, ebufihla ngaphansi kolimi lwakhe,
Though evil-doing is sweet in his mouth, and he keeps it secretly under his tongue;
13 loba esehluleka ukutshiyana labo abugcine emlonyeni wakhe,
Though he takes care of it, and does not let it go, but keeps it still in his mouth;
14 kodwa ukudla kwakhe kuzahloba esiswini sakhe; kuzaphenduka kube yibuhlungu bezinyoka ngaphakathi kwakhe.
His food becomes bitter in his stomach; the poison of snakes is inside him.
15 Uzayihlanza yonke inotho ayiginyayo; uNkulunkulu uzakwenza isisu sakhe sikuhlanze konke.
He takes down wealth as food, and sends it up again; it is forced out of his stomach by God.
16 Uzamunya ubuhlungu bezinyoka; amazinyo ebululu azambulala.
He takes the poison of snakes into his mouth, the tongue of the snake is the cause of his death.
17 Akayikuyikholisa imifula, leyomifula egeleza uluju lolaza.
Let him not see the rivers of oil, the streams of honey and milk.
18 Lokho akuginqeleyo kumele akubuyise engakudlanga; akayikuyikholisa inzuzo yokuthengiselana kwakhe.
He is forced to give back the fruit of his work, and may not take it for food; he has no joy in the profit of his trading.
19 Ngoba ubebancindezela abayanga basala bengelalutho; wathumba izindlu angazakhanga.
Because he has been cruel to the poor, turning away from them in their trouble; because he has taken a house by force which he did not put up;
20 Ngempela akayikudeda kulobubuhwaba bakhe; ngeke azisindise ngenotho yakhe.
There is no peace for him in his wealth, and no salvation for him in those things in which he took delight.
21 Akusela lutho angabe esaludla; ukuphumelela kwakhe kakuyikuma.
He had never enough for his desire; for this cause his well-being will quickly come to an end.
22 Phakathi kwenotho yakhe uzahlaselwa zinhlupho; ubuhlungu buzamehlela ngamandla.
Even when his wealth is great, he is full of care, for the hand of everyone who is in trouble is turned against him.
23 Nxa esesigcwalisile isisu sakhe, uNkulunkulu uzabhodlisela ulaka lwakhe oluvuthayo kuye akhwele ehle ngezidutshulo phezu kwakhe.
God gives him his desire, and sends the heat of his wrath on him, making it come down on him like rain.
24 Lanxa angaze abalekele isikhali sensimbi umtshoko wethusi uzamciba.
He may go in flight from the iron spear, but the arrow from the bow of brass will go through him;
25 Uyawuhwatsha emhlane wakhe, umcijo wawo ocazimulayo awuhwatshe esibindini. Uzangenwa yikwesaba okukhulu;
He is pulling it out, and it comes out of his back; and its shining point comes out of his side; he is overcome by fears.
26 umnyama omkhulu uyilindele inotho yakhe. Umlilo ongungumayo uzamqeda utshise lokho okuseleyo ethenteni lakhe.
All his wealth is stored up for the dark: a fire not made by man sends destruction on him, and on everything in his tent.
27 Amazulu azabembula ububi bakhe; umhlaba uzamvukela.
The heavens make clear his sin, and the earth gives witness against him.
28 Isikhukhula sizayithwala indlu yakhe, kungamanzi azimpophoma mhla wosuku lolaka lukaNkulunkulu.
The produce of his house is taken away into another country, like things given into the hands of others in the day of wrath.
29 Sinjalo isiphetho uNkulunkulu asimisele ababi, ilifa abalikhethelwe nguNkulunkulu.”
This is the reward of the evil man, and the heritage given to him by God.
