UJobe 21
1 UJobe wasephendula wathi:
Then Job made answer and said,
2 “Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
Give attention with care to my words; and let this be your comfort.
3 Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
Let me say what is in my mind, and after that, go on making sport of me.
4 Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
As for me, is my outcry against man? is it then to be wondered at if my spirit is troubled?
5 Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
Take note of me and be full of wonder, put your hand on your mouth.
6 Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
At the very thought of it my flesh is shaking with fear.
7 Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
Why is life given to the evil-doers? why do they become old and strong in power?
8 Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
Their children are ever with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
Their houses are free from fear, and the rod of God does not come on them.
10 Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
Their ox is ready at all times to give seed; their cow gives birth, without dropping her young.
11 Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
They send out their young ones like a flock, and their children have pleasure in the dance,
12 Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
They make songs to the instruments of music, and are glad at the sound of the pipe.
Their days come to an end without trouble, and suddenly they go down to the underworld. (Sheol h7585)
14 Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.
15 Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?
16 Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
Truly, is not their well-being in their power? (The purpose of the evil-doers is far from me.)
17 Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
How frequently is the light of the evil-doers put out, or does trouble come on them? how frequently does his wrath take them with cords?
18 Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
How frequently are they as dry stems before the wind, or as grass taken away by the storm-wind?
19 Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
You say, God keeps punishment stored up for his children. Let him send it on the man himself, so that he may have the punishment of it!
20 Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
Let his eyes see his trouble, and let him be full of the wrath of the Ruler of all!
21 Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
For what interest has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is ended?
22 Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
Is anyone able to give teaching to God? for he is the judge of those who are on high.
23 Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
One comes to his end in complete well-being, full of peace and quiet:
24 umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
His buckets are full of milk, and there is no loss of strength in his bones.
25 Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
And another comes to his end with a bitter soul, without ever tasting good.
26 Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
Together they go down to the dust, and are covered by the worm.
27 Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
See, I am conscious of your thoughts, and of your violent purposes against me;
28 Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
For you say, Where is the house of the ruler, and where is the tent of the evil-doer?
29 Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
Have you not put the question to the travellers, and do you not take note of their experience?
30 ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
How the evil man goes free in the day of trouble, and has salvation in the day of wrath?
31 Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
Who will make his way clear to his face? and if he has done a thing, who gives him punishment for it?
32 Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
He is taken to his last resting-place, and keeps watch over it.
33 Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
The earth of the valley covering his bones is sweet to him, and all men come after him, as there were unnumbered before him.
34 Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
Why then do you give me comfort with words in which there is no profit, when you see that there is nothing in your answers but deceit?
