UJobe 21
1 UJobe wasephendula wathi:
And Job answered and said,
2 “Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
Hear attentively my speech, and let this replace your consolations.
3 Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
Suffer me and I will speak; and after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
As for me, is my complaint to a man? or wherefore should not my spirit be impatient?
5 Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
Mark me, and be astonished, and lay the hand upon the mouth.
6 Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
Even when I think [thereon], I am affrighted, and trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
Wherefore do the wicked live, grow old, yea, become mighty in power?
8 Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
Their seed is established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Inkunzi zabo zikhuthele ziyazala; amankomokazi abo azala kuhle kawaphunzi.
Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf.
11 Abantwababo bayazihambela njengomhlambi; izingane zabo ziyazigidela zichelesile.
They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 Bayahlabela betshaya izigubhu lamachacho; bayazithokozisa ngomsindo wemiqangala.
They shout to the tambour and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, and in a moment go down to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
14 Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
And they say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what are we profited if we pray unto him?
16 Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand. The counsel of the wicked be far from me!
17 Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
How often is the lamp of the wicked put out, and cometh their calamity upon them? Doth he distribute sorrows [to them] in his anger?
18 Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
Do they become as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away?
19 Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
God layeth up [the punishment of] his iniquity for his children; he rewardeth him, and he shall know [it]:
20 Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the fury of the Almighty.
21 Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
For what pleasure should he have in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off?
22 Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
Can any teach God knowledge? And he it is that judgeth those that are high.
23 Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
His sides are full of fat, and the marrow of his bones is moistened;
25 Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
And another dieth in bitterness of soul, and hath not tasted good:
26 Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
Together they lie down in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
Lo, I know your thoughts, and the devices ye wrongfully imagine against me.
28 Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
For ye say, Where is the house of the noble? and where the tent of the dwellings of the wicked?
29 Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
Have ye not asked the wayfarers? and do ye not regard their tokens:
30 ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
That the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity? They are led forth to the day of wrath.
31 Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done?
32 Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
Yet is he carried to the graves, and watch is kept over the tomb.
33 Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
The clods of the valley are sweet unto him; and every man followeth suit after him, as there were innumerable before him.
34 Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
How then comfort ye me in vain? Your answers remain perfidious.
