UJobe 21
1 UJobe wasephendula wathi:
But Job answered and said:
2 “Lalelani kuhle amazwi ami; lokhu akube yinduduzo elingipha yona.
Hear attentively my words, And let this be your consolation.
3 Ake lingibekezelele nxa ngisakhuluma, ngithi nxa sengikhulumile liklolode.
Bear with me, that I may speak; And after I have spoken, mock on!
4 Ukusola kwami kuqonde umuntu yini? Ngingayekelelani ukucunuka pho?
Is my complaint concerning man? Why then should I not be angry?
5 Ngikhangelani, lizamangala; vulani imilomo yenu ngezandla.
Look upon me, and be astonished, And lay your hand upon your mouth!
6 Nxa ngikhumbula ngalokhu ngitshaywa luvalo; ngizwa umzimba wami uqhaqhazela.
When I think of it, I am confounded; Trembling taketh hold of my flesh.
7 Kungani ababi bephila impilo ende, baluphale nje amandla abo esanda?
Why is it that the wicked live, Grow old, yea, become mighty in substance?
8 Babona abantwababo bezinza benamile, inzalo yabo layo beyikhangele.
Their children are established in their sight with them, And their offspring before their eyes.
9 Imizi yabo ihlezi kayilakwesaba; induku kaNkulunkulu kayikho phezu kwabo.
Their houses are in peace, without fear, And the rod of God cometh not 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 sing to the timbrel and harp, And rejoice at the sound of the pipe.
They spend their days in prosperity, And in a moment go down to the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
14 Kodwa bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! Kasifisi ukuzazi izindlela zakho.
And yet they say unto God, “Depart from us! We desire not the knowledge of thy ways!
15 Ungubani yena uSomandla ofuna ukuthi simkhonze na? Sizazuzani nxa sikhuleka kuye na?’
Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what will it profit us, if we pray to him?”
16 Kodwa ukuphumelela kwabo kakukho ezandleni zabo, ngakho kangisondeli ezelulekweni zababi.
[[Ye say, ]] “Lo! their prosperity is not secure in their hands! Far from me be the conduct of the wicked!”
17 Kodwa kukangaki na isibane sababi sicinywa? Kukangaki besehlelwa ngamabhadi na, abawabelwa nguNkulunkulu ezondile?
How often is it, that the lamp of the wicked is put out? And that destruction cometh upon them, And that He dispenseth to them tribulations in his anger?
18 Kukangaki besiba njengomule emoyeni na, njengamakhoba ephetshulwa yisivunguzane?
How often are they as stubble before the wind, Or as chaff, which the whirlwind carrieth away?
19 Kuthiwa, ‘UNkulunkulu ulomba isijeziso somuntu asibekele amadodana akhe.’ Kajezise yena umuntu ngokwakhe ukuze akwazi!
“But” [[say ye]] “God layeth up his iniquity for his children.” Let him requite the offender, and let him feel it!
20 Amehlo akhe kawakubone ukuchithwa kwakhe; kalunathe ulaka lukaSomandla.
Let his own eyes see his destruction, And let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty!
21 Ngoba uvele uzihlupha ngani ngemuli avele ezayitshiya nxa izinyanga zakhe azabelweyo seziphelile na?
For what concern hath he for his household after him, When the number of his own months is completed?
22 Kambe ukhona ongafundisa uNkulunkulu ulwazi, njengoba yena esahlulela labaphezulu na?
Who then shall impart knowledge to God, —To him that judgeth the highest?
23 Umuntu uyafa ephilile kuhle, kukuhle konke ekhululekile,
One dieth in the fulness of his prosperity, Being wholly at ease and quiet;
24 umzimba wakhe uzimukile, amathambo akhe egcwele umnkantsho.
His sides are full of fat, And his bones moist with marrow.
25 Omunye ufa elobuhlungu emphefumulweni wakhe, evele engakaze akholise lutho oluhle.
Another dieth in bitterness of soul, And hath not tasted pleasure.
26 Bobabili balaliswe ndawonye eceleni komunye othulini, impethu zinyakaze phezu kwabo bobabili.
Alike they lie down in the dust, And the worms cover them.
27 Ngiyazi kamhlophe ukuthi licabangani, amacebo elidinga ukungilimaza ngawo.
Behold, I know your thoughts, And the devices by which ye wrong me.
28 Lithi, ‘Ingaphi-ke manje indlu yesikhulu, amathente okwakuhlala kuwo abantu ababi?’
For ye say, “Where is the house of the oppressor, And where the dwelling-places of the wicked?”
29 Kalikaze libuze labo abahambayo na? Kalize lananzelela izinto abazilandisayo,
Have ye never inquired of travellers, And do ye not know their tokens,
30 ukuthi umuntu omubi uyaphepha ngosuku lokubhujiswa na, ukuthi uyakhululwa ngosuku lwesiphithiphithi?
That the wicked is spared in the day of destruction, And that he is borne to his grave in the day of wrath?
31 Kambe ngubani omtshela ngobubi bakhe ebusweni bakhe na? Ngubani ophindiselayo ngalokho akwenzileyo na?
Who will charge him with his conduct to his face, And who will requite him for the evil he hath done?
32 Uthwalelwa engcwabeni, lilindwe ingcwaba lakhe ngemfanelo.
Even this man is borne with honor to the grave; Yea, he watcheth over his tomb.
33 Inhlabathi esigodini leso imnandi kuye; bonke abantu bayamlandela, banengi kakhulu njalo abahamba kuqala kulaye.
Sweet to him are the sods of the valley: And all men move after him, As multitudes without number before him.
34 Pho-ke lingangiduduza njani likhuluma ize nje? Akusalanga lutho elilutshoyo ngaphandle kwenkohliso.”
Why then do ye offer your vain consolations? Your answers continue false.
