UJobe 22
1 U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Thaemanite answered and said,
2 “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
Is it not the Lord that teaches understanding and knowledge?
3 Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
For what matters it to the Lord, if you were blameless in [your] works? or is it profitable that you should perfect your way?
4 Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
Will you maintain and plead your own cause? and will he enter into judgement with you?
5 Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
Is not your wickedness abundant, and your sins innumerable?
6 Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
And you have taken security of your brethren for nothing, and have taken away the clothing of the naked.
7 Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
Neither have you given water to the thirsty to drink, but have taken away the morsel of the hungry.
8 lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
And you have accepted the persons of some; and you have established those [that were already settled] on the earth.
9 Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
But you have sent widows away empty, and has afflicted orphans.
10 Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
Therefore snares have compassed you, and disastrous war has troubled you.
11 yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
The light has proved darkness to you, and water has covered you on your lying down.
12 UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
Does not he that dwells in the high places observe? and has he not brought down the proud?
13 Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
And you has said, What does the Mighty One know? does he judge in the dark?
14 Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
A cloud is his hiding-place, and he shall not be seen; and he passes through the circle of heaven.
15 Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
Will you [not] mark the old way, which righteous men have trodden?
16 Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
who were seized before their time: their foundations [are as] an overflowing stream.
17 Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
Who say, What will the Lord do to us? or what will the Almighty bring upon us?
18 Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel for the wicked is far from him.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
The righteous have seen [it], and laughed, and the blameless one has derided [them].
20 ‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
Verily their substance has been utterly destroyed, and the fire shall devour what is left of their [property].
21 Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
Be firm, I pray you, if you can endure; then your fruit shall prosper.
22 Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
And receive a declaration from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
And if you shall turn and humble yourself before the Lord, you have [thus] removed unrighteousness far from your habitation.
24 lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
You shall lay up for yourself [treasure] in a heap on the rock; and Sophir [shall be] as the rock of the torrent.
25 lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
So the Almighty shall be your helper from enemies, and he shall bring you forth pure as silver that has been tried by fire.
26 Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
Then shall you have boldness before the Lord, looking up cheerfully to heaven.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
And he shall hear you when you pray to him, and he shall grant you [power] to pay your vows.
28 Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
And he shall establish to you again a habitation of righteousness and there shall be light upon your paths.
29 Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
Because you have humbled yourself; and you shall say, [Man] has behaved proudly, but he shall save him that is of lowly eyes.
30 Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
He shall deliver the innocent, and do you save yourself by your pure hands.
