UJobe 22
1 U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Themanite answered, and said:
2 “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
Can man be compared with God, even though he were of perfect knowledge?
3 Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
What doth it profit God if thou be just? or what dost thou give him if thy way be unspotted?
4 Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
Shall he reprove thee for fear, and come with thee into judgment:
5 Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
And not for thy manifold wickedness, and thy infinite iniquities?
6 Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
For thou hast taken away the pledge of thy brethren without cause, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
Thou hast not given water to the weary, thou hast withdrawn bread from the hungry.
8 lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
In the strength of thy arm thou didst possess the land, and being the most mighty thou holdest it.
9 Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless thou hast broken in pieces.
10 Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
Therefore art thou surrounded with snares, and sudden fear troubleth thee.
11 yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
And didst thou think that thou shouldst not see darkness, and that thou shouldst not be covered with the violence of overflowing waters?
12 UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
Dost not thou think that God is higher than heaven, and is elevated above the height of the stars?
13 Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
And thou sayst: What doth God know? and he judgeth as it were through a mist.
14 Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
The clouds are his covert, and he doth not consider our things, and he walketh about the poles of heaven.
15 Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
Dost thou desire to keep the path of ages, which wicked men have trodden?
16 Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
Who were taken away before their time, and a flood hath overthrown their foundation.
17 Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
Who said to God: Depart from us: and looked upon the Almighty as if he could do nothing:
18 Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
Whereas he had filled their houses with good things: whose way of thinking be far from me.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
The just shall see, and shall rejoice, and the innocent shall laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
Is not their exaltation cut down, and hath not fire devoured the remnants of them?
21 Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
Submit thyself then to him, and be at peace: and thereby thou shalt have the best fruits.
22 Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
Receive the law of his mouth, and lay up his words in thy heart.
23 Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
If thou wilt return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, and shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacle.
24 lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
He shall give for earth flint, and for flint torrents of gold.
25 lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
And the Almighty shall be against thy enemies, and silver shall be heaped together for thee.
26 Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
Then shalt thou abound in delights in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face to God.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
Thou shalt pray to him, and he will hear thee, and thou shalt pay vows.
28 Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
Thou shalt decree a thing, and it I shall come to thee, and light shall shine in thy ways.
29 Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
For he that hath been humbled, shall be in glory: and he that shall bow down his eyes, he shall be saved.
30 Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
The innocent shall be saved, and he shall be saved by the cleanness of his hands.
