UJobe 22
1 U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2 “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
Can a man be profitable unto God, as he that is wise may be profitable unto himself?
3 Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that you are righteous? or is it gain to him, that you make your ways perfect?
4 Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
Will he reprove you for fear of you? will he enter with you into judgment?
5 Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
Is not your wickedness great? and your iniquities infinite?
6 Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
For you have taken a pledge from your brother for nothing, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
You have not given water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
But as for the mighty man, he had the earth; and the honourable man dwelt in it.
9 Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
Therefore snares are round about you, and sudden fear troubles you;
11 yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
Or darkness, that you can not see; and abundance of waters cover you.
12 UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!
13 Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
And you say, How does God know? can he judge through the dark cloud?
14 Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he sees not; and he walks in the circuit of heaven.
15 Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
Have you marked the old way which wicked men have trodden?
16 Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflowed with a flood:
17 Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for them?
18 Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
The righteous see it, and are glad: and the innocent laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
Whereas our substance is not cut down, but the remnant of them the fire consumes.
21 Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
Acquaint now yourself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto you.
22 Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
Receive, I pray you, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
If you return to the Almighty, you shall be built up, you shall put away iniquity far from your tabernacles.
24 lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
Then shall you lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks.
25 lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
Yea, the Almighty shall be your defence, and you shall have plenty of silver.
26 Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
For then shall you have your delight in the Almighty, and shall lift up your face unto God.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
You shall make your prayer unto him, and he shall hear you, and you shall pay your vows.
28 Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways.
29 Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
When men are cast down, then you shall say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
30 Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
He shall deliver the island of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureness of your hands.
