UJobe 22
1 U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
Then answered Eliphaz the Themanite, and said,
2 “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
Can a man be serviceable unto God? Truly the intelligent is serviceable unto himself.
3 Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art righteous? or is it any gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
4 Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
Is it out of fear of thee that he will reproach thee? or go with thee into judgment?
5 Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
Is not thy evil great? and no end to thy iniquities?
6 Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brothers for nought, and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, and from the hungry thou hast withholden bread.
8 lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
But as for the man of a strong arm, he obtained the land, and the highly honored could dwell therein.
9 Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
Widows hast thou sent away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
10 Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
Therefore are snares round about thee, and sudden dread terrifieth thee.
11 yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
Or seest thou not the darkness? and the abundance of water which covereth thee?
12 UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
Is not God in the height of heaven? and beholding the highest elevation of the stars, however high they are?
13 Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
But thou sayest, “What doth God know? can he judge behind the darkness?
14 Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
Thick clouds are a covering for him, so that he will not see; and he walketh along on the circle of heaven.”
15 Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
Wilt thou [thus] observe the path of ancient times which the men of injustice have trodden?
16 Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
Who were shrivelled up before their time, whose foundation was flooded away like a river;
17 Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
Who said unto God, “'Depart from us:” and what wrought the Almighty for them?
18 Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
And yet it was he that filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked be [still] far from me.
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
The righteous will see it, and be glad; and the innocent will laugh them to scorn.
20 ‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
“Is not he destroyed that rose up against us, and hath not the fire consumed what they had left?”
21 Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
Do but become acquainted with him, and be at peace: thereby will happiness come unto thee.
22 Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
Do but accept instruction from his mouth, and lay up his saying in thy heart.
23 Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, so thou wilt but remove wrong-doing far away from thy tents.
24 lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
And throw down in the dust precious metals, and [the gold of] Ophir to the stones of the brooks:
25 lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
Then will the Almighty be thy precious metal, and brightly-shining silver unto thee.
26 Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
For then wilt thou have in the Almighty thy delight, and thou canst lift up unto God thy face.
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
Thou wilt make entreaty unto him, and he will hear thee, and thy vows wilt thou pay.
28 Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
And if thou decree a thing, it will be fulfilled unto thee; and upon thy ways the light will shine.
29 Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
For when men are brought low, thou wilt say, Pride [hath done it]; but those of lowly eyes [God] will help.
30 Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
He will even deliver him who is not guiltless: and thou wilt be delivered by the purity of thy hands.
