UJobe 22
1 U-Elifazi umThemani wasephendula wathi:
And Eliphaz the Temanite answereth and saith: —
2 “Umuntu angasiza uNkulunkulu na? Lesihlakaniphi uqobo kambe singamsiza na?
To God is a man profitable, Because a wise man to himself is profitable?
3 Bekungamupha ntokozo bani uSomandla ukulunga kwakho na? Ubengazuzani ngabe kuthiwa kawulasici na?
Is it a delight to the Mighty One That thou art righteous? is it gain, That thou makest perfect thy ways?
4 Yikumesaba kwakho yini akukhuzela khona lakwethesela khona amacala na?
Because of thy reverence Doth He reason [with] thee? He entereth with thee into judgment:
5 Kabubukhulu ububi bakho na? Lezono zakho angithi kazipheli na?
Is not thy wickedness abundant? And there is no end to thine iniquities.
6 Wawubiza isibambiso kubafowenu kungelasizatho; uhlubula abantu izigqoko zabo basale beze.
For thou takest a pledge of thy brother for nought, And the garments of the naked Thou dost strip off.
7 Abakhatheleyo wawubancitsha amanzi, abalambileyo ungabaphi ukudla,
Thou causest not the weary to drink water, And from the hungry thou withholdest bread.
8 lanxa wena wawuyindoda elamandla, ulepulazi, indoda ehlonitshwayo, uphila kulo.
As to the man of arm — he hath the earth, And the accepted of face — he dwelleth in it.
9 Abafelokazi wabaxotsha ungabaphanga lutho izintandane waziqeda amandla.
Widows thou hast sent away empty, And the arms of the fatherless are bruised.
10 Kungenxa yalokho usuhanqwe yimijibila, usuhlukuluzwa luhlupho masinyane,
Therefore round about thee [are] snares, And trouble thee doth fear suddenly.
11 yikho kumnyama kangaka ungasaboni, njalo yikho ususibekelwa zimpophoma zamanzi.
Or darkness — thou dost not see, And abundance of waters doth cover thee.
12 UNkulunkulu kakho esiqongweni samazulu na? Ake ubone phela ukuthi ziphakeme njani izinkanyezi ezisesiqongweni!
Is not God high [in] heaven? And see the summit of the stars, That they are high.
13 Kodwa wena uthi, ‘UNkulunkulu wazini? Angahlulela phakathi komnyama onje?
And thou hast said, 'What — hath God known? Through thickness doth He judge?
14 Usithwe ngamayezi amakhulu, ngakho kasiboni nxa ehambahamba ezulwini eliphezulu.’
Thick clouds [are] a secret place to Him, And He doth not see;' And the circle of the heavens He walketh habitually,
15 Wena-ke uzakwalela endleleni endala na eseyahanjwa ngababi?
The path of the age dost thou observe, That men of iniquity have trodden?
16 Bedluliswa singakafiki isikhathi sabo, izisekelo zabo zakhukhulwa nguzamcolo.
Who have been cut down unexpectedly, A flood is poured out on their foundation.
17 Bathi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Tshiyana lathi! USomandla angasenzani na?’
Those saying to God, 'Turn aside from us,' And what doth the Mighty One to them?
18 Ikanti kunguye owagcwalisa izindlu zabo ngezinto ezinhle, ngakho kangingeni ezelulekweni zababi.
And he hath filled their houses [with] good: (And the counsel of the wicked Hath been far from me.)
19 Abalungileyo bayakubona lokho bathokoze; abangelacala bayabahleka bathi,
See do the righteous and they rejoice, And the innocent mocketh at them,
20 ‘Ngempela izitha zethu zichithiwe, lokuseleyo kwenotho yazo sekubhuqwe ngumlilo.’
'Surely our substance hath not been cut off, And their excellency hath fire consumed.'
21 Zehlise kuNkulunkulu ukuze uwelelane laye; ngaleyondlela ukuphumelela kuzakuza kuwe.
Acquaint thyself, I pray thee, with Him, And be at peace, Thereby thine increase [is] good.
22 Yamukela iziqondiso eziphuma emlonyeni wakhe, amazwi akhe uwabeke enhliziyweni yakho.
Receive, I pray thee, from His mouth a law, And set His sayings in thy heart.
23 Nxa ubuyela kuSomandla, uzavuselelwa; nxa ususa ububi bube kude lethente lakho
If thou dost return unto the Mighty Thou art built up, Thou puttest iniquity far from thy tents.
24 lomthuso wakho uwulahlele othulini, igolide lakho lase-Ofiri ulilahlele emadwaleni ezifuleni,
So as to set on the dust a defence, And on a rock of the valleys a covering.
25 lapho-ke uSomandla uzakuba ligolide lakho, lesiliva esikhethekileyo kuwe.
And the Mighty hath been thy defence, And silver [is] strength to thee.
26 Ngempela uzazuza ukuthokoza kuSomandla uphakamisele ubuso bakho kuNkulunkulu.
For then on the Mighty thou delightest thyself, And dost lift up unto God thy face,
27 Uzakhuleka kuye, yena akuzwe, njalo uzagcwalisa izifungo zakho.
Thou dost make supplication unto Him, And He doth hear thee, And thy vows thou completest.
28 Lokho okumisileyo kuzakwenziwa, lokukhanya kuzazikhanyisa izindlela zakho.
And thou decreest a saying, And it is established to thee, And on thy ways hath light shone.
29 Nxa abantu besehliswa ubususithi, ‘Baphakamiseni!’ lapho-ke uzabasiza abahlulukelweyo.
For they have made low, And thou sayest, 'Lift up.' And the bowed down of eyes he saveth.
30 Uzabasiza lalabo abonayo, abazakhululwa ngenxa yokubamsulwa kwakho.”
He delivereth the not innocent, Yea, he hath been delivered By the cleanness of thy hands.
