UJobe 24
1 “Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
Why are times not laid up by the Almighty? And why do not they that know Him see His days?
2 Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
There are that remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed them.
3 Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
They drive away the ass of the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
They turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
5 Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
Behold, as wild asses in the wilderness they go forth to their work, seeking diligently for food; the desert yieldeth them bread for their children.
6 Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
They cut his provender in the field; and they despoil the vineyard of the wicked.
7 Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
They lie all night naked without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter.
9 Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
There are that pluck the fatherless from the breast, and take a pledge of the poor;
10 Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
So that they go about naked without clothing, and being hungry they carry the sheaves;
11 Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
They make oil within the rows of these men; they tread their winepresses, and suffer thirst.
12 Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.
From out of the populous city men groan, and the soul of the wounded crieth out; yet God imputeth it not for unseemliness.
13 Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya loba ukuhlala kuzo.
These are of them that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof.
14 Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
The murderer riseth with the light, to kill the poor and needy; and in the night he is as a thief.
15 Ilihlo lesiphingi lilindela ukuhlwa; sikhumbula sithi, ‘Akulamuntu ozangibona,’ sihlala sibusithile ubuso baso.
The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying: 'No eye shall see me'; and he putteth a covering on his face.
16 Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.
In the dark they dig through houses; they shut themselves up in the day-time; they know not the light.
17 Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.
For the shadow of death is to all of them as the morning; for they know the terrors of the shadow of death.
18 Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
He is swift upon the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; he turneth not by the way of the vineyards.
19 Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono. (Sheol h7585)
Drought and heat consume the snow waters; so doth the nether-world those that have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa, impethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
The womb forgetteth him; the worm feedeth sweetly on him; he shall be no more remembered; and unrighteousness is broken as a tree.
21 Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
He devoureth the barren that beareth not; and doeth not good to the widow.
22 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
He draweth away the mighty also by his power; he riseth up, and he trusteth not his own life.
23 Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
Though it be given him to be in safety, whereon he resteth, yet His eyes are upon their ways.
24 Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.
They are exalted for a little while, and they are gone; yea, they are brought low, they are gathered in as all others, and wither as the tops of the ears of corn.
25 Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”
And if it be not so now, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?
