UJobe 24
1 “Kungani uSomandla engabeki izikhathi zokwahlulela na? Kungani labo abamaziyo belindela ize bengazazi lezinsuku na?
“For this reason from the Mighty One Times have not been hidden, And those knowing Him have not seen His days.
2 Abantu bayayiguqula imingcele ngokususa izikhonkwane; bayayelusa imihlambi entshontshiweyo.
They reach the borders, They have taken a drove away violently, Indeed, they do evil.
3 Bayathatha bahambe lobabhemi wentandane, bathathe inkabi yomfelokazi ibe yisibambiso.
They lead away the donkey of the fatherless, They take in pledge the ox of the widow,
4 Abaswelayo bayabagudlula endleleni bancindezele abayanga belizweni baze bayocatsha.
They turn aside the needy from the way, Together have hid the poor of the earth.
5 Njengabobabhemi beganga enkangala, abayanga babhudula ukudla; egwaduleni kulapho okuzuzwa khona ukudla kwabantwababo.
Behold, wild donkeys in a wilderness, They have gone out about their work, Seeking early for prey, A mixture for himself—food for young ones.
6 Babutha ukudla kwenkomo emasimini badobhe okuseleyo ezivinini zababi.
They reap his provender in a field, And they glean the vineyard of the wicked.
7 Ngoba bengelazigqoko balala beze ubusuku bonke; kabalalutho lokuzembesa emqandweni.
They cause the naked to lodge without clothing. And there is no covering in the cold.
8 Bagxonxwa lizulu lezintabeni bakhusele emadwaleni beswele indawo yokuphephela.
From the inundation of hills they are wet, And without a refuge—have embraced a rock.
9 Umntwana oyintandane uhluthunwa ebeleni; usane lomyanga luyathunjelwa isikwelede.
They take away violently The orphan from the breast, And they lay a pledge on the poor.
10 Ngoba bengelazigqoko bahamba nqunu; bathwala izikhwebu zamabele kodwa belambile.
Naked, they have gone without clothing, And hungry—have taken away a sheaf.
11 Bahluza ama-oliva emigelweni; bagidagida esikhamelweni sewayini kodwa bomile.
They make oil between their walls, They have trodden winepresses, and thirst.
12 Ukububula kwabafayo kuzwakala kuphuma edolobheni, lemiphefumulo yabalimeleyo ikhala icela uncedo. Kodwa uNkulunkulu kabeki muntu icala ngenxa yokona.
Men groan because of enmity, And the soul of pierced ones cries, And God does not give praise.
13 Bakhona labo abahlamukela ukukhanya, abangazaziyo izindlela zalokho kukhanya loba ukuhlala kuzo.
They have been those rebelling against light, They have not discerned His ways, Nor abided in His paths.
14 Nxa ukukhanya kwemini sekuhambile isigebenga siyaphuma sibulale abampofu labaswelayo; ebusuku siyanyonyoba njengesela.
The murderer rises at the light, He slays 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.
And the eye of an adulterer Has observed the twilight, Saying, No eye beholds me. And he puts the face in secret.
16 Ebumnyameni abantu bayagqekeza izindlu, kodwa emini bayazivalela endlini; kabakufuni ukukhanya.
He has dug in the darkness—houses; By day they shut themselves up, They have not known light.
17 Bonke labo ubumnyama obukhulu buyikusa kubo; bathandana lezinto ezesabekayo ezobumnyama.
When together, morning [is] death-shade to them, When he discerns the terrors of death-shade.
18 Ikanti baligwebu phezu kwamanzi; esabo isabelo selizwe siqalekisiwe, ukuze kungayi muntu ezivinini.
He [is] light on the face of the waters, Their portion is vilified in the earth, He does not turn the way of vineyards.
19 Njengalokhu ukutshisa lokoma kuhangula ungqwaqwane oncibilikayo, kanjalo ingcwaba liyabahlwitha abenze isono. (Sheol h7585)
Drought—also heat—consume snow-waters, Sheol—[those who] have sinned. (Sheol h7585)
20 Isibeletho siyabakhohlwa, impethu zizitike phezu kwabo; abantu ababi kabasakhunjulwa kodwa bayafohlozwa njengesihlahla.
The womb forgets him, The worm sweetens [on] him, He is remembered no more, And wickedness is broken as a tree.
21 Bancindezela owesifazane oyinyumba longelamntwana, kumfelokazi kabalamusa.
Treating evil the barren [who] does not bear, And he does no good [to] the widow,
22 Kodwa uNkulunkulu uyazihudulela kude izikhulu ngamandla akhe. Noma bangaze bahlale bazinze kodwa kabalathemba lempilo.
And [God] has drawn the mighty by His power, He rises, and none believes in life.
23 Angabayekela bahlale besizwa bevikelekile, kodwa amehlo akhe ayazibona izindlela zabo.
He gives to him confidence, and he is supported, And His eyes [are] on their ways.
24 Okwesikhatshana nje balodumo, baphinde banyamalale; bayehliswa njalo bafe njengabo bonke abanye; bayaqunywa njengezihloko zamabele.
They were high [for] a little, and they are not, And they have been brought low. They are shut up as all [others], And cut off as the head of an ear of grain.
25 Aluba lokhu kungenjalo, ngubani ongathi ngilamanga alulazise amazwi ami abe yize?”
And if not now, who proves me a liar, And makes my word of nothing?”
