UJobe 29
1 UJobe waqhubeka ngenkulumo yakhe wathi:
Job went on speaking.
2 “Ngiyaziloyisa lezozinyanga esezadlulayo, lezinsuku uNkulunkulu esangilinda,
“I wish I was back in the old days when God looked after me!
3 lapho isibane sakhe sisakhanyisa phezu kwekhanda lami ngihamba ngokukhanya kwakhe emnyameni!
His light shone above me and lit my way through the darkness.
4 Oh, lezinsuku ngisazizwa ukuthi ngiyimi, lapho ubudlelwano obukhulu loNkulunkulu busesendlini yami,
When I was young and strong, God was my friend and spoke to me in my home.
5 lapho uSomandla eseselami labantwabami besaphila lami,
The Almighty was still with me and I was surrounded with my children.
6 lapho indlela yami ifafazwe ngolaza ledwala lingithululela impophoma zamafutha e-oliva.
My herds produced much milk, and oil flowed freely from my olive presses.
7 Ekuyeni kwami emasangweni edolobho ngafika ngahlala enkundleni,
I went out to the city gate and took my seat in the public square.
8 amajaha angibona agudluka ema eceleni, abadala baphakama bema ngezinyawo;
The young men saw me and moved out of the way; the elders would stand up for me.
9 amadoda ayizikhulu athula akaze akhuluma avala imilomo yawo ngezandla zawo;
The leaders remained silent and covered their mouths with their hands.
10 amazwi ezikhulu ehliselwa phansi, inlimi zazo zanamathela olwangeni lwazo.
The voices of the officials were hushed; they held their tongues in my presence.
11 Loba ngubani owangizwayo wakhuluma kuhle ngami, kwathi labo abangibonayo bangibuka,
Everyone who listened to me praised me; whoever saw me commended me,
12 ngoba ngalamulela abayanga abacela uncedo, lezintandane ezazingelamsizi.
because I gave to the poor who called out to me and the orphans who had no one to help them.
13 Indoda eyayisifa yangibusisa; ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi yahlabelela.
Those who were about to die blessed me; I made the widow sing for joy.
14 Ngavunula ukulunga njengezigqoko zami; ukwahlulela ngokulunga kwaba yisembatho sami lengwane yami.
Being true and acting right were what I wore for clothing.
15 Ngangingamehlo kwabayiziphofu lezinyawo kwabaqhulayo.
I was like eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
16 Nganginguyise kwabaswelayo; ngayimela indaba yesihambi.
I was like a father to the poor, and I defended the rights of strangers.
17 Ngawephula amazinyo ababi ngahluthuna labo ababebabambile ngamazinyo abo.
I broke the jaw of the wicked and made them drop their prey from their teeth.
18 Ngakhumbula ngathi, ‘Ngizafela endlini yami, insuku zami zinengi njengezinhlamvu zetshebetshebe.
I thought I would die at home, after many years.
19 Impande zami zizafinyelela emanzini, amazolo azalala emagatsheni ubusuku bonke.
Like a tree my roots spread out to the water; the dew rests on my branches overnight.
20 Udumo lwami luzahlala lulutsha kimi, idandili lami lilitsha esandleni sami.’
Fresh honors were always being given to me; my strength was renewed like an unfailing bow.
21 Abantu babengilalela belethemba, belindele ukwelulekwa bethule zwi.
People listened carefully to what I had to say; they kept quiet as they listened to my advice.
22 Nxa sekukhulume mina, kungakhulumi omunye njalo; amazwi ami ayengena kamnandi ezindlebeni zabo.
Once I had spoken they had nothing else to say; what I said was enough.
23 Babengilindela njengokulindela izulu, bawanathe amazwi ami njengezulu lentwasa.
They waited for me like people waiting for rain; their mouths wide open for the spring rain.
24 Ngangisithi ngingababobothekela, bathabe bangakholwa; ukukhanya kobuso bami kwakuligugu kubo.
When I smiled at them they could hardly believe it; my approval meant all the world to them.
25 Yimi engangibakhethela ukuthi benzeni ngoba ngisanduna kubo; ngangihlala njengenkosi phakathi kwamabutho ayo; ngangifana lomduduzi wabalilayo.”
I decided the way forward as their leader, living like a king among his soldiers, and when they were sad I comforted them.
