UJobe 29
1 UJobe waqhubeka ngenkulumo yakhe wathi:
And Job again took up his measure, and said,
2 “Ngiyaziloyisa lezozinyanga esezadlulayo, lezinsuku uNkulunkulu esangilinda,
Oh that it were with me as in the months of old, as in the days, when, GOD, used to watch over me;
3 lapho isibane sakhe sisakhanyisa phezu kwekhanda lami ngihamba ngokukhanya kwakhe emnyameni!
When his lamp shone over my head, by whose light, I could go through darkness;
4 Oh, lezinsuku ngisazizwa ukuthi ngiyimi, lapho ubudlelwano obukhulu loNkulunkulu busesendlini yami,
As I was, in the days of my prime, when, the intimacy of GOD, was over my tent;
5 lapho uSomandla eseselami labantwabami besaphila lami,
While yet the Almighty was with me, round about me, were my young men;
6 lapho indlela yami ifafazwe ngolaza ledwala lingithululela impophoma zamafutha e-oliva.
When my steps were bathed in milk, and, the rock, poured out beside me, rivulets of oil:
7 Ekuyeni kwami emasangweni edolobho ngafika ngahlala enkundleni,
When I went out to the gate unto the city, in the open place, made ready my seat,
8 amajaha angibona agudluka ema eceleni, abadala baphakama bema ngezinyawo;
Young men saw me, and hid themselves, and, the aged, arose—they stood;
9 amadoda ayizikhulu athula akaze akhuluma avala imilomo yawo ngezandla zawo;
Rulers, restrained speech, and, a hand, laid they on their mouth;
10 amazwi ezikhulu ehliselwa phansi, inlimi zazo zanamathela olwangeni lwazo.
The voice of nobles, was hushed, and their tongue to their palate, did cleave;
11 Loba ngubani owangizwayo wakhuluma kuhle ngami, kwathi labo abangibonayo bangibuka,
When, the ear, heard, then it pronounced me happy, When, the eye, saw, then it bare me witness;
12 ngoba ngalamulela abayanga abacela uncedo, lezintandane ezazingelamsizi.
Because I used to deliver the oppressed who was crying out for aid, the fatherless also, and him that had no helper;
13 Indoda eyayisifa yangibusisa; ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi yahlabelela.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish, upon me was wont to descend, and, the heart of the widow, caused I to sing for joy;
14 Ngavunula ukulunga njengezigqoko zami; ukwahlulela ngokulunga kwaba yisembatho sami lengwane yami.
Righteousness, I put on, and it clothed me, Like a robe and turban, was my, justice;
15 Ngangingamehlo kwabayiziphofu lezinyawo kwabaqhulayo.
Eyes, became I to the, blind, and, feet to the lame, was, I!
16 Nganginguyise kwabaswelayo; ngayimela indaba yesihambi.
A father, was, I, to the needy, and, as for the cause which I knew not, I used to search it out;
17 Ngawephula amazinyo ababi ngahluthuna labo ababebabambile ngamazinyo abo.
And I shivered the fangs of the perverse, —and, out of his teeth, I tare the prey.
18 Ngakhumbula ngathi, ‘Ngizafela endlini yami, insuku zami zinengi njengezinhlamvu zetshebetshebe.
Then said I, Like a stem, shall I grow old, yea, as the sand, shall I multiply days:
19 Impande zami zizafinyelela emanzini, amazolo azalala emagatsheni ubusuku bonke.
My root, is laid open to the waters, and, the dew, shall lodge for the night in my boughs;
20 Udumo lwami luzahlala lulutsha kimi, idandili lami lilitsha esandleni sami.’
Mine honour, shall be young again with me, and, my bow, in my hand, be renewed.
21 Abantu babengilalela belethemba, belindele ukwelulekwa bethule zwi.
To me, men hearkened, and waited, and kept silence for my counsel;
22 Nxa sekukhulume mina, kungakhulumi omunye njalo; amazwi ami ayengena kamnandi ezindlebeni zabo.
After I had spoken, they spake not again, and, upon them, used my speech to drop;
23 Babengilindela njengokulindela izulu, bawanathe amazwi ami njengezulu lentwasa.
And they waited, as for rain, for me, and, their mouths, they opened wide for the spring-rain;
24 Ngangisithi ngingababobothekela, bathabe bangakholwa; ukukhanya kobuso bami kwakuligugu kubo.
I laughed at them—they lost confidence, and, the light of my countenance, they suffered not to fail;
25 Yimi engangibakhethela ukuthi benzeni ngoba ngisanduna kubo; ngangihlala njengenkosi phakathi kwamabutho ayo; ngangifana lomduduzi wabalilayo.”
I chose out their way, and sat chief, —and abode, as king, in an army, as one who, to mourners, giveth comfort.
