UJobe 29
1 UJobe waqhubeka ngenkulumo yakhe wathi:
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 “Ngiyaziloyisa lezozinyanga esezadlulayo, lezinsuku uNkulunkulu esangilinda,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 lapho isibane sakhe sisakhanyisa phezu kwekhanda lami ngihamba ngokukhanya kwakhe emnyameni!
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Oh, lezinsuku ngisazizwa ukuthi ngiyimi, lapho ubudlelwano obukhulu loNkulunkulu busesendlini yami,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 lapho uSomandla eseselami labantwabami besaphila lami,
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 lapho indlela yami ifafazwe ngolaza ledwala lingithululela impophoma zamafutha e-oliva.
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Ekuyeni kwami emasangweni edolobho ngafika ngahlala enkundleni,
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 amajaha angibona agudluka ema eceleni, abadala baphakama bema ngezinyawo;
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 amadoda ayizikhulu athula akaze akhuluma avala imilomo yawo ngezandla zawo;
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 amazwi ezikhulu ehliselwa phansi, inlimi zazo zanamathela olwangeni lwazo.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Loba ngubani owangizwayo wakhuluma kuhle ngami, kwathi labo abangibonayo bangibuka,
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 ngoba ngalamulela abayanga abacela uncedo, lezintandane ezazingelamsizi.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
13 Indoda eyayisifa yangibusisa; ngenza inhliziyo yomfelokazi yahlabelela.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Ngavunula ukulunga njengezigqoko zami; ukwahlulela ngokulunga kwaba yisembatho sami lengwane yami.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Ngangingamehlo kwabayiziphofu lezinyawo kwabaqhulayo.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Nganginguyise kwabaswelayo; ngayimela indaba yesihambi.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Ngawephula amazinyo ababi ngahluthuna labo ababebabambile ngamazinyo abo.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Ngakhumbula ngathi, ‘Ngizafela endlini yami, insuku zami zinengi njengezinhlamvu zetshebetshebe.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Impande zami zizafinyelela emanzini, amazolo azalala emagatsheni ubusuku bonke.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Udumo lwami luzahlala lulutsha kimi, idandili lami lilitsha esandleni sami.’
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 Abantu babengilalela belethemba, belindele ukwelulekwa bethule zwi.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Nxa sekukhulume mina, kungakhulumi omunye njalo; amazwi ami ayengena kamnandi ezindlebeni zabo.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Babengilindela njengokulindela izulu, bawanathe amazwi ami njengezulu lentwasa.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 Ngangisithi ngingababobothekela, bathabe bangakholwa; ukukhanya kobuso bami kwakuligugu kubo.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
25 Yimi engangibakhethela ukuthi benzeni ngoba ngisanduna kubo; ngangihlala njengenkosi phakathi kwamabutho ayo; ngangifana lomduduzi wabalilayo.”
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
