UJobe 31

1 “Ngasenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami ukuthi angakhangeli intombi ayihawukele.

I made an agreement with my eyes; how then might my eyes be looking on a virgin?

2 Siyini isabelo somuntu asabelwe nguNkulunkulu ophezulu na, ilifa lakhe elivela kuSomandla phezulu?

For what is God's reward from on high, or the heritage given by the Ruler of all from heaven?

3 Akusikubhujiswa kwababi lokutshabalaliswa kwalabo abenza okubi na?

Is it not trouble for the sinner, and destruction for the evil-doers?

4 Kanti kaziboni yini izindlela zami abale zonke izinyathelo zami?

Does he not see my ways, and are not my steps all numbered?

5 Nxa ngike ngahamba ngokwamanga loba unyawo lwami lwakhuthalela inkohliso

If I have gone in false ways, or my foot has been quick in working deceit;

6 uNkulunkulu akangikale esikalini sakhe esiqotho ukuze abone ukuthi angilasici,

(Let me be measured in upright scales, and let God see my righteousness: )

7 nxa izinyathelo zami zike zaphambuka endleleni, nxa inhliziyo yami ikhokhelwe ngamehlo ami, noma kumbe izandla zami zike zangcoliswa,

If my steps have been turned out of the way, or if my heart went after my eyes, or if the property of another is in my hands;

8 lapho-ke abanye kabazidlele lokho engikuhlanyeleyo, njalo amabele ami kawasitshunwe.

Let me put seed in the earth for another to have the fruit of it, and let my produce be uprooted.

9 Nxa inhliziyo yami ike yakhangwa ngowesifazane, kumbe nxa ngike ngacathama ngasemnyango kamakhelwane,

If my heart went after another man's wife, or if I was waiting secretly at my neighbour's door;

10 lapho-ke owami umfazi kacholele enye indoda, njalo amanye amadoda kawalale laye.

Then let my wife give pleasure to another man and let others make use of her body.

11 Ngoba lokho bekuzakuba lihlazo, isono esifanele ukwahlulelwa.

For that would be a crime; it would be an act for which punishment would be measured out by the judges:

12 Kungumlilo otshisayo onguMaqothula; ngabe kwasiphuna isivuno sami.

It would be a fire burning even to destruction, and taking away all my produce.

13 Nxa ngingaphathanga kuhle izisebenzi zami, esesilisa lesesifazane nxa kukhona abakusolayo kimi,

If I did wrong in the cause of my man-servant, or my woman-servant, when they went to law with me;

14 ngizakuthini lapho uNkulunkulu esengibuza ngakho na? Ngizaphendula ngithini nxa sekumele ngichaze na?

What then will I do when God comes as my judge? and what answer may I give to his questions?

15 Yena lowo owangenzayo esibelethweni kabenzanga labo na? Kasuye yini yena kanye owasenzayo sonke phakathi kwezisu zabomama na?

Did not God make him as well as me? did he not give us life in our mothers' bodies?

16 Nxa ngilahlele eceleni izifiso zabayanga loba ngayekela amehlo omfelokazi edinwa yizinyembezi,

If I kept back the desire of the poor; if the widow's eye was looking for help to no purpose;

17 nxa ngizidlele ngedwa isinkwa sami, ngingasabelani lezintandane,

If I kept my food for myself, and did not give some of it to the child with no father;

18 kodwa ebutsheni bami ngabondla njengaboyise, njalo kusukela ekuzalweni kwami ngamkhokhela umfelokazi,

(For I was cared for by God as by a father from my earliest days; he was my guide from the body of my mother; )

19 nxa ngike ngabona umuntu esifa ngokuswela izigqoko, loba umuntu oswelayo engelasivunulo,

If I saw one near to death for need of clothing, and that the poor had nothing covering him;

20 njalo inhliziyo yakhe ayingibusisanga ngokumfudumeza ngoboya bezimvu zami,

If his back did not give me a blessing, and the wool of my sheep did not make him warm;

21 nxa ngike ngaphakamisa isandla sami phezu kwentandane, kodwa mina ngikwazi ukuthi bayangilalela emthethwandaba,

If my hand had been lifted up against him who had done no wrong, when I saw that I was supported by the judges;

22 nxa kunjalo kayikhumuke ingalo yami kusukela ehlombe, kayephulwe endololwaneni.

May my arm be pulled from my body, and be broken from its base.

23 Ngoba ngesaba ukubhubhisa kukaNkulunkulu, kwathi ngokwesaba inkazimulo yakhe, ngayekela ukwenza izinto ezinjalo.

For the fear of God kept me back, and because of his power I might not do such things.

24 Nxa ngifake ithemba lami phezu kwegolide, loba ngathi kulo igolide elicolekileyo, ‘Ulithemba lami,’

If I made gold my hope, or if I ever said to the best gold, I have put my faith in you;

25 nxa bengithokoziswa yinotho yami enengi, lenzuzo evele ngezandla zami,

If I was glad because my wealth was great, and because my hand had got together a great store;

26 nxa ngilikhangele ilanga libenyezela loba inyanga ihamba ngenkazimulo,

If, when I saw the sun shining, and the moon moving on its bright way,

27 yaze yayengeka inhliziyo yami ngaphakathi nganga isandla sami ukuzikhonza,

A secret feeling of worship came into my heart, and my hand gave kisses from my mouth;

28 lezi lazo yizono ebezifanele ukwahlulelwa, ngoba bengizabe ngingathembekanga kuNkulunkulu ophezulu.

That would have been another sin to be rewarded with punishment by the judges; for I would have been false to God on high.

29 Nxa ngike ngathokoza ngomnyama owehlele isitha sami kumbe ngagqabhaza ngohlupho olumehleleyo,

If I was glad at the trouble of my hater, and gave cries of joy when evil overtook him;

30 kangivumelanga umlomo wami ukuba wenze isono ngokuqalekisa ukuphila kwakhe,

(For I did not let my mouth give way to sin, in putting a curse on his life; )

31 nxa abantu bendlu yami bengakaze bathi, ‘Ngubani ongazange azitike ngenyama kaJobe na?’

If the men of my tent did not say, Who has not had full measure of his meat?

32 kodwa kakulasihambi esake salala emgwaqweni, ngoba umnyango wami wawuhlala uvulelwe izihambi

The traveller did not take his night's rest in the street, and my doors were open to anyone on a journey;

33 nxa ngisithukuzile isono sami njengokwenziwa ngabantu, ngokufihla umlandu wami enhliziyweni yami

If I kept my evil doings covered, and my sin in the secret of my breast,

34 ngoba ngisesaba abantu ngithuthunyeliswa yikweyiswa ngabosendo ngazithulela ngaze ngala lokuphumela phandle.

For fear of the great body of people, or for fear that families might make sport of me, so that I kept quiet, and did not go out of my door;

35 (Oh, kube ukhona ongizwayo! Sengisayina incwadi yokuzivikela kwami, uSomandla kangiphendule; ongimangalelayo kabhale phansi icala angethesa lona.

If only God would give ear to me, and the Ruler of all would give me an answer! or if what he has against me had been put in writing!

36 Leyoncwadi ngingayithwala ehlombe lami, ngingayithwala ekhanda njengomqhele.

Truly I would take up the book in my hands; it would be to me as a crown;

37 Bengingamchazela ngokugcweleyo ngazozonke izinyathelo zami; ngisondele kuye njengenkosana.)

I would make clear the number of my steps, I would put it before him like a prince! The words of Job are ended.

38 Nxa ilizwe lakithi lingiphika lemifolo yalo imanzi ngezinyembezi,

If my land has made an outcry against me, or the ploughed earth has been in sorrow;

39 nxa ngike ngadla izithelo zalo angaze ngabhadala loba ngephula imimoya yabanikazi,

If I have taken its produce without payment, causing the death of its owners;

40 nxa kunjalo kakumile ameva esikhundleni sengqoloyi, lokhula esikhundleni sebhali.” Aphela lapha amazwi kaJobe.

Then in place of grain let thorns come up, and in place of barley evil-smelling plants.