UJobe 31

1 “Ngasenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami ukuthi angakhangeli intombi ayihawukele.

I reached an agreement with my eyes, that I would not so much as think about a virgin.

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

For what portion should God from above hold for me, and what inheritance should the Almighty from on high keep?

3 Akusikubhujiswa kwababi lokutshabalaliswa kwalabo abenza okubi na?

Is not destruction held for the wicked and repudiation kept for those who work injustice?

4 Kanti kaziboni yini izindlela zami abale zonke izinyathelo zami?

Does he not examine my ways and number all my steps?

5 Nxa ngike ngahamba ngokwamanga loba unyawo lwami lwakhuthalela inkohliso

If I have walked in vanity, or if my foot has hurried towards deceitfulness,

6 uNkulunkulu akangikale esikalini sakhe esiqotho ukuze abone ukuthi angilasici,

let him weigh me in a just balance, and let God know my simplicity.

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

If my steps have turned aside from the way, or if my heart has followed my eyes, or if a blemish has clung to my hands,

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

then may I sow, and let another consume, and let my offspring be eradicated.

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

If my heart has been deceived over a woman, or if I have waited in ambush at my friend’s door,

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

then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her.

11 Ngoba lokho bekuzakuba lihlazo, isono esifanele ukwahlulelwa.

For this is a crime and a very great injustice.

12 Kungumlilo otshisayo onguMaqothula; ngabe kwasiphuna isivuno sami.

It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth.

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

If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me,

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

then what will I do when God rises to judge, and, when he inquires, how will I respond to him?

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

Is not he who created me in the womb, also he who labored to make him? And did not one and the same form me in the womb?

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

If I have denied the poor what they wanted and have made the eyes of the widow wait;

17 nxa ngizidlele ngedwa isinkwa sami, ngingasabelani lezintandane,

if I have eaten my morsel of food alone, while orphans have not eaten from it;

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

(for from my infancy mercy grew with me, and it came out with me from my mother’s womb; )

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

if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering,

20 njalo inhliziyo yakhe ayingibusisanga ngokumfudumeza ngoboya bezimvu zami,

if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep;

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

if I have lifted up my hand over an orphan, even when it might seem to me that I have the advantage over him at the gate;

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

then may my shoulder fall from its joint, and may my arm, with all its bones, be broken.

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

For I have always feared God, like waves flowing over me, whose weight I was unable to bear.

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

If I have considered gold to be my strength, or if I have called purified gold ‘my Trust;’

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

if I have rejoiced over my great success, and over the many things my hand has obtained;

26 nxa ngilikhangele ilanga libenyezela loba inyanga ihamba ngenkazimulo,

if I gazed upon the sun when it shined and the moon advancing brightly,

27 yaze yayengeka inhliziyo yami ngaphakathi nganga isandla sami ukuzikhonza,

so that my heart rejoiced in secret and I kissed my hand with my mouth,

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

which is a very great iniquity and a denial against the most high God;

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

if I have been glad at the ruin of him who hated me and have exulted that evil found him,

30 kangivumelanga umlomo wami ukuba wenze isono ngokuqalekisa ukuphila kwakhe,

for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul;

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

if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”

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

for the foreigner did not remain at the door, my door was open to the traveler;

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

if, as man does, I have hidden my sin and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom;

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

if I became frightened by an excessive crowd, and the disrespect of close relatives alarmed me, so that I would much rather have remained silent or have gone out the door;

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

then, would he grant me a hearing, so that the Almighty would listen to my desire, and he who judges would himself write a book,

36 Leyoncwadi ngingayithwala ehlombe lami, ngingayithwala ekhanda njengomqhele.

which I would then carry on my shoulder and wrap around me like a crown?

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

With each of my steps, I would pronounce and offer it, as if to a prince.

38 Nxa ilizwe lakithi lingiphika lemifolo yalo imanzi ngezinyembezi,

So, if my land cries out against me, and if its furrows weep with it,

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

if I have used its fruits for nothing but money and have afflicted the souls of its tillers,

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

then, may thistles spring forth for me instead of grain, and thorns instead of barley. (This ended the words of Job.)