UJobe 31
1 “Ngasenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami ukuthi angakhangeli intombi ayihawukele.
I made a covenant with my eyes, that I would not so much as think upon a virgin.
2 Siyini isabelo somuntu asabelwe nguNkulunkulu ophezulu na, ilifa lakhe elivela kuSomandla phezulu?
For what part should God from above have in me, and what inheritance the Almighty from on high?
3 Akusikubhujiswa kwababi lokutshabalaliswa kwalabo abenza okubi na?
Is not destruction to the wicked, and aversion to them that work iniquity?
4 Kanti kaziboni yini izindlela zami abale zonke izinyathelo zami?
Doth not he consider my ways, and number all my steps?
5 Nxa ngike ngahamba ngokwamanga loba unyawo lwami lwakhuthalela inkohliso
If I have walked in vanity, and my foot hath made haste to deceit:
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 step hath turned out of the way, and if my heart hath followed my eyes, and if a spot hath cleaved to my hands:
8 lapho-ke abanye kabazidlele lokho engikuhlanyeleyo, njalo amabele ami kawasitshunwe.
Then let me sow and let another eat: and let my offspring be rooted out.
9 Nxa inhliziyo yami ike yakhangwa ngowesifazane, kumbe nxa ngike ngacathama ngasemnyango kamakhelwane,
If my heart hath been deceived upon a woman, and if I have laid wait at my friend’s door:
10 lapho-ke owami umfazi kacholele enye indoda, njalo amanye amadoda kawalale laye.
Let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lie with her.
11 Ngoba lokho bekuzakuba lihlazo, isono esifanele ukwahlulelwa.
For this is a heinous crime, and a most grievous iniquity.
12 Kungumlilo otshisayo onguMaqothula; ngabe kwasiphuna isivuno sami.
It is a fire that devoureth even to destruction, and rooteth up all things that spring.
13 Nxa ngingaphathanga kuhle izisebenzi zami, esesilisa lesesifazane nxa kukhona abakusolayo kimi,
If I have despised to abide judgment with my manservant, or my maidservant, when they had any controversy against me:
14 ngizakuthini lapho uNkulunkulu esengibuza ngakho na? Ngizaphendula ngithini nxa sekumele ngichaze na?
For what shall I do when God shall rise to judge? and when he shall examine, what shall I answer him?
15 Yena lowo owangenzayo esibelethweni kabenzanga labo na? Kasuye yini yena kanye owasenzayo sonke phakathi kwezisu zabomama na?
Did not he that made me in the womb make him also: 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 to the poor what they desired, and have made the eyes of the widow wait:
17 nxa ngizidlele ngedwa isinkwa sami, ngingasabelani lezintandane,
If I have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof:
18 kodwa ebutsheni bami ngabondla njengaboyise, njalo kusukela ekuzalweni kwami ngamkhokhela umfelokazi,
(For from my infancy mercy grew up 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 despised him that was perishing for want of clothing, and the poor man that had no 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 against the fatherless, even when I saw myself superior in the gate:
22 nxa kunjalo kayikhumuke ingalo yami kusukela ehlombe, kayephulwe endololwaneni.
Let my shoulder fall from its joint, and let my arm with its bones be broken.
23 Ngoba ngesaba ukubhubhisa kukaNkulunkulu, kwathi ngokwesaba inkazimulo yakhe, ngayekela ukwenza izinto ezinjalo.
For I have always feared God as waves swelling over me, and his weight I was not able to bear.
24 Nxa ngifake ithemba lami phezu kwegolide, loba ngathi kulo igolide elicolekileyo, ‘Ulithemba lami,’
If I have thought gold my strength, and have said to fine gold: My confidence:
25 nxa bengithokoziswa yinotho yami enengi, lenzuzo evele ngezandla zami,
If I have rejoiced over my great riches, and because my hand had gotten much.
26 nxa ngilikhangele ilanga libenyezela loba inyanga ihamba ngenkazimulo,
If I beheld the sun when it shined, and the moon going in brightness:
27 yaze yayengeka inhliziyo yami ngaphakathi nganga isandla sami ukuzikhonza,
And my heart in secret hath rejoiced, and I have 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 downfall of him that hated me, and have rejoiced that evil had found him.
30 kangivumelanga umlomo wami ukuba wenze isono ngokuqalekisa ukuphila kwakhe,
For I have not given my mouth to sin, by wishing a curse to his soul.
31 nxa abantu bendlu yami bengakaze bathi, ‘Ngubani ongazange azitike ngenyama kaJobe na?’
If the men of my tabernacle have not said: Who will give us of his flesh that we may be filled?
32 kodwa kakulasihambi esake salala emgwaqweni, ngoba umnyango wami wawuhlala uvulelwe izihambi
The stranger did not stay without, my door was open to the traveller.
33 nxa ngisithukuzile isono sami njengokwenziwa ngabantu, ngokufihla umlandu wami enhliziyweni yami
If as a man I have hid my sin, and have concealed my iniquity in my bosom.
34 ngoba ngisesaba abantu ngithuthunyeliswa yikweyiswa ngabosendo ngazithulela ngaze ngala lokuphumela phandle.
If I have been afraid at a very great multitude, and the contempt of kinsmen hath terrified me: and I have not rather held my peace, and not gone out of the door.
35 (Oh, kube ukhona ongizwayo! Sengisayina incwadi yokuzivikela kwami, uSomandla kangiphendule; ongimangalelayo kabhale phansi icala angethesa lona.
Who would grant me a hearer, that the Almighty may hear my desire; and that he himself that judgeth would write a book,
36 Leyoncwadi ngingayithwala ehlombe lami, ngingayithwala ekhanda njengomqhele.
That I may carry it on my shoulder, and put it about me as a crown?
37 Bengingamchazela ngokugcweleyo ngazozonke izinyathelo zami; ngisondele kuye njengenkosana.)
At every step of mine I would pronounce it, and offer it as to a prince.
38 Nxa ilizwe lakithi lingiphika lemifolo yalo imanzi ngezinyembezi,
If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
39 nxa ngike ngadla izithelo zalo angaze ngabhadala loba ngephula imimoya yabanikazi,
If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money, and have afflicted the soul of the tillers thereof:
40 nxa kunjalo kakumile ameva esikhundleni sengqoloyi, lokhula esikhundleni sebhali.” Aphela lapha amazwi kaJobe.
Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
