UJobe 31

1 “Ngasenza isivumelwano lamehlo ami ukuthi angakhangeli intombi ayihawukele.

I made a couenant with mine eyes: why then should I thinke on a mayde?

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

For what portion should I haue of God from aboue? and what inheritance of the Almightie from on hie?

3 Akusikubhujiswa kwababi lokutshabalaliswa kwalabo abenza okubi na?

Is not destruction to the wicked and strange punishment to the workers of iniquitie?

4 Kanti kaziboni yini izindlela zami abale zonke izinyathelo zami?

Doeth not he beholde my wayes and tell all my steps?

5 Nxa ngike ngahamba ngokwamanga loba unyawo lwami lwakhuthalela inkohliso

If I haue walked in vanitie, or if my foote hath made haste to deceite,

6 uNkulunkulu akangikale esikalini sakhe esiqotho ukuze abone ukuthi angilasici,

Let God weigh me in the iust balance, and he shall know mine vprightnes.

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

If my steppe hath turned out of the way, or mine heart hath walked after mine eye, or if any blot hath cleaued to mine handes,

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

Let me sowe, and let another eate: yea, let my plantes be rooted out.

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

If mine heart hath bene deceiued by a woman, or if I haue layde wayte at the doore of my neighbour,

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

Let my wife grinde vnto another man, and let other men bow downe vpon her:

11 Ngoba lokho bekuzakuba lihlazo, isono esifanele ukwahlulelwa.

For this is a wickednes, and iniquitie to bee condemned:

12 Kungumlilo otshisayo onguMaqothula; ngabe kwasiphuna isivuno sami.

Yea, this is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out al mine increase,

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

If I did contemne the iudgement of my seruant, and of my mayde, when they did contend with me,

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

What then shall I do when God standeth vp? and when he shall visit me, what shall I answere?

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

He that hath made me in the wombe, hath he not made him? hath not he alone facioned vs in the wombe?

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

If I restrained the poore of their desire, or haue caused the eyes of the widow to faile,

17 nxa ngizidlele ngedwa isinkwa sami, ngingasabelani lezintandane,

Or haue eaten my morsels alone, and the fatherles hath not eaten thereof,

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

(For from my youth hee hath growen vp with me as with a father, and from my mothers wombe I haue bene a guide vnto her)

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

If I haue seene any perish for want of clothing, or any poore without couering,

20 njalo inhliziyo yakhe ayingibusisanga ngokumfudumeza ngoboya bezimvu zami,

If his loynes haue not blessed me, because he was warmed with the fleece of my sheepe,

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

If I haue lift vp mine hande against the fatherlesse, when I saw that I might helpe him in the gate,

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

Let mine arme fal from my shoulder, and mine arme be broken from the bone.

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

For Gods punishment was fearefull vnto me, and I could not be deliuered from his highnes.

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

If I made gold mine hope, or haue sayd to the wedge of golde, Thou art my confidence,

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

If I reioyced because my substance was great, or because mine hand had gotten much,

26 nxa ngilikhangele ilanga libenyezela loba inyanga ihamba ngenkazimulo,

If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,

27 yaze yayengeka inhliziyo yami ngaphakathi nganga isandla sami ukuzikhonza,

If mine heart did flatter me in secrete, or if my mouth did kisse mine hand,

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

(This also had bene an iniquitie to be condemned: for I had denied the God aboue)

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

If I reioyced at his destruction that hated me, or was mooued to ioye when euill came vpon him,

30 kangivumelanga umlomo wami ukuba wenze isono ngokuqalekisa ukuphila kwakhe,

Neither haue I suffred my mouth to sinne, by wishing a curse vnto his soule.

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

Did not the men of my Tabernacle say, Who shall giue vs of his flesh? we can not bee satisfied.

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

The stranger did not lodge in the streete, but I opened my doores vnto him, that went by the way.

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

If I haue hid my sinne, as Adam, concealing mine iniquitie in my bosome,

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

Though I could haue made afraid a great multitude, yet the most contemptible of the families did feare me: so I kept silence, and went not out of the doore.

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

Oh that I had some to heare me! beholde my signe that the Almightie will witnesse for me: though mine aduersary should write a booke against me,

36 Leyoncwadi ngingayithwala ehlombe lami, ngingayithwala ekhanda njengomqhele.

Woulde not I take it vpon my shoulder, and binde it as a crowne vnto me?

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

I will tell him the nomber of my goings, and goe vnto him as to a prince.

38 Nxa ilizwe lakithi lingiphika lemifolo yalo imanzi ngezinyembezi,

If my lande cry against me, or the furrowes thereof complayne together,

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

If I haue eaten the fruites thereof without siluer: or if I haue grieued the soules of the masters thereof,

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

Let thistles growe in steade of wheate, and cockle in the stead of Barley. The wordes of Iob are ended.