UJobe 33
1 “Khathesi-ke, Jobe, lalela amazwi ami; lalelisisa konke engikutshoyo.
Therefore do thou but hear, O Job, my speeches, and give ear to all my words.
2 Sengizawuvula umlomo wami; amazwi ami asesolimini lwami.
Behold now, I have opened my mouth, my tongue speaketh in my mouth.
3 Amazwi ami aphuma enhliziyweni eqotho; izindebe zami zikhuluma ngokukholwa lokho engikwaziyo.
Out of my straightforward heart [come] my sayings, and my lips utter knowledge clearly.
4 UMoya kaNkulunkulu wangenza; umphefumulo kaSomandla ungipha impilo.
The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
5 Ngiphendula nxa usenelisa; zilungiselele ukuthi ungiphikise.
If thou canst, answer me, array thyself before me, stand forward.
6 Lami nginjengawe phambi kukaNkulunkulu; lami njalo ngathathwa emhlabathini.
Behold, I am in the same relation as thyself toward God: I myself also am cut out of the clay.
7 Ukungesaba kwakho makungakwethusi, njalo isandla sami masingasindi kuwe.
Behold, dread of me cannot terrify thee, and my pressure will not be too heavy upon thee.
8 Kodwa ukhulumile ngisizwa, ngiwezwile amazwi wona kanye,
But thou hast said before my ears, and the sound of the words I still hear,
9 ‘Ngimsulwa njalo kangilasono; ngihlanzekile kangilamlandu.
“I am pure without transgression, I am quite clean; and there is no iniquity in me:
10 Ikanti uNkulunkulu ubone okusolekayo kimi; ungithatha njengesitha sakhe.
Yet, behold, he findeth hateful backsliding on me, he regardeth me as an enemy unto him;
11 Uyazikhina inyawo zami ngezibopho; uyaziqaphelisisa zonke izindlela zami.’
He putteth my feet in the stocks, he watcheth all my paths.”
12 Kodwa ngiyakutshela ukuthi lapha uyalahleka, uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulomuntu.
Behold, In this thou art not just: I will answer thee; for God is far greater than a mortal.
13 Kungani umsola usithi kaphenduli amazwi omuntu na?
Why dost thou contend against him? for with all his words will he not give an answer.
14 Ngempela uNkulunkulu uyakhuluma, khathesi akhulume ngale indlela, aphinde akhulume ngenye lokuba umuntu angaze akunanzelela.
For God speaketh once, yea twice: [yet man] regardeth it not.
15 Kungaba ngephupho, kube ngombono ebusuku lapho abantu belele befile bethe nya emibhedeni yabo,
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumbers upon the couch:
16 angakhuluma ezindlebeni zabo, abethuse ngezixwayiso,
Then doth he lay open the ear of men, and sealeth it with their warning;
17 ukuze aguqule umuntu ekwenzeni okubi aqede ukuzikhukhumeza kwakhe,
To remove the son of earth [from his intended] deed and he covereth up pride from man;
18 ukulondoloza umphefumulo wakhe ungayi egodini, lempilo yakhe ingabhubhi ngenkemba.
He withholdeth his soul from the pit, and his life from passing away by the sword.
19 Loba umuntu angajeziswa ngobuhlungu esembhedeni wakhe, langokuqaqamba okungathuliyo emathanjeni akhe,
And so is he admonished by pain upon his couch, and all his bones with violent [aches].
20 aze ezwe umzimba wakhe usunengwa yikudla lomoya wakhe usenyanya lokudla okumnandi kakhulu.
So that his inclination abhorreth bread, and his soul, the most agreeable food.
21 Inyama yakhe iyacikizeka iphele, lamathambo akhe ayekade evaliwe abonakale egcekeni.
His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22 Umoya wakhe uyasondela egodini, lempilo yakhe kuzo izithunywa zokufa.
Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit, and his life to those that slay.
23 Kodwa nxa kulengilosi eceleni kwakhe, engumeli, eyodwa phakathi kwenkulungwane, ukutshela umuntu okuyikho okumfaneleyo,
If there be now about him one single angel, as defender, one out of a thousand, to tell for man his uprightness:
24 ukuba lomusa kuye isithi, ‘Mxolele angayingena egodini; sengimzuzele inhlawulo yakhe yokumhlenga
Then is he gracious unto him, and saith, Release him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 bese inyama yakhe ivuselelwa njengeyomntwana; iyavuselelwa ibe njengezinsukwini zobutsha bakhe.’
His flesh becometh full again as in youth: he returneth to the days of his boyhood.
26 Uyakhuleka kuNkulunkulu amthokozele, abubone ubuso bukaNkulunkulu amemeze ngentokozo; uyabuyiselwa nguNkulunkulu esimeni sakhe sokulunga.
He will offer his entreaty unto God, and he will receive him in favor, that he may see his face with joy: so doth He recompense unto the mortal his righteousness.
27 Kuthi-ke abesebuya ebantwini athi, ‘Ngenza isono, ngahlanekela okulungileyo, kodwa kangisazuzanga obekungifanele.
He then should assemble men around, and say, “I had sinned, and perverted what is right, yet have I not received a like return.”
28 Wawuhlenga umphefumulo wami ukuze ungayi egodini, ngakho ngizaphila ukuze ngikholise ukukhanya.’
Thus he redeemeth his soul from passing into the pit, and his life will look joyously on the light.
29 UNkulunkulu uyazenza zonke lezizinto emuntwini kabili, noma kathathu
Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man;
30 ukubuyisa umphefumulo wakhe ungayi egodini, ukuthi isibane sokuphila sikhanye kuye.
To bring back his soul from the pit, that she may shine in the light of life.
31 Nanzelela, Jobe, ulalele kimi; thula kukhulume mina.
Listen well, O Job, hearken unto me: keep silence, and I will truly speak.
32 Nxa ulolutho lokutsho, ngiphendula; khuluma sibili, ngoba ngifuna ukuthi ugezwe umlandu.
If thou hast any words, answer me: speak, for I wish to justify thee.
33 Kodwa nxa lungekho lalela kimi; thula zwi mina ngizakufundisa ukuhlakanipha.”
If not, hearken thou unto me: keep silence, and I will teach thee wisdom.
