UJobe 33
1 “Khathesi-ke, Jobe, lalela amazwi ami; lalelisisa konke engikutshoyo.
“And yet, please, O Job, Hear my speech and give ear [to] all my words.
2 Sengizawuvula umlomo wami; amazwi ami asesolimini lwami.
Now behold, I have opened my mouth, My tongue has spoken in the palate.
3 Amazwi ami aphuma enhliziyweni eqotho; izindebe zami zikhuluma ngokukholwa lokho engikwaziyo.
Of the uprightness of my heart [are] my sayings, And my lips have clearly spoken knowledge.
4 UMoya kaNkulunkulu wangenza; umphefumulo kaSomandla ungipha impilo.
The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Mighty quickens me.
5 Ngiphendula nxa usenelisa; zilungiselele ukuthi ungiphikise.
If you are able—answer me, Set in array before me—station yourself.
6 Lami nginjengawe phambi kukaNkulunkulu; lami njalo ngathathwa emhlabathini.
Behold, I [am], according to your word, for God, I have also been formed from the clay.
7 Ukungesaba kwakho makungakwethusi, njalo isandla sami masingasindi kuwe.
Behold, my terror does not frighten you, And my burden on you is not heavy.
8 Kodwa ukhulumile ngisizwa, ngiwezwile amazwi wona kanye,
Surely you have spoken in my ears, And the sounds of words I hear:
9 ‘Ngimsulwa njalo kangilasono; ngihlanzekile kangilamlandu.
I [am] pure, without transgression, I [am] innocent, and I have no iniquity.
10 Ikanti uNkulunkulu ubone okusolekayo kimi; ungithatha njengesitha sakhe.
Behold, He develops hindrances against me, He reckons me for an enemy to Him,
11 Uyazikhina inyawo zami ngezibopho; uyaziqaphelisisa zonke izindlela zami.’
He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.
12 Kodwa ngiyakutshela ukuthi lapha uyalahleka, uNkulunkulu mkhulu kulomuntu.
Behold, you have not been righteous [in] this, I answer you, that God is greater than man.
13 Kungani umsola usithi kaphenduli amazwi omuntu na?
Why have you striven against Him, When [for] all His matters He does not answer?
14 Ngempela uNkulunkulu uyakhuluma, khathesi akhulume ngale indlela, aphinde akhulume ngenye lokuba umuntu angaze akunanzelela.
For once God speaks, and twice (he does not behold it),
15 Kungaba ngephupho, kube ngombono ebusuku lapho abantu belele befile bethe nya emibhedeni yabo,
In a dream—a vision of night, In the falling of deep sleep on men, In slumberings on a bed.
16 angakhuluma ezindlebeni zabo, abethuse ngezixwayiso,
Then He uncovers the ear of men, And seals for their instruction,
17 ukuze aguqule umuntu ekwenzeni okubi aqede ukuzikhukhumeza kwakhe,
To turn aside man [from] doing, And He conceals pride from man.
18 ukulondoloza umphefumulo wakhe ungayi egodini, lempilo yakhe ingabhubhi ngenkemba.
He keeps back his soul from corruption, And his life from passing away by a dart.
19 Loba umuntu angajeziswa ngobuhlungu esembhedeni wakhe, langokuqaqamba okungathuliyo emathanjeni akhe,
And he has been reproved With pain on his bed, And the strife of his bones [is] enduring.
20 aze ezwe umzimba wakhe usunengwa yikudla lomoya wakhe usenyanya lokudla okumnandi kakhulu.
And his life has nauseated bread, And his soul desirable food.
21 Inyama yakhe iyacikizeka iphele, lamathambo akhe ayekade evaliwe abonakale egcekeni.
His flesh is consumed from being seen, And his bones are high, they were not seen!
22 Umoya wakhe uyasondela egodini, lempilo yakhe kuzo izithunywa zokufa.
And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those causing death.
23 Kodwa nxa kulengilosi eceleni kwakhe, engumeli, eyodwa phakathi kwenkulungwane, ukutshela umuntu okuyikho okumfaneleyo,
If there is a messenger by him, An interpreter—one of a thousand, To declare for man his uprightness,
24 ukuba lomusa kuye isithi, ‘Mxolele angayingena egodini; sengimzuzele inhlawulo yakhe yokumhlenga
Then He favors him and says, Ransom him from going down to the pit, I have found an atonement.
25 bese inyama yakhe ivuselelwa njengeyomntwana; iyavuselelwa ibe njengezinsukwini zobutsha bakhe.’
Fresher [is] his flesh than a child’s, He returns to the days of his youth.
26 Uyakhuleka kuNkulunkulu amthokozele, abubone ubuso bukaNkulunkulu amemeze ngentokozo; uyabuyiselwa nguNkulunkulu esimeni sakhe sokulunga.
He makes supplication to God, And He accepts him. And he sees His face with shouting, And He returns to man His righteousness.
27 Kuthi-ke abesebuya ebantwini athi, ‘Ngenza isono, ngahlanekela okulungileyo, kodwa kangisazuzanga obekungifanele.
[Then] he looks on men and says, I sinned, and I have perverted uprightness, And it has not been profitable to me.
28 Wawuhlenga umphefumulo wami ukuze ungayi egodini, ngakho ngizaphila ukuze ngikholise ukukhanya.’
He has ransomed my soul From going over into the pit, And my life looks on the light.
29 UNkulunkulu uyazenza zonke lezizinto emuntwini kabili, noma kathathu
Behold, God works all these, Twice, [even] three times with man,
30 ukubuyisa umphefumulo wakhe ungayi egodini, ukuthi isibane sokuphila sikhanye kuye.
To bring back his soul from the pit, To be enlightened with the light of the living.
31 Nanzelela, Jobe, ulalele kimi; thula kukhulume mina.
Attend, O Job, listen to me, Keep silent, and I speak.
32 Nxa ulolutho lokutsho, ngiphendula; khuluma sibili, ngoba ngifuna ukuthi ugezwe umlandu.
If there are words—answer me, Speak, for I have a desire to justify you.
33 Kodwa nxa lungekho lalela kimi; thula zwi mina ngizakufundisa ukuhlakanipha.”
If there are not—listen to me, Keep silent, and I teach you wisdom.”
