UJobe 34
1 U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
Then Elihu continued:
2 “Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
“Hear my words, O wise men; give ear to me, O men of learning.
3 Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
For the ear tests words as the mouth tastes food.
4 Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
Let us choose for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.
5 UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
For Job has declared, ‘I am righteous, yet God has deprived me of justice.
6 Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
Would I lie about my case? My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
7 UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
What man is like Job, who drinks up derision like water?
8 Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
He keeps company with evildoers and walks with wicked men.
9 Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God.’
10 Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
Therefore listen to me, O men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wrong, and from the Almighty to act unjustly.
11 Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
For according to a man’s deeds He repays him; according to a man’s ways He brings consequences.
12 Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
Indeed, it is true that God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice.
13 Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
Who gave Him charge over the earth? Who appointed Him over the whole world?
14 Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
If He were to set His heart to it and withdraw His Spirit and breath,
15 bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
all flesh would perish together and mankind would return to the dust.
16 Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
If you have understanding, hear this; listen to my words.
17 Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
Could one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One,
18 Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
who says to kings, ‘You are worthless!’ and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
who is not partial to princes and does not favor rich over poor? For they are all the work of His hands.
20 Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
They die in an instant, in the middle of the night. The people convulse and pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees his every step.
22 Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity can hide.
23 UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
For God need not examine a man further or have him approach for judgment.
24 Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
He shatters the mighty without inquiry and sets up others in their place.
25 Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
Therefore, He recognizes their deeds; He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
He strikes them for their wickedness in full view,
27 ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
because they turned aside from Him and had no regard for any of His ways.
28 Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
They caused the cry of the poor to come before Him, and He heard the outcry of the afflicted.
29 Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
But when He remains silent, who can condemn Him? When He hides His face, who can see Him? Yet He watches over both man and nation,
30 ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
that godless men should not rule or lay snares for the people.
31 Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
32 Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do it again.’
33 Pho uNkulunkulu akuvuze ngokwentando yakho na, wena usala ukuphenduka? Kumele ukhethe wena, hatshi mina; ngakho ngitshela lokho okwaziyo.
Should God repay you on your own terms when you have disavowed His? You must choose, not I; so tell me what you know.
34 Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
Men of understanding will declare to me, and the wise men who hear me will say:
35 ‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
‘Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.’
36 Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
If only Job were tried to the utmost for answering like a wicked man.
37 Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
For he adds rebellion to his sin; he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.”
