UJobe 34
1 U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
After proclaiming these things, Eliu now had this to say:
2 “Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
May the wise hear my words, and may the educated listen to me.
3 Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
For the ear examines words, and the mouth discerns foods by the taste.
4 Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
Let us choose judgment for ourselves, and let us consider among ourselves what is best.
5 UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
For Job has said: “I am just, yet God has subverted my judgment.
6 Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
For, within my judgment, there is a lie: my vehement barbs are without any sin.”
7 UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
What man is there that is like Job, who drinks up derision as if it were water,
8 Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
who accompanies those who work iniquity, and who walks with impious men?
9 Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
For he has said, “Man will not please God, even if he should travel with him.”
10 Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
Therefore, prudent men, hear me: impiety is far from God, and iniquity is far from the Almighty.
11 Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
For he will restore to man his works, and according to the ways of each, he will repay them.
12 Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
For truly, God will not condemn in vain, nor will the Almighty repudiate judgment.
13 Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
What other is established over the earth? Or whom has he placed over the world, which he made?
14 Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
But, if he directs his heart towards him, he will draw his spirit and breath to himself.
15 bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
All flesh will fail together, and man will return to ashes.
16 Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
Therefore, if you have understanding, hear what is said, and heed the sound of my eloquence.
17 Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
Is he that does not love judgment able to be corrected? And how can you so greatly condemn him who is just?
18 Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
He says to the king, “You are an apostate.” He calls commanders impious.
19 ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
He does not accept the reputation of leaders; nor does he recognize the tyrant as he contends against the poor. For all are the work of his hands.
20 Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
They will die suddenly, and the people will be troubled in the middle of the night, but they will pass through it, and the violent will be taken away without a hand.
21 Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
For his eyes are upon the ways of men, and he examines all of their steps.
22 Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
There is no darkness and no shadow of death, where those who work iniquity may be hidden.
23 UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
For it is no longer within the power of man to enter into judgment with God.
24 Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
He will break into many innumerable pieces, and he will cause others to stand up in their place.
25 Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
For he knows their works, and, as a result, he will bring the night, and they will be crushed.
26 Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
Just as the impious do, he has struck them in a place where they can be seen.
27 ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
They, as if with great diligence, have withdrawn from him, and they refused to understand all his ways,
28 Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
so that they caused the outcry of the needy to reach him, and he heard the voice of the poor.
29 Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
For, when he grants peace, who is there that can condemn? When he hides his face, who is there that can contemplate him, either among the nations, or among all men?
30 ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
He causes a hypocritical man to reign because of the sins of the people.
31 Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
Therefore, since I have been speaking about God, I will not prevent you from doing the same.
32 Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
If I have erred, you may teach me; if I have spoken unfairly, I will add no more.
33 Pho uNkulunkulu akuvuze ngokwentando yakho na, wena usala ukuphenduka? Kumele ukhethe wena, hatshi mina; ngakho ngitshela lokho okwaziyo.
Does God require this of you because it is displeasing to you? For you were the first to speak, and not I. But if you know something better, speak.
34 Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
Let men of understanding speak to me, and let a wise man listen to me.
35 ‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
But Job has been speaking foolishly, and his words contain unsound teaching.
36 Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
My father, let Job be tested even to the end; may you not retreat from a man of iniquity.
37 Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
For he adds blasphemy on top of his sins; nevertheless, let him be constrained to be among us, and then let him provoke God to judgment with his speeches.
