UJobe 34
1 U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
Hear my words, ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food.
4 Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
Let us choose for us that which is right; let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
For Job hath said: 'I am righteous, and God hath taken away my right;
6 Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.'
7 UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
For he hath said: 'It profiteth a man nothing that he should be in accord with God.'
10 Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: Far be it from God, that He should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that He should commit iniquity.
11 Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
For the work of a man will He requite unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
Who gave Him a charge over the earth? Or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
If He set His heart upon man, if He gather unto Himself his spirit and his breath;
15 bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
All flesh shall perish together, and man shall return unto dust.
16 Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
Shall even one that hateth right govern? And wilt thou condemn Him that is just and mighty —
18 Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
Is it fit to say to a king: 'Thou art base'? Or to nobles: 'Ye are wicked'? —
19 ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
That respecteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they all are the work of His hands.
20 Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
In a moment they die, even at midnight; the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away without hand.
21 Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He seeth all his goings.
22 Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
For He doth not appoint a time unto any man, when he should go before God in judgment.
24 Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
He breaketh in pieces mighty men without inquisition, and setteth others in their stead.
25 Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
Therefore He taketh knowledge of their works; and He overturneth them in the night, so that they are crushed.
26 Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
Because they turned aside from following Him, and would not have regard to any of His ways;
28 Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him, and He heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
When He giveth quietness, who then can condemn? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man, alike;
30 ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
That the godless man reign not, that there be none to ensnare the people.
31 Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
For hath any said unto God: 'I have borne chastisement, though I offend not;
32 Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
That which I see not teach Thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?
33 Pho uNkulunkulu akuvuze ngokwentando yakho na, wena usala ukuphenduka? Kumele ukhethe wena, hatshi mina; ngakho ngitshela lokho okwaziyo.
Shall His recompense be as thou wilt? For thou loathest it, so that thou must choose, and not I; therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
Men of understanding will say unto me, yea, every wise man that heareth me:
35 ‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
'Job speaketh without knowledge, and his words are without discernment.'
36 Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
Would that Job were tried unto the end, because of his answering like wicked men.
37 Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.
