UJobe 34
1 U-Elihu waqhubeka esithi:
And Elihu proceeded, and said:
2 “Zwanini amazwi ami, lina madoda ahlakaniphileyo; lalelani kimi, lina madoda ayizifundiswa.
Hear my words, ye wise men! Give ear to me, ye that have knowledge!
3 Phela indlebe iyawahlola amazwi njengolimi lunambitha ukudla.
For the ear trieth words, As the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Asizihluzeleni thina okulungileyo; kasifundeni ndawonye okuhle.
Let us examine for ourselves what is right; Let us know among ourselves what is true.
5 UJobe uthi, ‘Kangilacala, kodwa uNkulunkulu kangahluleli ngokulunga.
Job hath said, “I am righteous, And God refuseth me justice.
6 Loba mina ngiqondile, kuthiwa ngilamanga; loba ngingelacala, umtshoko wakhe ungihlaba isilonda esingelaphekiyo.’
Though I am innocent, I am made a liar; My wound is incurable, though I am free from transgression.”
7 UJobe kanti ungumuntu bani, onatha ukuklolodela njengamanzi?
Where is the man like Job, Who drinketh impiety like water;
8 Uzwanana labantu abenza ububi; uhambisana labantu ababi.
Who goeth in company with evil-doers, And walketh with wicked men?
9 Ngoba uthi, ‘Umuntu kakumsizi ngalutho ukuzama ukuthokozisa uNkulunkulu.’
For he hath said, “A man hath no advantage, When he delighteth himself in God.”
10 Ngakho lalelani kimi lina madoda azwisisayo. Kakube khatshana laye uNkulunkulu ukwenza ububi, khatshana kukaSomandla ukona.
Wherefore hearken to me, ye men of understanding! Far be iniquity from God; Yea, far be injustice from the Almighty!
11 Uyamphindisela umuntu ngalokho akwenzileyo; umehlisela lokho okufanele ukuziphatha kwakhe.
For what a man hath done he will requite him, And render to every one according to his deeds.
12 Kakungeni engqondweni ukuthi uNkulunkulu angenza ububi, ukuthi uSomandla angakutshila ukwahlulela ngokulunga.
Surely God will not do iniquity, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.
13 Ngubani owambekayo phezu komhlaba na? Ngubani owathi kalawule umhlaba wonke na?
Who hath given him the charge of the earth? Or who hath created the whole world?
14 Aluba wayengathanda asuse umoya wakhe lokuphefumula,
Should he set his heart against man, Should he take back his spirit and his breath,
15 bonke abantu babengatshabalala kanyekanye, umuntu wayezabuyela othulini.
Then would all flesh expire together; Yea, man would return to the dust.
16 Nxa lilokuzwisisa, zwanini lokhu; lalelani lokhu engikutshoyo.
If thou hast understanding, hear this! Give ear to the voice of my words!
17 Kambe lowo ozonda ukwahlulela ngokulunga angabusa na? Liyamlahla yini Yena oqotho njalo olamandla?
Shall he, that hateth justice, govern? Wilt thou then condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Kayisuye yini othi emakhosini, ‘Kalisizi lutho,’ athi kwabayizikhulu, ‘Libabi,’
Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked; Or to princes, Ye are unrighteous?
19 ongatshengisi ukwazisa amakhosana kulabanye loba athande abanothileyo kulabayanga, ngoba bonke bangumsebenzi wezandla zakhe?
How much less to him that is not partial to princes, Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? For they are all the work of his hands.
20 Bayafa nje masinyane, loba phakathi kobusuku; abantu bayanyikinywa bedlule; abalamandla bayasuswa kungelasandla somuntu.
In a moment they die; yea, at midnight Do the people stagger and pass away, And the mighty are destroyed without hand.
21 Amehlo akhe aphezu kwezindlela zabantu; ubona zonke izinyathelo zabo.
For his eyes are upon the ways of man; He seeth all his steps.
22 Akulandawo emnyama loba ithunzi elisithileyo, lapho abenzi bobubi abangacatsha khona.
There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, Where evil-doers may hide themselves.
23 UNkulunkulu kasweli ukuthi aphinde abahlolisise abantu, ukuze abalethe ekwahlulelweni phambi kwakhe.
He needeth not attend long to a man, That he may go into judgment before God;
24 Engaqalanga wahlola uyabaphahlaza abalamandla abeke abanye endaweni yabo.
He dasheth in pieces the mighty without inquiry, And setteth up others in their stead.
25 Ngoba ezinanzelela izenzo zabo, uyabagenqula ebusuku bahlifizeke.
Therefore he knoweth their works, And in a night he overthroweth them, so that they are destroyed.
26 Uyabajezisa ngenxa yobubi babo kube segcekeni emuntwini wonke,
On account of their wickedness he smiteth them, In the presence of many beholders;
27 ngoba baphambuka ekumlandeleni abaze banaka layiphi indlela yakhe.
Because they turned away from him, And had no regard to his ways,
28 Benza ukukhala kwabayanga kweza phambi kwakhe, laye wakuzwa ukukhala kwabasweleyo.
And caused the cry of the poor to come before him; For he heareth the cry of the oppressed.
29 Kodwa nxa elokhu ezithulele, ngubani ongamsola na? Angafihla ubuso bakhe ngubani ongambona na? Kanti uphezu komuntu lesizwe ngokufanayo,
When he giveth rest, who can cause trouble? And when he hideth his face, Who can behold him?
30 ukwalela ongamesabiyo uNkulunkulu ukuthi abuse, ukuze angafakeli abantu izifu.
So is it with nations and individuals alike! That the wicked may no more rule, And may not be snares to the people.
31 Akesithi umuntu athi kuNkulunkulu, ‘Ngilecala kodwa kangisayikona njalo.
Surely thou shouldst say unto God, “I have received chastisement; I will no more offend;
32 Ngifundisa lokho engingakuboniyo; nxa ngenze okubi, kangisayikuphinda ngikwenze.’
What 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 he recompense according to thy mind, Because thou refusest, or because thou choosest, and not he? Speak, if thou hast knowledge!
34 Amadoda alokuqedisisa azakutsho, amadoda ahlakaniphileyo abangizwayo ngisithi kini,
Men of understanding, Wise men, who hear me, will say,
35 ‘UJobe ukhuluma engelalwazi; amazwi akhe kawalambono.’
“Job hath spoken without knowledge, And his words are without wisdom.”
36 Oh, uJobe angasake alingwe ngokweqileyo ngoba uphendule njengomuntu omubi!
I desire that Job may be tried to the last, For answering like wicked men.
37 Phezu kwesono sakhe wengeza ukuhlamuka; uyakloloda ngokuqakeza izandla zakhe phakathi kwethu andise amazwi akhe aphikisa uNkulunkulu.”
For he addeth impiety to his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth words against God.
