UJobe 35
1 U-Elihu wasesithi:
Then Elihu continued, saying,
2 “Ukhumbula ukuthi lokhu kulungile yini? Uthi, ‘Ngizagezwa nguNkulunkulu.’
“Do you think it's honest to claim you are right before God?
3 Kodwa uyambuza uthi, ‘Kungisiza ngani lokhu na, njalo ngizuzani ngokungenzi isono?’
And you ask, ‘What benefit do I get? What good has it done me by not sinning?’
4 Ngithanda ukukuphendula kanye labangane bakho abalapha.
I'll tell you, and your friends too!
5 Ake ukhangele emazulwini ubone; khangela amayezi aphakeme kangaka ngaphezu kwakho.
Just look up at the sky and see. Observe the clouds high above you.
6 Ungaze wenze isono, lokho kumthinta ngani na? Nxa izono zakho zizinengi, kwenzani lokho kuye na?
If you sin, how does that harm God? How do your many sins affect God?
7 Nxa ulungile, kuyini omnika khona wena na, kumbe yena wamukelani esandleni sakho?
If you do what's right, what good are you doing for him?
8 Ububi bakho bulimaza kuphela umuntu onjengawe, lokulunga kwakho kuthinta amadodana abantu kuphela.
No—your sins only affect people like yourself, and whatever good you do only affects them too.
9 Abantu bayakhala ngomthwalo wokuncindezelwa; bacela ukuphunyuzwa ezingalweni zalabo abalamandla.
People cry out because of terrible persecution; they call for someone to save them from their oppressors.
10 Kodwa kakho othi, ‘Ungaphi uNkulunkulu uMenzi wami na, opha amahubo ebusuku,
But no one asks, ‘Where is the God my maker, the one who gives songs in the night,
11 osifundisayo thina kulezinyamazana zalapha emhlabeni asenze sihlakaniphe kulezinyoni zasemoyeni?’
who teaches us more than the animals, and makes us wiser than the birds?’
12 Kaphenduli nxa abantu bebiza ngenxa yokuziphakamisa kwababi.
When they call out for help, God doesn't answer because they are proud and evil people.
13 Ngempela uNkulunkulu kakulaleli ukuncenga kwabo kwamanga; uSomandla kayilaleli into enjalo.
God doesn't listen to their empty cries; the Almighty doesn't pay them any attention.
14 Kuzakuba njani pho, angakulalela nxa usithi kawumboni, usithi indaba yakho iphambi kwakhe ngakho kuzamele ulinde yena,
How much less will God hear you when you say he can't see you? Your case is before him, so you have to wait for him.
15 njalo futhi, ukuthi ulaka lwakhe kalujezisi njalo akabunanzi lakancane ububi.
You're saying that God doesn't punish people in his anger and pays little attention to sin.
16 Yikho uJobe evula umlomo wakhe ekhuluma ize; ngokuswela ulwazi wandisa amazwi.”
You, Job, are talking nonsense, making long speeches when you know nothing!”
